_Of the_ Capevingian _Race, and the Manner of its
obtaining the Kingdom of_ Francogallia.
It has been already shewn, that the Kingdom of _Francogallia_ continued
in Three Families only, during One Thousand Two Hundred Years. Whereof
the first was called the _Merovingian_ Family. The second, the
_Carlovingian_, from the Names of their Founders or Beginners. For
altho' (as we have often told you) the Succession to the Kingdom was not
conferred as _Hereditary_ Right, but according to the Appointment of the
_General Council_; yet the _Franks_ were so far willing to retain the
Custom of their Progenitors the _Germans_, (who as _Tacitus_ tells us,
chuse their _Kings_ for their _Nobility_, and their _Generals_ for their
_Valour_) that for the most Part they elected such Kings as were of the
Blood _Royal_, and had been educated in a Regal Manner, whether they
were the Children, or some other Degree of Kindred to the Royal Family.
But in the Year 987, after the Death of _Lewis_ the Fifth, who was the
31st King of _Francogallia_, and the 12th of the _Carlovingian_ Line,
there hapned a Migration or Translation of the Royal Scepter, and a
Change of the Kingdom. For when there remained no Person alive of the
former Family but _Charles Duke of Lorrain_, Uncle to the deceased King,
to whom the Succession to the Kingdom, by ancient Custom seemed to be
due; there arose up one _Hugh Capet_, Nephew to _Hauvida_, Sister to the
Emperor _Otho_ the First, and Son to _Hugh_ Earl of _Paris_; a Man of
great Reputation for Valour, who alledged, that he being present upon
the Place, and having deserved extraordinary well of his Country, ought
to be preferred to a Stranger, who was absent. For there having hapned
some Controversies between the _Empire of Germany_, and the Kingdom of
_France_; _Charles_ upon Occasion had shewn himself partial for the
_Empire_ against _France_, and upon that Score had lost the Affections
of most of the _French_. Whereupon _Charles_ having raised an Army, made
an Irruption into _France_, and took several Cities by Composition.
_Capet_ relying on the Friendship and Favour of the _Francogallican_
Nobles, got together what Forces he cou'd, and went to meet him at
_Laon_, a Town in the Borders of _Champagne_; and not long after a
bloody Battel was fought between them, wherein _Capet_ was routed, and
forced to fly into the innermost Parts of _France_; where he began again
to raise Men in Order to renew the War. In the mean Time _Charles_
having dismiss'd his Army, kept himself quiet in the Town of _Laon_ with
his Wife; but in the Year following he was on a sudden surrounded by
_Capet_, who besieged the Town with a great Army.
There was in the Place one _Anselmus_, Bishop of the City. _Capet_ found
Means to corrupt this Man by great Gifts and Promises, and to induce him
to betray both the Town and the King into his Hands; which was
accordingly done. And thus having obtained both the City and the
Victory, he sent _Charles_ and his Wife Prisoners to _Orleans_, where he
set strict Guards over them. The King having been two Years in Prison,
had two Sons born to him there, _Lewis_ and _Charles_; but not long
after they all died. So that _Capet_ being now Master of the whole
Kingdom of _France_ without Dispute or Trouble, associated his Son
_Robert_ with him in the Throne, and took care to get him declared his
Successor. Thus the Dignity and Memory of the _Carlovingian_ Family came
to an End, the 237th Year after the first Beginning of their Reign. And
this History is recorded by _Sigebert_ in _Chron._ Ann. 987. as well as
the _Appendix_, lib. 5. cap. 45.
We must not omit making Mention of the _cunning Device_ made use of by
_Hugh Capet_, for establishing himself in his new Dominion: For whereas
all the Magistracies and Honours of the Kingdom, such as _Dukedoms,
Earldoms_, &c. had been hitherto from ancient Times conferr'd upon
select and deserving Persons in the General _Conventions_ of the
_People_, and were held only during good _behaviour_; whereof (as the
Lawyers express it) they were but _Beneficiaries_; _Hugh Capet_, in
order to secure to himself the Affections of the Great Men, was the
first that made those _Honours perpetual_, which formerly were but
_temporary_; and ordained, that such as obtained them shou'd have a
hereditary Right in them, and might leave them to their Children and
Posterity in like Manner as their other Estates. Of this, see
_Franciscus Conanus_ the Civilian, _Comment. 2. Cap. 9._ By which
notorious fact, 'tis plain, that a great Branch of the _Publick
Council's_ Authority was torn away; which however (to any Man who
seriously considers the Circumstances of those Times) seems impossible
to have been affected by him alone, without the Consent of that _Great
Council_ it self.
* * * * *