_Of the Name of the_ Franks, _and their sundry Excursions;
and what time they first began to establish a Kingdom in_
Gallia.
But I think it requisite that we should enquire a little more carefully
into this Name of _Franks_; which, as we told you before, is not to be
found in any of the ancient Descriptions of _Germany_. That I may no
longer detain the Reader in Suspence, it must needs be, that either the
Nation of the _Franks_, by which such mighty things were done, was at
first very obscure and mean, (as we see in _Switz_, an ordinary Village)
yet because the first beginning of the Liberty of those Countries
proceeded from thence, gave the name of _Switzers_ to all the rest of
the _Cantons_: Or (which seems to me most probable) this Appellation had
its Original from the Occasion; _viz._ When those that set up for the
prime Leaders and Beginners, in recovering the publick Liberty, called
themselves _Franks_; by which name the _Germans_ understood such as were
_Free_, and under no Servitude; as the Writers of that Nation do
unanimously hold: And therefore in ordinary Speech, by a _Frank_ was
meant a _Freeman_, by a _Franchise_, an _Asylum_, or Place of Refuge;
and _Francisare_ signified to restore to liberty and freedom. The first
Proof we shall give of this, is, what _Procopius_ in his first Book of
the Gothick Wars relates. The _Franks_ (says he) were anciently by a
general name call'd _Germans_; but after they exceeded their Limits,
they obtain'd the name of _Franks_: Of the same Opinion I find _Gregory
of Tours_, the _Abbot_ of _Ursperg_; _Sigibertus_ and _Ado_ of _Vienne_,
and _Godfrey_ of _Viterbo_ to have been, _viz._ That they had the Name
of _Franks_ from their _freedom_, and from their _ferocity_, (alluding
to the sound, of the words _Francos Feroces_), because they refused to
serve as Soldier under _Valentinian_ the Emperor, and to pay Tribute as
other Nations did. A second Proof may be that of _Cornelius Tacitus_,
who in his 20th Book, speaking of the _Caninesates_, whom we have
formerly demonstrated to have been the very-next Neighbours, if not the
true _Franks_ themselves, and, of their Victory over the _Romans_, he
has this expression: _Clara ea victoria, &c._ "That Victory (says he) was
of great Reputation to them immediately after it, and of great Profit in
the Sequel; for having by that Means got both Weapons and Ships into
their Possession, which before they were in great want of; their Fame
was spread over all _Germany_ and _Gaul_, as being the first beginners
of liberty;" _Libertatis Auctores celebrabantur._ For the _Germans_
thereupon sent Ambassadors, offering their Assistance. May the _Omen_
prove lucky! and may the _Franks_ truly and properly deserve that name;
who after having shaken off that Yoke of _Slavery_, imposed upon them by
_Tyrants_, have thought fit to preserve to themselves a commendable
_liberty_ even under the Domination of _Kings_: _For to obey a King is
not servitude_: neither are all who are govern'd by Kings, presently for
that Reason to be counted _Slaves_, but such as submit themselves to the
unbounded Will of a _Tyrant_, a _Thief_, and _Executioner_, as Sheep
resign themselves to the Knife of the Butcher. Such as these deserve to
be called by the vile names of _Servants_ and _Slaves_.
Therefore the _Franks_ had always _Kings_, even at that very time when
they profess'd themselves the _vindicators_ and _assertors_ of the
_publick liberty_: And when they constituted _Kings_, they never
intended they shou'd be _Tyrants_ or _Executioners_, but _keepers_ of
their _Liberties, Protectors, Governors_ and _Tutors_. Such, in short,
as we shall describe hereafter, when we come to give an Account of the
_Francogallican_ Government.
For, as to what a certain, foolish and ignorant _Monk_, called _John
Turpin_, has wrote (in his Life, or rather Romance of _Charlemagn_)
concerning the Origins of the Word _Frank_, viz. That whoever
contributed Money towards the Building of St. _Denis's Church_, should
be called _Francus_, that is, a freeman, is not worthy of being
remembred, no more than all the rest of his trifling Works; stuft'd full
of old Wives Tales, and meer Impertinencies.
But this may be truly affirm'd, that this name of _Franks_, or (as
_Corn. Tacitus_ interprets it) _Authors_ of _Liberty_, was an _Omen_ so
lucky and fortunate to them, that through it they gain'd almost
innumerable Victories. For after the _Franks_ had quitted their ancient
Seats upon that glorious Design, they deliver'd not only _Germany_,
their common Country, but also _France_ from the Tyranny and Oppression
of the _Romans_; and at last (crossing the _Alps_) even a great part of
_Italy_ itself.
The first mention made of this illustrious name, we find in _Trebellius
Pollios_ Life of the Emperor _Gallienus_, about the 260th Year after
_Christ_. His Words are these: "Cum, &c. Whilst _Gallienus_ spent his
time in nothing but Gluttony and shameful Practices, and govern'd the
Commonwealth after so ridiculous a manner, that it was like Boys play,
when they set up Kings in jest among themselves; the _Gauls_, who
naturally hate luxurious Princes, elected _Posthumus_ for their Emperor,
who at that time was _Gallienus's_ Lieutenant in _Gaul_ with imperial
Authority. Gallienus thereupon commenced a War with _Posthumus_; and
_Posthumus_ being assisted by many Auxiliaries, both of the _Celtæ_ and
the _Franks_, took the Field along with _Victorinus_--." By which Words
we may plainly perceive, that the _Gauls_ crav'd the Assistance of the
_Franks_; that is, of these _Authors_ or _Beginners of liberty_, to
enable them to shake off the Tyrant _Gallienus's_ Yoke: Which same thing
_Zonaras_ hints at in his Life of _Gallienus_, when he says, [Greek:
epolemise de phrangois], &c.--We find another mention made of the same
People in _Flavius Vopiscus's_ Life of _Aurelian_, in these Words:--"At
Mentz the Tribune of the 6th Legion discomfited the _Franks_, who had
made Incursions, and overspread all _Gallia_; he slew 700, and sold 300
Captives for Slaves."--For you must not expect that our _Franks_, any
more than other Nations in their Wars, were constantly victorious, and
crown'd with Success. On the contrary, we read that _Constantine_,
afterwards call'd the _Great_, took Prisoners two of their Kings, and
exposed them to the Wild Beasts at the publick shews. Which Story both
_Eutropius_ in his 9th Book, and the _Rhetorician_ in that Panegyrick so
often quoted, make mention of.
And because the same _Rhetorician_ in another place speaks of those Wars
in the Confines of the _Batavi_, which we have shewn not to be far
distant from the _Franks_, I will set down his Words at Length. _Multa
Francorum millia, &c._ "He slew, drove out, and took Prisoners many
thousand _Franks_, who had invaded _Batavia_, and other Territories on
this side the _Rhine_." And in another Place says, "He clear'd the
Country of the _Batavians_, which had before been possess'd by several
Nations and Kings of the _Franks_; and not satisfied with only
overcoming them, he transplanted them into the _Roman_ Territories, and
forced them to lay aside their Fierceness as well as their Weapons."
From which place we are given to understand, not obscurely, that
_Constantine_, (being constrain'd to do so by the _Franks_) granted them
Lands within the Bounds of the _Roman_ Empire. _Ammianus_, lib. 15.
writes, that the _Franks_, during the Civil Wars between _Constantine_
and _Licinius_, sided with _Constantine_, and fought very valiantly for
him. And in other places of the same Book he records, that during the
Reign of _Constantine_, the Son of _Constantine_, great numbers of
_Franks_ were at that _Court_ in high favour and authority, with
_Cæsar_. "Afterwards, says he, _Malarichus_ on a sudden got power,
having gained the _Franks_; whereof at that time great numbers
flourish'd at Court."--During the Reign of _Julian_, call'd the
_Apostate_, the same _Franks_ endeavour'd to restore the City of
_Cologne_ (which was grievously oppress'd by _Roman_ Slavery) to its
liberty: and forced it, after a long Siege, to surrender thro' Famine;
as the same _Ammianus_ tells us, _lib._ 12. And because one Band of
those _Franks_ fix'd their Habitations upon the Banks of the River
_Sala_, they were thereupon called _Salii_; concerning whom he writes in
the same Book,--"Having prepar'd there things, he first of all march'd
towards the _Franks_; I mean those _Franks_ which were commonly called
_Salii_, who had formerly with great boldness fix'd their Habitations
within the _Roman_ Territories, near a place called _Toxiandria_."
Again, in his 20th Book he makes mention of that Country possess'd by
the _Franks_ beyond the _Rhine_, and called _Francia_.--"Having on a
sudden pass'd the _Rhine_, he enter'd the Country of those _Franks_
called _Attuarii_, a turbulent sort of People, who at that time made
great Havock on the Frontiers of _Gallia_."--And in his 30th Book, where
he speaks of King _Macrianus_, with whom _Valentinian_ the Emperor had
lately made a Peace on the Banks of the _Rhine_, in the Territory of
_Mentz_,--"He died, says he, in _Francia_, whilst he was utterly wasting
with Fire and Sword all before him, being kill'd in an Ambush laid for
him by that valiant King _Mellobandes_." Now of this _Mellobandes_, King
of the _Franks_, the same Author in his following Book gives this
Character; "That he was brave and valiant, and upon the score of his
Military Virtue constituted great Master of the Houshold by the Emperor
_Gratianus_, and Lieutenant-General (in conjunction with _Nannienus_) of
that Army which was sent against the _Lentiates_, a People of
_Germany_." Afterwards, by virtue of a Treaty concluded between the
_Franks_ and the Emperor _Honorius_, they defended the Frontiers of the
_Roman Gallia_ against _Stilicon_: For _Orosius_ tells us in his last
Book, "That the Nations of the _Alani_, _Suevi_ and _Vandali_, being
(together with many others) encouraged by _Stilicon_; pass'd the
_Rhine_, wasted the Territories of the _Franks_, and invaded _Gallia_."
After the Emperor _Honorius_'s time, we have very little in History
extant concerning the _Frank_'s Warlike Deeds. For to those Times must
be apply'd what St. _Ambrose_ writes in his Letter (the 29th) to
_Theodesius_ the Emperor: That the _Franks_ both in _Sicily_ and many
other Places, had overthrown _Maximus_ the _Roman_ General. "He (says
he, speaking of _Maximus_) was presently beaten by the _Franks_ and
_Saxons_ in all places of the Earth." But in the Reign of _Valentinian_
the 3d, that is, about the 450th Year of _Christ_, 'tis plain, by the
consent of all Writers, that _Childeric_, the Son of _Meroveus_, King of
the _Franks_, compleated the Deliverance of _Gallia_ from the _Roman_
Tyranny, after a continued Struggle of more than 200 Years; and was the
first that established in _Gallia_ a firm and certain Seat of Empire:
For altho' some reckon _Pharamond_ and _Clodio-crinitus_ as the first
Kings of the _Franks_, yet without doubt there were many before them,
who (like them) had cross'd the _Rhine_, and made Irruptions into
_Gallia_: but none had been able to settle any peaceable Dominion within
the Limits of _Gallia_. Now _Meroveus_, who is commonly reckon'd the 3d
King; tho' he was indeed King of the _Franks_, yet he was a Stranger and
a Foreigner, not created King in _Gallia_, not King of the
_Francogalli_; that is to say, not elected by the joint Suffrages of
both Nations united: In short, all these were Kings of the _Franci_, and
not of the _Francogalli_. But _Childeric_, the Son of _Meroveus_, was
(as we said before) the first that was elected by the publick Council of
the associated _Franks_ and _Gauls_, and he was created King; of
_Francogallia_ presently after his Father _Meroveus_ had been kill'd in
a Battel against _Attila_, during the Reign of _Valentinian_ the Third,
a dissolute and profligate Prince. At which time the _Angli_ and _Scoti_
took Possession of _Great Britain_; the _Burgundians_ of _Burgundy,
Savoy and Dauphine_; the _Goths_ of _Aquitain_: the _Vandals_ of
_Africk_ and _Italy_, nay of _Rome_ it self; the _Hanni_ under their
Leader _Attila_ wasted _Gallia_ with Fire and Sword. This _Attila_ having
an Army of about Five hundred thousand Men, over-ran all _Gallia_ as far
as _Thoulouse_. _Ætius_ was at that time Governor of _Gallia_, who
fearing the Power of _Attila_, made a League with the _Goths_, and by
their assistance defeated _Attila_ in a Battel; wherein, 'tis said, they
slew no fewer than a Hundred and eighty thousand Men. But the Conqueror
_Ætius_ being suspected by _Valentinian_ of aspiring to the Empire, was
afterwards, by his Command, put to Death; and within a little while
after, he himself was slain by _Maximus_ before-mention'd.
During these Transactions, _Meroveus_, King of the _Franks_, taking his
Opportunity, pass'd the _Rhine_, with a great Army; and joyning in
Confederacy with many Cities, who assisted in the common Cause of the
publick Liberty, possess'd himself at length of the innermost Cities
belonging to the _Celtæ_, between the _Seine_ and the _Garonne_. He
being dead, and both Nations (the _Gauls_ and _Franks_) united into one
Commonwealth; they unanimously elected _Childeric_, the Son of
_Meroveus_, for their King, placing him upon a Shield according to
ancient Custom; and carrying him upon their Shoulders thrice round the
place of Assembly, with great Acclamations of Joy, and universal
Congratulation, saluted him _King of Francogallia_. Of all which
particulars, _Sidonius Apollinaris_, _Gregorius Turonensis_, _Otto
Frising_, _Aimoinus_ and others are Witnesses; whose Testimonies we
shall further produce, when we come to treat of the Manner of the
Inauguration of the King.
The Words of the same _Otto_, in the last Chapter but one of his 4th
Book concerning their taking possession of several Cities, are
these.--"The _Franks_, after having pass'd the _Rhine_, in the first
place put to flight the _Romans_, who dwelt thereabouts; afterwards they
took _Tournay_ and _Cambray_, Cities of _Gallia_; and from thence
gaining ground, by degrees they subdued _Rheims_, _Soissons_, _Orleans_,
_Cologne_ and _Triers_." And thus much may briefly be said touching the
first King of _Francogallia_. To which we shall only subjoin this
Remark: [Footnote: Hotoman's _Francogallia_ was written _Anno_ 1573.] _That
altho' the Francogallican Kingdom_ has lasted from that time to this,
almost One thousand two hundred Years; yet during so long a space, there
are but three Families reckon'd to have possess'd the Throne, _viz._ the
Merovingians; who beginning from Meroveus, continued it to their
Posterity two hundred eighty three Years. The _Carlovingians_, who
drawing their Original from _Charles the Great_, enjoy'd it 337 Years:
And lastly, the _Capevignians_, who being descended from _Hugh Capet_,
now rule the Kingdom, and have done so for Five hundred and eighty Years
past.
* * * * *