A study of mission and conversion among the Germanic kingdoms, this book traces the transformation of the late antique world into medieval Europe through the acceptance of Christianity. It is grounded in contemporary anthropological discourses, and focuses on the encounter between the Christian missionaries and the Germanic kings, an encounter which resulted in a shift in belief concerning the ultimate sources of power. The forms of Christianity developed by the converted are seen in the context of their pre-Christian beliefs and the need for continuity amongst change.