• lHE STORY ()F-THE, NATIONS -~be §tor~ of tbeJSations. _ THE- FRANKS THE STORY OF THE NATION S• • J. ROME. .By ARTKUR GILMAN, 30. THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE. M.A. lIy_ c. W. C. OMAN • •. THE JEWs. By Prof. J. K. 31. SICILY: Phc:elliclan, Greek HOSMER. and Roman. lIy tho late 3. GERMANY. By Rev. S. BAIliNG' Prof. E. A. f'I'REBMAN. GOULD, M.A. 32. THE TUSCAN REPUBLICS. 4. CARTHAGE. By Prof. A •. FRED BY_~F.LLA DUFP'Y. J. CHURCK. 33. POLAND. By w. R. MO •• ,LL, s· ALEXANDER'S EMPIRE. By M.A. Prof. J. P. MAKAFFV. 34- PARTHIA. By Prof. GEORGE 6. THE MOORS IN SPAIN. By RAWLINSON. STANLEY LANR.POO1' 35· AUSTRALIAN COMMON· 7. ANCIENT EGYPT. y Prof. WEALTH. By GREVILLB GEORt;P. RAWLINSON. TREGARTHEH. 8. HUNGARY. By Prof. ..MINlOS 36. SPAIN. By H. E. WAT,... VAMBRRY. 37. JAPAN. By DAYID AluKRAY, 9. THE SARACENS. By ARTKUR Ph.D. GILMAN, M.A. 38. SOUTH AFRIOA. By GF.ORGK 10. IRELAND. By the Hon. EMILY M. THKAL. • LAWLESS. 39. VENICE. By ALltTKEA W'EL. 11. CHALDBA. By Zt!NAiDE A. 40. THE CRUSADES. lIy T. A. RAGOZIN. ARCHER and C. L. K'NGs, 1" THE GOTHS. By HENRY BRAD· FORD. LEY. 41. VEDIa INDIA. By Z. A. R,,· 13. ABSYRIA. By ZgNAiDE A. RA. GOZIN. GOZIN. 42. WEST INDIES AND THE '14. TURKEY. By STANLEY LANE­ SPANISH MAIN. Ily JAME' POOLS. ){ODWAY. IS. HOLLAND. By Prof.' J. E. 43- BOHEMIA. By C. EDMUND THOROLD RoGERS. MAURICE. 16. MEDIEVAL FRANCE. By 44. THB BALKANS. By W. GUSTAVE MASSON. MILLER, M,A. 17. PERSIA. By S. G. W. BEN. 4'. CANADA. By Sir J. G. BOUR'. NOT, LL.D. 18. p:a<iNiCIA. By Prof. GEO. 46. BRITISH INDIA. By R. W. RAWLINSON. "'AZF.~ LL.B. 19- MEDIA. By ZgNAioE A. RAS 47. MODERn FRANCE. By ANDRt GOZIN. L" liON. '0. THE RANSA TOWNI. By 48. THE FRANKS. By LEWI. SER' HELEN ZIMMERN. GEANT. '1. EARLY BRITAIN. By Prof. 49. AUSTJUA. By S,DNay WHIT­ ALFRRO J. CHURCH. MAN • ••• THE BARBARY CORSAIRS. SO. MODERN ENGLAND. /l.fOTe By STANLEY LANB,PooLE. the Reform Bill. By J U5TIN . '3. RUSSIA. By W. R. MORFlLL, Mr,CARTHY• M.A. 5'. OHBI A. By Prof. It. K. '4. THE JEWS UNDER THE DOUGLAS. ROMANI. By W. D. MOH.I· 52. MODERN ENGLAND. From SON. the Reform Bill to the Pre:. ~. SCOTLAND•. By JOHN MACK'N' aent Time. By JUSTIN TOSH, LL.D. MCCARTHY. • SWITZERLAND. By Mn LINA 53. MODERN SPAIN. By MARTIN HUG and R. STEAD. A. S. Hu..... MEXICO. By S,'SAN HALE. 54. MODERIII' ITALY. By PI1<TRO PORTUGAL. By Ii. MORSE • ~TEPHENS. 55. N6'iwAY': By H. H. /lov,,· '. l'HE NORMANS. By SARAH ~p;..,. OaM. JEWKTT. 56. WALES. By O. M. EDWARDS. I DON: T. FISHER UNWIN, PATERNOSTER SQUARE, E.C• c. • !lA(;OIlEWT I. Rctrorillc/"'" ''.I c1 XIII if, C.."fIlIY Sf."",,). THE FRANKS FROM THEIR ORIGIN AS A CONFEDERACY 'TO 'THE ES'TABLISHMEN'T OF 'THE KINGDOM OF· FRANCE AND 'THE GERMAN EJuPIRE BY LEWIS SER,GEANT AUTHOR OF "JOIDf WYCLIJl': LAST OF THE SCBOOLtlEN A!JD FIRST OP THE ENGLISH REFOR.. l!RS." ETC. SECOND- EDITIO;" 1onll0!1 T. FISHER' UNWIN .pATERNOSTER SQUARE Copyright by T. FISHER UNWIN, 1898. V 55(Y7 r:). 1)::; C~ 2--64;; PREFAcE! THE story of the Franks, especially of the earlier Franks, is rich in fable but poor in history. In the legend of Clovis, and even in the legend of Charles the Great, it is a work of considerable difficulty to separate what is historically accurate from that wliich has at best a dubious origin. My aim in writing this volume has been to present a general outline of the history of the Franks, and, in doing so, to confine myself almost ex­ clusively to facts which have a sure foundation. That aim implied that the greater part of the volume should be devoted to periods in which the historical foundation was least secure-to the long struggle between Romans and Teutons, during which the tribes on the east of the Rhine were perpetually combining p.gainst their enemies until the Frank confederacy clearly emerged, and to the subseque~t Merovingian period, during which the Franks were gradually subjecting the whole of Gaul. It is ill this domain, overgrown as· it is with fable, and meagrely as its central facts have ix x PREFACE. been dealt with by historians, that the student of history should fifld his greatest attraction. I have ventured in the f~llowing pages to support an interpretation of a particular passage in Gregory of Tours which has been either ignored or repudiated for more than a thousand years. The reader must decide for himself as to the probable origin of the Franks, and the posJtion of Gregory's" Dispargum .. j but in any case it is impossible that we should continue to attach the slightest credence to the imaginary Belgic Thuringia. CONTENTS. I. PAGB THE CONFLICT OF RACES 1-10 Introduction-Romans, Gallo-Romans, and Germans-The Kelts in Gaul and in Britain-The Roman Church-Limits of the subject-The Franks ultimately retire from, or are rejected by, France. II. WHO WERE TH~ FRANKS] 11-20 Obscure Origin of the People-The Gallo-German Frontier­ Cresar and the Sicambrian League-Earliest occurrence of the name-Vopiscus, Sulpitius, Gregory of Tours-The Trojan Legend-A Historical Puzzle and a Word-Study. III. .. CiESAR'S FRONTIER POLICY 21--34 Hereditary Foes-The Roman Conquest of Gaul-The West­ ward Migratilms-Compression and Expansion-Cresar's Policy-Continued by Augustus-Hermann-The Disaster of Varus_-The Revenge of Germanicus~Marbod-The JuliOWl Emperors-The Story of Civilis. Note on the German Tribes (according- to Tadtus) . 34-36 xi 'XII CONTENTS. IV. PAG1I THE GERMAN RACE. The Home of the Teutons-Roman Inconsistencies-German Raids--Romanised Germans-The Flavian Emperors-The Rhine Frol)tier-The Roman Rampart-The Cradle· Land of the Franks-The Det:Ufnales Aeri. V. THE DECLINE OF ROME Franks. Allemans. and Goths-ICDeum Ira in Rem Romanam" -Growth of the Christian Church-Romanised Gaul-Pagan and Christian Letters-Gallic Poets. VI. THE COMING OF THE FRANKS • 58-79 The Frontier broken-Incursions of Alleman •• Vandals. and Franks-Postumus the Traitor-Gallic Insurrectiolll-Aure· lian-More Frank Raids-Probus-Diocletian-Augusti and Cresars-Legati. Duces and Comites-Constantius-Constan­ tine-Julian-Salian Franks settled in Belgic Gaul-A Frank Consul-A Frank Emperor-Maker-Stilicho-The Poet Claudian. VII. THE MEROVINGIAN FRANKS Establishment of the Merovingians in Gaul-Their Origin­ Clodion and Merowig-Gregory of Tours-Dispargum (Divi­ sio-Burgum ?)-The Thuringian Scheidungen-Burg-5alian Franks-Riparian Franks-LIEti and Leti-Cambrai and Tournai occupied by the Frank.-Al!tius-An Impossible Task-Attila the" Scourge of God "-The Yellow Terror­ Ulilderic-The Mother of Clovis-Childeric'. Tomb. NtJle fill llu Origi" of I"e MertJV;"giaIU . 9S-IOO CONTENTS.- xiii VIII. PAGE KING CLoVIS 101-119 The Political State of Gaol at the end of the Fifth Century­ The four Frank Kingdoms in Gaul-Allemans, Goths, and Burgundians-The Armorican Land-The Conquests of Oovis -Defeat of Syagrius-The Cup of Soissoos-Wu with Thuringia-Queen Ootilda-Expuision of the Allemans­ The ConYelSioo of Oovis-Saint Remy. CoNQUESTS 0,. CHRISTIANITY 120-1 3' The Western Church-A new Imperium-The Penance of Theodosius-Policy and Victories of Christian Rome-The Church in Gaol-Rome appeals to the Teutons- Invokes the aid of the Fran~odoxy and Arianism-The ConnciI of Nice-Victory of the Trinitarians-Effects of the Frank Conversion. x. THE SUB]ECTIO!( 0,. GAUL '32-'52 Wars of Oovis with the Burgundians-Gundobald and Code­ gisil-Aredius-The Burgundian Codes---Councils of the Gallic Church-Theodoric the Goth opposes Oovis-The Meeting of Oovis and Alaric-The ConnciI of Agde-The Conquest of Aquitaine-Clovis as Roman Consul-Removes from Sois­ sons to Pari9-Sabjection of the min<w Frank Monarchies­ Death of Oo~-is. Xl. CH_utACTERISTI& 0,. THE FRANK.S The Growth ol a Nation-OIaracter and Institutions of Uk Teutons-Tbeir Codes-Origins of Teutonic IAw-Salic lAw -WeIug>-1d-Ordeals-Slavery and Enfranchisement. xiv CONTENTS. XII. PAOli THE SONS OF CLOVIS 165-1 79 Subdivision of the Realm of Clovis-Conquest of Burgundy­ Old Age and Death of Clotilda-Conquest of Thuringia and Bavaria-Clotilda the Younger-Conquest of Provence-Beli· sarius-The Romance of Totila and the daughter of Theode· bert-The Plagues-Clotair, second Sole King of the Franks -Genealogy of the Merovingian Kings. Q XIII. THE SONS OF CLOTAIR 180-193 Subdivision of the Realm of Clotair-Siegbert and Chilperic­ Brunhilda and Fredegonda-Fredegollda'. Crimes-Death of Chilperic-Gontran of Burgundy and Childebert-Brunhilda's Machinations-Clotair II., third sole King of the Franks­ The Kingdoms of Neustria and Austria-The Frank Reich and the Oster Ric. XIV. THE MAYORS OF THE PALACE 194-206 Origin of the Office-Increase of authority during the minority of the Kings-Warnaher and Rade-l'epin .. of Landen "­ Grimoald and his Son-Rois Faincants-Genealogy of the hereditary Mayor~harles Martel-Pepin the Short, Mayor and King. XY. ROME APPEALS TO THE FRANKS The Roman See-The Lombards in Italy-Pope Stephen appeals to Pepin-Pepin crowned at S. Deotis-The lIer. cynian Wolf-Development of Frank Authority-Approach '" the Franks to full Civilisation-Land Tenure unrler the Frank Kings-Serfdom under Teutonic Rule-The Sons of Pepin-Accession of Charles. CONTENTS. xv XVI. PAGB CHARLES THE GREAT 221-2 32 Franks and Saxons-Destruction of Irminsul-A Thirty Years' War-Pope Adrian's appeal to Charles--Charles defeats the Lombards in Italy-Visits Rome-Becomes Dux of Rome and King of Italy-His Benefactions to the Pope-Fresh Cam­ paigns in Saxony and Italy-The Assembly of Paderborn­ Mission of Ibn-el-Arabi-Charles invades Spain-Battle of Roncesvalles-The "Song of Roland." XVII: THE WESTERN EMPIRE REVIVED Witikind the Saxon-Conversion· of the Saxons-Final sub­ jection of Saxony-Other Wars of Charles-Tassilon of Bavaria -Charles on the Danube-Death of Pope Adrian-Renewal of the Understanding with Charles-Leo expelled from Rome -Restored by Charles-Charles crowned Emperor at Rome -The Policy of the Pope-Rome and Byzantium.