In this episode, Shawn discusses the mythic origins of the Merovingians, in one part using their very loose parallels to the Volsungs (Sigeberht/Sigurd and Brunhilda/Brynhild), in an effort to link them to Odin. Whether the Merovingians or Volsungs, their habits of killing their in-laws would make for a hilarious 90s sitcom

Shawn also discusses another figure with Merovingian Blood, that descends from the All-Father, namely Eadbald of Kent, so adding the early kingdoms of Frankia totally holds true to this series on Odin's descendants ;).

In an effort to remain relevant, Shawn dives in to a more recent story in pop-culture when he discusses the book "Holy Blood, Holy Grail", which highlights very fuzzy evidence that the Merovingians are descended from a certain man born in Bethlehem, because one god in the family isn't enough for them apparently.

Sources Used:

• The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology (Penguin Classics)
• The Saga of the Volsungs: With the Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok (Hackett Classics)
• The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Pantianos Classics)
• The Ecclesiastical History of the English People - Bede (Oxford University Press)
• The History of the Franks - Gregory or Tours (Project Gutenberg)
• Holy Blood, Holy Grail - Henry Lincoln, Michael Baigent, and Richard Leigh

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