Figure 1.--.

The Franks were one of the western Germanic tribes. The Franks spanned the ancient and early medieval era. None of the Germanic triibes played a more important role in the development on modern Europe thn the Franks. Medieval sources based on lost Roman works suggest that the Franks came from Pannonia (eastern Hungary-western Yugoslavia), but moved west to the Rhine. [Gregory] They settled along the Rhine River (3rd century). There were two major tribal groups, the Salien Franks in the north and the Ripuarian Franks in the south. The Salian Franks crossed the Rhine into Gaul and became Roman allies (4th century). The Franks like the other Germaic tribes did not at first have any kind of unified political organization, but rather were organized into small groups that would constantly form changing alliances or confederations to fight neigboring groups. Emperor Julian found the shipping lanes on the Rhine under control of the Franks and had to pacify them (355–58). Rome granted much of Gallia Belgica to the Franks. This made them a foederati of the Roman Empire. The Franks from this core holding proceeded to conquer much of Gaul north of the Loire valley and east Aquitaine held by the Visigoths. As Roman allies they assisted in defending the Empire. They resisted an invasion of eastern Germanic tribes attempting to cross the Rhine (406). Theodoric the Ostrogoth fought with them. At the same time the Romans resisted the spread of Frankish control south into Gaul (431). [Gregory] The general pattern, however, was for the Franks to become rulers over the Gallo-Roman inhabitants of Gaul. Aëtius was able to convince the Visigoths and Franks to join him in stopping Atilla the Hun in his campaign into Gaul. The Salian Franks joined him. The Ripuarian Franks were divided, probably because part of the tribe lived beyond the borders of rhe Empire and were under Hun control. The result was the Battle of Châlons (451). This was one of the decisive battle of history and Attilas only defeat. It is often seen as the last battle of the ancient world. The emergence of the Franks as a major force in European history after the fall of Rome was largely due to a youthful tribal leader--Clovis. He suceeded in uniting the fractious Franks (481). Clovis conveted to Christianity and founded the Merovingoan dynasty. Clovis and his descendents conquered much of western and central Europe. The Frankish Empire created by Clovis was divided into several kingdoms (Neustria, Austrasia, Burgundy, and others). The Carolingian dunasty appeared (8th century) which saw the reign of Charmagbe. Evetually his empire was divided . The Treaty of Mersen (870) created the kigdom of the West Franks (France) and East Franks (Grmany).

Western Germanic Tribes

The Franks were one of the western Germanic tribes. None of the Germanic triibes played a more important role in the development on modern Europe thn the Franks.

Origins

Medieval sources based on lost Roman works suggest that the Franks came from Pannonia (eastern Hungary-western Yugoslavia), but moved west to the Rhine. [Gregory] They settled along the Rhine River (3rd century). There were two major tribal groups, the Salien Franks in the north and the Ripuarian Franks in the south.

Romam Allies

Roman power began to decline (4th century AD). They were no longer able to maintain the Rhine as the boundary of the Empire. The Salian Franks pressured from the East, crossed the Rhine into Gaul and became Roman allies (4th century). The Romans granted the Franks land in what is now the Low Lands west of the Rhine and the Franks for a time served as Roman mercenaries. Other Franls continued to live east of the Rhine. The Franks like the other Germaic tribes did not at first have any kind of unified political organization, but rather were organized into small groups that would constantly form changing alliances or confederations to fight neigboring groups. Emperor Julian found the shipping lanes on the Rhine under control of the Franks and had to pacify them (355–58). Rome granted much of Gallia Belgica to the Franks. This made them a foederati of the Roman Empire. The Franks from this core holding proceeded to conquer much of Gaul north of the Loire valley and east Aquitaine held by the Visigoths. As Roman allies they assisted in defending the Empire. They resisted an invasion of eastern Germanic tribes attempting to cross the Rhine (406). Theodoric the Ostrogoth fought with them. At the same time the Romans resisted the spread of Frankish control south into Gaul (431). [Gregory] The general pattern, however, was for the Franks to become rulers over the Gallo-Roman inhabitants of Gaul.

Battle of Châlons (451)

Aëtius was able to convince the Visigoths and Franks to join him in stopping Atilla the Hun in his campaign into Gaul. The Salian Franks joined him. The Ripuarian Franks were divided, probably because part of the tribe lived beyond the borders of rhe Empire and were under Hun control. The result was the Battle of Châlons (451). This was one of the decisive battle of history and Attilas only defeat. It is often seen as the last battle of the ancient world.

The Merovingians

The emergence of the Franks as a major force in European history after the fall of Rome was largely due to a youthful tribal leader--Clovis (466?-511). He suceeded in uniting the fractious Franks (481). He was noted for his physical bravery and duplicity. Clovis conveted to Christianity and founded the Merovingoan dynasty. He set up an independent state centered at at Tournai (431 AD). Clovis I defeated the Roman remanant and gained control of Gaul. He built a powerful kingdom by assimilated the largely Romanized population of Gaul with his Frankish peoples. Clovis while uniting the Franks and unifying Gaul left a terrible situation in that his four sons claimed a part of the kingdom. Clovis and his successors, however, conquered much of western Europe, included modern France and Belgium and areas of southwestern Germany. The Frankish Kingdom created by Clovis was divided into several kingdoms (Neustria, Austrasia, Burgundy, and others). Clovis converted to Christianity brining the Franks into developing Christian Europe. The Franks after Clovis, however, began to splinter.

Visagoths

Just as the Roman Empire had granted the Franks land in northern Gaul, the Empire had granted the Goths (Visagoths) land in southern Gaul. This eventually led to conflict between the Franks and Visagoths. Eventually the Franks under Clovis drove the Visagoths south beyond the Pyrenees Mountains. Here they founded Christian kingdoms which rules for two centuries until being overwealmed by Islamic Moorish invaders from North Africa.

Iron

One reason for the Frankish success was iron. There was nore iron in northern Europe than around the Mediterranean basin. The metal ws very expensive, but the discovery of new mines helped to lower the price. By the 9th century the price had declined to the point that it began to be used for tools and other non-nilitary uses.
rles Martel at the Battle of Poitiers (732). The Moors moved back accross the Pyraneees and never again seriously threatened France.

Poitiers/Tours (732)

Poitiers had been an important Roman town and a residence of the Visogothic kings until defeated by the Franks under Clovis. The Battle of Poitiers/Tours pitted the Franks against the Moslem forces moving north after theit comquest of Spain and southern France. The Franks were the most powerful force in Western Christendom. Had they been defeated it is difficult to see what other Christian force could have resisted the Moors. Charles assem;ed a large force, in prt financed from funds secired from the manastaries. He drilled his forced knowing the the Moors were headed north. He chose a strong defensive postion. The Moors had encountered small poorly trained a and were shocked when they encountered Charles' army. The Moorish Army was commanded by Abd-er Rahman, governor of Spain. Few reliable accoubts of the battle exust. As a result, the Moorish army is variously estimasted to number 60,000 to 400,000 soldiers. After aling citoes in southern Fance, Abd-er Rahman headed north up the Loire River. Here Charles set up his position just outside the city of Toursbin central France south of Paris. The two sides held their position for nearly a week facing each other. Abd-er Rahman was forced to initiate the battle as it was October and cold weather was approaching. The Frankish army was mostly infantry and Charles used a phalanx style of combat. Abd-er Rahman ordered a frontal attack, relying on the slashing tactics and massive superiority in calvary that had brought victories in Spain. The Frankish infantry was armed with swords, shields, axes, javelins, and daggers. They were better trained that te Visagoth armies encountered in Spain. Charles choice of the battlefield proved decisive because it limited the mobility of the Moorish calvalry. Tours was one of the few medieval battles in which infantry managed to ressted sustained mounted attacks. Accounts of the battle report it lasted any where from 4-7 days. A Frankish attack on te Moorish camp behind their lines appeas to have resulted in a collapse of the Moorish lines. The Franks captured and killed Abd-er Rahman. The Moslem army then withdrew from Tours overnight and and retired accross the Pyranees. Charles believed there would be another Moorish offensive, but it never came. The battle thus proved to be the high water mark of Moslem invasion of Western Europe, although Saracen raiders would menace the West for some time.

Carolingian Dynasty

They were again unified under Pepin III (the Short) (751). Pepin deposed the last Merovingian ruler and founded a new dynasty--the Carolingians. The dynasty is named after his son--Charlemagne. Charlemagne succeeded his father (768). He is one of the great figures in European history. Charlemagne ruled for nearly half a century. He expanded the Frankish empire to include almost all of continental Europe, except for Moorish Spain and Scandinavia in the north. Pope Leo III crowned him Emperor of the West (800). Charlemagne was primarily involved with the military campigns that carved out his far-flung empire. He was for a war leader, a remarable individual--interested in culture and learning. He promoted commerce, education, and the arts. Charlemagne saw his empire as the revival of the Roman Empire that ironically the Franks had played a role in destroying. He thus sought to revive clasical learning. It was Chaerlemage that fostered the beginnings of organized river trade that would play a major role in the development of the Low Countries. Charlemagne's sons divided his empire. Conflict and a series of battles eventually led to Treaty of Verdun (843). Three of Charlemagne's grandsons split the empire between them. Charles the Bold took West Francia which eventually would evolve into France. Lothair took the Middle Kingdom, but it would fragment into ztates that would evolve into the small modern states between France and Germany. Louis the German took East Francia which would evolve into modern Germany. The Treaty of Mersen confirmed the divisons (870) created the kigdom of the West Franks (France) and East Franks (Germany).

Sources

Gregory of Tours. Historia Francorum