_Whether the Kingdom of_ Francogallia _was_ hereditary
_or_ elective; _and the manner of making its_ Kings.
But here arises a famous Question; the Decision of which will most
clearly show the Wisdom of our Ancestors.--_Whether the Kingdom of
Francogallia were Hereditary, or conferr'd by the Choice and Suffrages
of the People_, That the _German_ Kings were created by the _Suffrages_
of the _People_. _Cornelius Tacitus_, in his Book _Demoribus Germanorum_,
proves plainly; and we have shown, that our _Franks_ were a _German_
People: _Reges ex nobilitate, Duces ex virtute sumunt_; "Their _Kings_
(says he) they chuse from amongst those that are most eminent for their
_Nobility_; their _Generals_ out of those _that are Famous for their
Valour:"_ Which Institution, [Footnote: 1574.] to this very day, the
_Germans, Danes, Sweeds and Polanders_ do retain. They _elect_ their
Kings in a _Great Council of the Nation_; the Sons of whom have this
privilege (as _Tacitus_ has recorded) to be preferr'd to other
Candidates. I do not know whether any thing cou'd ever have been devised
more prudently, or more proper for the Conversation of a Commonwealth,
than this Institution. For so _Plutarch_, in his Life of _Sylla_,
plainly advises. "Even (says he) as expert Hunters not only endeavour to
procure a Dog of a right good Breed, but a Dog that is known to be a
right good Dog himself; or a Horse descended from a generous Sire, but a
tryed good Horse himself: Even so, those that constitute a Commonwealth,
are much mistaken if they have more regard to _kindred_, than to the
_qualification_ of the Prince they are about to set over them."
And that this was the Wisdom of our Predecessors in constituting the
_Francogallican Kingdom_, we may learn, First, from the last Will and
Testament of the Emperor _Charlemagn_, publish'd by _Joannes Nauclerus_
and _Henricus Mutius_; in which there is this Clause--"And if any Son
shall hereafter be born to any of these, my three Sons, whom the People
shall be _willing to Elect_ to succeed his Father in the Kingdom; My
Will is, that his Uncles do consent and suffer the Son of their Brother
to reign over that portion of the Kingdom which was formerly his
Father's." Secondly, What _Aimoinus, lib._ I. _cap._ 4. says, of
_Pharamond_, commonly counted the first King of the _Franks_, in these
Words.--"The _Franks electing_ for themselves a King, according to the
custom of other Nations, raised up _Pharamond_ to the Regal Throne." And
again, _lib._ 4.--"But the Franks took a certain _Clerk_ or _Priest_
called _Daniel_; and as soon as his Hair was grown, _establish'd_ him in
the Kingdom, calling him _Chilperic_." And _lib._ 4. _cap._ 67.--"King
_Pipin_ being dead, his two Sons, _Charles_ and _Carlomannus_, were
_elected Kings by the consent of all the_ Franks." And in another
place--"As soon as _Pipin_ was dead, the _Franks_ having appointed a
solemn _Convention, constituted_ both his Sons Kings over them, upon
this foregoing condition, that they should divide the whole Kingdom
equally between them."--And again, after the Death of one of the
Brothers--"But _Charles_, after his Brother's Decease, was _constituted_
King by the _consent_ of all the _Franks_." Also, towards the end of his
History of _Charles the Great_, he says, "The Nobility of the _Franks_
being solemnly assembled from all parts of the Kingdom; he, in their
presence, called forth to him _Lewis_ King of _Aquitain_, (the only one
of _Heldegardis's_ Sons then living) and _by the advice and consent of
them all_, constituted him his Associate in the whole Kingdom, and Heir
of the Imperial Dignity." Thus much out of _Aimoinus_.
Many Testimonies of the like nature we find in _Gregorius Turen_ whereof
we shall cite only these few following, _lib. 2. cap. 12._--"The
_Franks_ (says he) having _expelled Childeric_; unanimously _elected
Eudo_ for their King."--Also _lib. 4. cap. 51._--"Then the _Franks_ (who
once looked towards _Childebert_ the Elder) sent an Embassy to
_Sigebert_, inviting him to leave _Chilperic_ and come to them, that
they by _their own Authority_ might make him King."--And a little
after--"The whole Army was drawn up before him; and having set him upon
a Shield, _they appointed_ him to be their King."--And in another
place--"_Sigebert_ agreeing to the _Franks_ Proposals, was placed upon a
Shield, according to the Custom of that Nation, and proclaimed King; and
so got the Kingdom from his Bother _Chilperic_"--And presently
after--"The _Burgundians_ and _Austrasians_ concluded a Peace with the
_Franks_, and made _Clotharius_ King over them in all the three
Kingdoms," Which particular the _Abbot_ of _Ursperg_ confirms. "The
_Burgundians_ (says he) and _Austrasians_ having struck up a Peace with
the _Franks_, advanced _Clotharius_ to be King and sole Ruler of the
whole Kingdom."--And in another place--"The _Franks_ appointed one of
his Brothers, called _Hilderic_, who was already King of the
_Austrasians_, to be also their King."
To this matter belongs what _Luitprandus Ticinensis_ writes, _lib. i.
cap. 6._ "And when he was about to enter into that _Francia_ which is
called _Roman_, (after having cross'd the Countries of the
_Burgundians_) several Ambassadors of the _Franks_ met him, acquainting
him that they were returning Home again; because being tired with long
expectation of his coming, and not able any longer to be without a King,
they had _unanimously_ Chosen _Odo_ or _Wido_, tho' 'tis reported the
_Franks_ did not take _Wido_ upon this occasion for their King, &c."
But concerning this _Odo_, the Story is memorable which _Sigibert_
relates; from whence we may more clearly be inform'd of the manner of
their _rejecting_ their King's _Son_, and "_setting up_ another in his
stead." For (_sub anno_ 890.) he says thus "But the _Franks_ neglecting
_Charles_ the Son of _Lewis the Stammerer_, a Boy scarce ten years old;
Elected, _Odo_ for their King, who was Son of _Duke Robert_, slain by
the _Normans_." Also _Otto Frinsing Chronic. lib. 6. cap. 10._ "The
_Western Franks_ (says he) with the consent of _Arnolphus_, chose for
their King _Odo_ a valiant Man, and Son of _Robert_."--Also in the
_Appendix_ to _Gregory_ of _Tours_, lib. 15. cap. 30. "After the Death
of _Dagobert, Clodoveus_ his Son obtain'd his Father's Kingdom, being at
that time very young, and all his _Leudes_ (that is, Subjects) _rais'd_
him to the Throne, _in Villa Masolano_."--Also _Sigebert_, in _chronic.
anno_ 987.--"_Lewis_ King of the _Franks_ being dead, the _Franks_ had a
mind to transfer the Kingdom to _Charles_ the Brother of _Lotharius_;
but whilst he spent too much time, deliberating with his Council
concerning that Affair, _Hugo_ acquires the Kingdom of the _Franks_,
&c." There are many Testimonies, of the same Kind in _Ado_, viz. _anno_
686.--"_Clodoveus_ the King dying, the _Franks_ elect _Clotarius_ his
Son for their King." And again, "--_Clotarius_ having reigned four
Years, died, in whose stead the Franks elected _Theodorick_ his
Brother--." Again, _anno_ 669. "The _Franks_ establish'd in the Kingdom
a certain Clerk, called _Daniel_, having caused him to quit his Tonsure
and Orders, and name him _Chilperic_." And again,--"The _Franks_
appoint, as King over them, _Theodoric_ the Son of _Dagobert_"--. Also
_Otto Frising_ chron. 6. cap. 13.--"_Otto_ (says he) King of the
_Franks_ being dead, _Charles_ was created King by unanimous Consent--."
The Appendix to _Greg. Turon._ _lib._ 11. _cap._ 101. says thus, "When
_Theodoric_ was dead, the _Franks_ elected _Clodoveus_ his Son, who was
very young, to be their King." And _cap._ 106. "But the _Franks_ appoint
one _Chilperick_ to be their King." Also _Godfrey_ of _Viterbo_, _chron.
part._ 17. _cap._ 4. "--But _Pipin_ in being elected by the _Franks_,
was declared King by Pope _Zacharias_, _they having thrust their
cowardly King_ Hilderic _into a Monastery_."
From these Proofs, and very many others like them, I think 'tis most
plain, that the Kings of _Francogallia_ were made such rather by the
_Suffrages_ and _Favour_ of the _People_, than by any _Hereditary
Right_. Of which a farther Argument may be the _Forms_ and _Ceremonies_
used by our _Ancestors_, at the Inauguration of their _Kings_. For we
observe, the very same Custom was continued at the _Election_ of our
Kings, which we told you before out of _Cornelius Tacitus_, was formerly
practised by the _Caninesates_, (the _Franks_ own Country-men) _viz._
that they set their _Elected King_ upon a _Shield_, and carried him on
high on Men's Shoulders. So did we; for whoever was chosen by the Votes
of the People, was set upon a _Shield_, and carried thrice round the
place of publick Meeting for _Election_, or round about the Army on
Men's Shoulders, all the People expressing their joy by Acclamations,
and clapping of Hands. _Greg. Turen. lib._ 2. where he makes mention of
King _Clodoveus's_ Election,--"But they (says he) as soon as they heard
these things, applauding him both with their Hands and Tongues, and
hoisting him on a Shield, _appointed_ him to be their King--." Also
_lib._ 7. _cap._ 10. where he speaks of _Gondebaldus_,--"And there (says
he) placing their King upon a _Shield_, they lifted him up; but 'tis
reported, that as they were carrying him round the third time, he fell
down; so that he was scarcely kept from tumbling to the very Ground by
those that stood about him." Of which Accident _Aimoinus, lib. 3. cap.
6._ gives us this Account,--"They called forth _Gondebaldus_, and
according to the Custom of the ancient _Franks_, proclaimed him their
King, and hoisted him on a Shield; and as they were carrying him the
third time round the whole Army, of a sudden they fell down with him,
and could scarce get him up again from the Ground--." The like says
_Ado. Vien._ Ætat. 6.--_"Sigebertus_ consenting to the _Franks_, was
placed upon a Shield, according to the _Custom of that Nation_, and
proclaimed King": And peradventure from hence arose that Form among
those Writers, who treat of the Creation of a King;--_In Regem elevatus
est._
But now we come to the third Part of this Controversy, in order to
understand, how great the _Right and Power of the People_ was, both in
_making_ and _continuing_ their Kings. And I think it is plainly prov'd
from all our Annals, that the _highest Power_ of _abdicating_ their
_Kings_, was lodged in the _People_. The very first that was created
King of _Francogallia_, is a remarkable instance of his Power. For when
the People had found him out to be a profligate lewd Person, wasting his
time in Adulteries and Whoredoms, they removed him from his Dignity by
universal Consent, and constrain'd him to depart out of the Territories
of _France_: and this was done, as our Annals testify, in the Year of
Christ 469. Nay, even _Eudo_, whom they had placed in his stead, abusing
his Power thro' excessive Pride and Cruelty, was with the like Severity
_turned out_. Which Fact we find attested by _Gregory of Tours, lib. 2.
cap. 12. Aimoinus, lib. 1. cap. 7. Godfrey of Viterbo, part. 17. cap. 1.
Sigibertus, sub annis 461, & 469. "Childeric_ (says _Gregorius_) being
dissolved in Luxury, when he was King of the _Franks_, and beginning to
deflower their Daughters, was by his Subjects _cast out of the Throne
with Indignation_; whereupon he finding they had a Design to kill him,
fled into _Thoringia_." But the _Abbot of Ursperg_ says, "the People were
unwilling to kill him, but contented themselves with having _turn'd him
out, because he was a dissolute Man_, and a Debaucher of his Subjects
Daughters--." _Sigibertus_ says,--"_Hilderick_ behaving himself
insolently and luxuriously, the _Franks thrust him out of the Throne_,
and made _Ægidius_ their King."
And this most glorious and famous Deed of our Ancestors, deserves the
more diligently to be remark'd, for having been done at the very
Beginning, and as it were, the Infancy of that Kingdom; as if it had
been a Denunciation, and Declaration, that the Kings of _Francogallia_
were made such, upon certain _known terms and Conditions_; and were _not
Tyrants_ with _absolute unlimited_ and _arbitrary_ Power.
Their Successors also, keeping up the same Custom, in the Year of
_Christ_ 679, forced _Childeric_, their Eleventh King, to _Abdicate_,
because he had behaved himself insolently and wickedly in his
Government. And he having formerly caused a certain Nobleman, called
_Bodilo_, to be tied to a Stake and whipp'd, without bringing him to a
Tryal, was a few Days after slain by the same _Bodilo_. Our Authors are
_Aimoinus, lib. 4. cap. 44_, _Trithemius, anno 678._ and _Sigebertus,
anno 667_.
The Severity of our Ancestors appear'd in the same Manner a little while
after, in the Instance of their 12th King _Theodoric_; who being a
wicked and covetous Prince, "the _Franks_ (says _Aimoinus_) _rose up
against him_, and _cast him out of the Kingdom_, cutting off his hair by
_force_," lib. 4. cap. 44.--_Ado_, Ætat. 6. anno 696. but _Sigebertus_
sub anno 667. imputes a great many of his Crimes to _Ebroinus_ his
Favourite and chief General. [Footnote: _Præfectus Regius._] "King
_Theodorick_" (says he) "was _deposed_ by the _Franks_, because of the
Insolence of _Ebroinus_, and his Brother _Hilderick_ was with unanimous
Consent _chosen_ King." And _Ado_ says, "The _Franks_ cast _Theodorick_
out of the Kingdom, shaved _Ebroinus_ in the Monastery of _Lexovium_,
and afterwards raised _Childerick_ to be King over them." Also the
Appendix to _Greg. of Tours, lib. II. cap. 64._--"The _Franks_ rise up
in _Arms_ against _Theodorick, cast him out_ of the Kingdom, and cut off
his Hair: They shaved also _Ebroinus."_
The like Virtue our Ancestors exerted in the Case of _Chilperick_ their
18th King, whom they _forced to abdicate the Kingdom_, [Footnote: _Regno se
abdicare coegerunt._] and made him a Monk, judging him unworthy to sit
at the Helm of so great an Empire, [Footnote: _Propter inertiam._] _by
reason of his Sloth._ Whereof _Aimoinus_, lib. 4. cap. 61. _Sigibertus_
and _Trithemius_, anno 750. and _Godfrey_, Chronic. part. 17. cap. 4.
are our Witnesses.
Again, a sixth Example of the like Severity is extant in _Charles the
Gross_ their 25th King; who for the like _Cowardise_, and because he had
granted away part of _France_ to the _Normans, suffering his Kingdom to
be dismembred_, was [Footnote: _Ab optimatibus Regni repudiatas._]
_rejected and turn'd out_ by the _Nobility_ and _Gentry_ of the Kingdom,
as _Sigebertus_ tells us _anno 890_. Which same thing _Godfridus_
records, _part. 17._ But more at large _Otto Frising, chron. 6. cap. 9._
where he adds this memorable Passage,--"This Man (says he) who next to
_Charles the Great_, had been the King of greatest Power and Authority
of all the Kings of the Franks, was in a short time reduced to so low a
Condition, that he wanted Bread to eat, and miserably begged a small
Allowance from _Arnolphus_, who was _chosen_ King in his stead, and
thankfully accepted of a poor Pension: From whence we may observe the
uncertain and miserable State of all Human Greatness; that he who had
govern'd all the _Eastern_ and _Western_ Kingdoms, together with the
_Roman_ Empire, shou'd at last be brought down to such a Degree of
Poverty, as to want even Bread." A Seventh Instance is _Odo_ the 26th
King, who after he had been elected King in the Room of _Charles_ the
Son of _Lewis_ the _Stammerer_, was in the 4th Year of his Reign, by the
_Franks, banish'd_ into _Aquitain_, and commanded to abide there; they
replacing in his stead the same _Charles_ the Son of _Lewis_. Which Fact
is recorded by _Sigebertus_, sub anno 894. _Aimoinus_ lib. 5. cap. 42.
and _Godfridus_ part. 17.
We must add to this Number _Charles_ the 27th King, sirnamed (because of
his _Dullness_) [Footnote: _Propter Stuporem ingenii._] _Charles_ the
_Simple_: Who having thro' his Folly suffer'd his Kingdom to run to
Decay, and lost _Lorrain_ (which he had before recover'd) was _taken and
cast into Prison_, and _Rodolphus_ was _chosen_ in his place, as
_Aimoinus, lib. 5. cap. 42._ and _Sigebertus, anno 926._ do testify.
* * * * *