_Of the Original of the_ Franks; _who having possessed
themselves of_ Gallia, _changed its Name, into that of_
Francia, _or_ Francogallia.
The Order of our Discourse requires, that we should now enquire into the
Original of the _Franks_, and trace them from their first Habitations,
or (as it were) their very Cradles: In which Disquisition 'tis very much
to be admired, that no mention has been made of them by _Ptolomy_,
_Strabo_, or even by _Tacitus_ himself, who of all Writers was most
accurate in describing the Names and Situations of all the _German_
Nations: and 'tis plain, the _Franks_ were a _German_ People, who
possessed most part of _Europe_ for many Years, with great Reputation;
of which we will quote but a few Instances out of many.
First, _Joannes Nauclerus_ says thus,--"_Charles_ the Great was call'd
_King_ of the _Franks_; which is as much as to say, _King_ of _Germany_
and _France_." Now 'tis demonstrable, that at that time all _Gallia
Transalpina_, and all _Germany_ from the _Pyrenæen_ Mountains, as far as
_Hungary_, was called _Francia_: This last was called _Eastern France_,
the former _Western France_; and in this all true Historians agree.
_Eguinarthus_, in his Life of _Charlemain_, says,--"The Banks of the
River _Sala_, which divides the _Taringi_ from the _Sorabi_, were
afterwards inhabited by those called the _Eastern Franks_." _Otto
Frising._ _Chron._ 5. _cap._ 4. speaking of King _Dagaber_'s Reign, "The
Bounds of the _Franks_ Dominions reach'd now (says he) from _Spain_, as
far as _Hungary_, being two most noble Dukedoms, _Aquitania_ and
_Bavaria_";--but much more at large, _lib._ 6. _cap._ 17. And after him
_Godfrey_ of _Viterbo_, in his _Chronic. part. 17. sub Anno_ 881,
"_Arnulphus_ (says he) ruled all _Eastern Francia_, which is now called
the _Teutonick_ Kingdom, or _Germany_; that is to say, _Bavaria, Suabia,
Saxonia, Turingia, Frisia_ and _Lotharingia_; but _Odo_ was king of
_Western France_." Again, _sub Anno_ 913. "It is apparent by the
Authority of many Writers, that the Kingdom of _Germany_, which the
Emperor _Frederick_ at present holds, is part of the Kingdom of the
_Franks_; for there (on both sides of the _Rhine_) the first _Franks_
were seated; which as far as to the Limits of _Bavaria_, is now called
_Eastern France_: But _Western France_ is that Kingdom which lies on
both Sides the Rivers _Seine_ and _Loire_"--And again he says, "In the
time of _Charles_ the Great, King of the _Franks_, all _Gallia_, that is,
_Celtica, Belgica_, and _Lugdunensis_ and all _Germany_ which reaches
from the _Rhine_ as far as _Dalmatia_, made but one Kingdom;
which was called _Francia_"--Almost all which Quotations have been taken
out of _Otto_, as I said before. 'Tis to be noted, that _Rhegino_ writes
thus, in _Chron. anni_ 577.--"After the Death of King _Pipin_, _Lewis_
his Son (who had been present at his Father's Decease and celebrated his
Funerals) kept his Residence at _Francfort_, the principal Seat of the
_Eastern Kingdom_." _Luitprandus Ticinensis says_, _lib. 1. cap._ 6.--"It
was order'd that _Wido_ shou'd have for his Share, that which Men call
the _Roman France_, and _Berengarius_ shou'd have Italy." And a little
after,--"When he had march'd thro' the Territories of the _Burgundians_,
he purposed to enter _Roman France_, &c." Now it was call'd _Roman
France_, first, because the _Franks_ had possessed themselves of that
_Gallia_, which was under the _Roman_ Obedience. Secondly, because the
_Roman_ Language prevail'd in that Country, as we formerly told you:
Whence arose the Saying, _Loqui Romanum_, of such as used not the
_German_ or _Frank_; but the _Latin_ Tongue. Otto Frisingius, _chron._ 4.
_cap. penult._ says,--"It seems to me, that those _Franks_ who dwell in
_Gallia_, borrowed the Language, which they make use of to this Day,
from the _Romans_; for the others who stay'd about the _Rhine_, and in
_Germany_ use the _Teutonick_ Tongue."--And in Imitation of him,
_Godfridus_, part. 17. cap. 1.--"The _Franks_ (says he) seem to me to
have learn'd the Language which they make use of to this Day, from the
_Romans_, who formerly dwelt in those Parts."--From all these 'tis
apparent, that the Reputation and Power of the _Franks_ was
extraordinary great; as 'twas fitting for such as were Masters of a
great Part of _Europe_.
Moreover we find, that those _Germans_ which were transplanted by the
Emperor _Frederick_ the IId, into the Kingdoms of _Naples_ and _Sicily_,
and establish'd there as a presidiary Colony, were called _Franks_.
_Petrus de Vineis, lib. epist. 6. cap. 25._ [Footnote: These are only
broken pieces of Sentences, to prove, that the _Germans_ (establish'd in
_Naples_ and _Sicily_) were called, and actually were _Franks_.]
--"_Following (says he) the Law and Custom of the_ Franks, _in this
Instance, that the Eldest Brother to the Exclusion of all the Younger
succeeds, even in the Camp it self._" Imp. Freder. 2. Neapol. constit.
lib. 2. tit. 32. speaking of those _Franks, "who upon Occasion trusted
the Fortune of their Lives, and of all their Estates, to the Event of a
Duel, or single Combat_." And again,--"_The aforesaid manner of Proof,
which all who observe the Rites of the_ Franks _made use of_"--. Also
_lib. 2. tit. 33_.--"_which Law, our Will is, shall in all Causes be
common both to the_ Franks _and_ Longobards."
Matters being thus plain, 'tis strange that _Gregory_ Bishop of _Tours_
(who writ concerning the Original of the _Franks_ 800 Years ago) shou'd
say, in the first Part of his History, That altho' he had made diligent
Enquiry about the Rise and Beginning of the _Franks_, he could find
nothing certain: notwithstanding he had seen an ancient Book of a
certain Historian of theirs, called, _Salpitius Alexander_; who affirms
nothing, either of their first Habitations, or the Beginnings of their
Domination.
But we have found out, that these People originally came from that
Country which lies between the _Rhine_ and the _Elb_, and is bounded on
the _West_ by the Sea, almost in the same Tract where the greater and
the lesser _Chauci_ dwelt. "A People (says _Tacitus_) the most noble
among all the _Germans_, who founded their Greatness and maintained it
by Justice." These were next Neighbours to the _Batavians_; for 'tis
agreed on all Hands, that the _Franks_ had their first Seats near the
Sea-shore, in very marshy Grounds; and were the most skilful People in
Navigation, and Sea-fights, known at that time: Whereof we have the
following Testimonies. First, in _Claudian_, who congratulating
_Stilicon's_ Victory, writes thus;
--_Ut jam trans fluvium non indignante_ Chayco
_Paseat_ Belga _pecus, mediumque ingressa per_ Albin
Gallica Francorum _montes armenta pererrent_.
In which Place he makes use of a Poetical License, and calls those
People _Chayci_, which the Geographers call _Chauci_. Now that they were
seated near the Sea, that Panegyrical Oration made to _Constantine_ the
Great, is a Testimony: "_Quid loquar rursus_, &c. What should I speak
more of those remote Nations of the _Franks_, transplanted not from
Places which the _Romans_ of old invaded; but plucked from their very
original Habitations, and their _farthest Barbarous Shores_, to be
planted in the waste Places of _Gallia_; where with their Husbandry,
they may help the _Roman_ Empire in time of Peace; and with their
Bodies, supply its Armies in time of War--." And in another Panegyrick,
by _Eumenius_ the Rhetorician, we find this Passage, "_Aut hæc ipsa_,
&c. Or this Country, which was once overspread with the Fierceness of
the _Franks_, more than if the Waters of their Rivers, _or their Sea_,
had cover'd it;" but now ceases to be barbarous, and is civilized. To
the same Purpose is _Procopius_ Testimony, in his first Book of the
_Gothick War_; for where he describes the place where the _Rhine_ falls
into the Ocean; "In these Parts (says he) there are great Marshes, where
of old the _Germans_ dwelt; a barbarous People, and at that time of
small Reputation, which now are called _Franks_--." And _Zonaras_, in
the 3d Tome of his _Annals_, quotes this very Passage of _Procopius_.
Also _Flavius Vopiscus_, in his Life of _Probus_, tells us, That the
_Franks_ were discomfited by _Probus_ in their inaccessible
Marshes.--_Testes sunt Franci inviis strati paludibus._ Also _Sidonius
Apollinaris_ says thus;
"_Francorum & penitissimas paludes,
Intrares venerantibus Sicambris._"
Now what we have said concerning the Neighbourhood of the _Franks_ to
the _Chauci_, may be plainly proved by comparing of Places, and the
Descriptions of their particular Seats. Those of the _Chauci_ are
described by _Pliny_, _lib._ 16. _cap._ 1. Those of the _Franks_ by the
_Rhetorician Panegyrist_, above mentioned: For _Pliny_ says thus, "We
have seen in the _Northern_ parts the Nations of the _Chauci_, called
_Majores & Minores_, where twice every 24 Hours the Ocean is forcibly
driven in a great way over the Land; thro' a vast Passage which is
there, making it a perpetual Controversy of Nature; and a Doubt, whether
it ought to be reckon'd part of the Land or of the Sea."
The Panegyrist speaks in these Terms, "_--Quanquam illa Regio_, &c. When
thy noble Expeditions, O _Cæsar_, have proceeded so far, as to clear and
conquer that Country, which the _Rhine_ runs through, with his cunning
Mæanders or Windings, [_Meatibus callidis_, for so it must be read, and
not _Scaldis_, as in some Copies,] and embraces in his Arms a Region,
which I can scarce call Land; 'tis so soak'd with Water, that not only
the Marshy part of it gives way, but even that which seems more firm,
shakes when trod upon, and trembles at a Distance under the Weight of
the Foot."
We think therefore we have made it plain from what _Seats_ the Nation of
the _Franks_ first came into _Gallia_; that is to say, from that marshy
Country which lies upon the _Ocean_, between the Rivers _Elb_ and _Rhine_:
which may be further confirm'd by this Argument. That the _Franks_ were
very well skill'd in maritime affairs, and sail'd far and near all about
those Coasts; For so says _Eutropius_, _lib._ 9. where he gives a short
History of the Emperor _Galienus_. "After this time, when _Carausius_
had in charge to scour the Sea-coasts of _Belgia_ and _Armorica_, then
infested by the _Franks_ and _Saxons_, &c." The very same thing _Paulus
Orosius_ mentions, _lib._ 7. Also what the _Panegyrist_, before cited,
says in a certain Place, has Reference to this.--"The _Franks_ (says he)
are cruel above all others; the tide of whose warlike Fury surmounting
that of their very Ocean it self, carried them to the Sea-coasts of
_Spain_, which they very much infested with their Depredations." And
therefore the Emperor _Justinian_, when he explains to the _General
Governor_ of _Africk_ the duty of his Office, makes mention of those
_Franks_ which were seated in a certain part of _Gallia_, bordering upon
_Spain_.
But we find a very memorable Passage; which highly sets forth the great
Glory of their war-like Atchievements, in another place of that
Panegyrick; _viz._ That a small Body of _Franks_, which _Probus_, the
Emperor had overcome and carried captive into _Pontus_, seiz'd on some
Ships, wandred all about the Sea-coasts of _Græcia_ and _Asia_, invaded
_Sicily_, took _Syracusa_, and afterwards laden with Booty, return'd
into the Ocean thro' the _Streights_ of _Gibraltar_. "Recursabat in
animos sub _Divo Probo_ & paucorum ex _Francis_ Captivorum incredibilis
audacia, & indigna foelicitas: qui à Ponto usque correptis navibus,
Græciam Asiamque populati, nec impunè plerisque Lybiæ littoribus
appulsi, ipsas postremò navalibus quondam victoriis nobiles ceperant
Syracusas: & immenso itinere permensi, Oceanum, qua terras rupit
intraverant: atque ita eventu temeritatis, offenderant, nihil esse
clausum piraticæ desperationi quò navigiis pateret accessus."
And, as farther Arguments of what I have been proving, may be added all
those Places in several Authors, which inform us that the Habitations of
the _Franks_ were Bordering upon the _Batavians_. The same
_Rhetorician_, in his Speeches to _Maximianus_ and _Constantine_,
says,--"Many thousand _Franks_, who had crossed the _Rhine_, and invaded
_Batavia_, with other Countries on this Side, were slain, driven out, or
carried away captive."
Besides there is a notable Instance in _Corn. Tacitus_, lib. 20. where
speaking of the Neighbourhood of _Frisia_ and _Batavia_ to each other,
he mixes the _Caninesates_ among them, whose Custom in Electing their
Kings was, (as I shall hereafter shew) the very same with that of the
Franks.--"Ambassadors (says he) were sent to the _Caninesates_, to
persuade them to enter into the Confederacy: That People inhabit one
part of the Island, equal as to their Descent, Laws and Valour, to the
_Batavians_; but inferior in Number.--And again--_Brinnio_ being set
upon a Shield (according to the Custom of the Country) and hoisted up on
Men's Shoulders, was chosen their Commander." Which Words will prove of
no small Authority for us, when we come hereafter to that Part of the
Controversy.
The Case being so; I cannot forbear wondring at the Opinion of the
Learned _Andreas Tarnebus_, who despising the Authority of so many grave
and ancient Writers, says, that he thinks the _Franks_ were originally
of _Scandinavia_: because in _Ptolomy_ he finds the _Phirassi_ seated in
that Peninsula, which Word he will needs suppose to be corrupted; and
that, instead of it, the Word _Franci_ ought to be there: but brings no
Reason for his Opinion more than his own mere guess, tho' this Opinion
differs manifestly from all other ancient Authors.
As to all those who are pleas'd with Fables, and have deduced the
Original of the _Franks_ from the _Trojans_, and from one _Francion_, a
Son of _Priam_, we can only say, that they furnish Materials for _Poets_
rather than _Historians_: And among such, _William Bellay_ deserves the
first Place; who, tho' he was a Person of singular Learning and
extraordinary Ingenuity; yet in his Book, which treats of the
Antiquities of _Gallia_ and _France_, seems rather to have design'd a
_Romance_, like that of _Amadis_, than a true History of the
_Francogallican_ Affairs.
* * * * *