The Franks: History and Facts

The Franks: History and Facts

The Franks: History and Facts

Several Germanic tribes that moved into Gaul from northern Europe were the ancestors of the Franks. France got its name from the Franks, and this is where the country is now. During the Middle Ages, the Franks were ruled by two major dynasties: the Merovingian and the Carolingian.

Merovingian Kingdom

In the year 509 AD, King Clovis led the Franks to their first unity. He established the Merovingian Dynasty, which went on to dominate the Franks for the ensuing two centuries. With the help of Clovis, the Franks drove the Visigoths out of Gaul and into Spain. In addition, he became a Christian, and the Pope acknowledged him as the first Frankish king.

Carolingian Empire

The Merovingian Dynasty came to an end when Pepin the Short took power with the support of the Frankish nobles. He began the Carolingian Dynasty, which would rule the Franks from 751 to 843.

Charlemagne

Charlemagne, who ruled from 742 to 814, was the greatest emperor of the Franks and the Carolingian Empire. By extending the Frankish Empire, Charlemagne came to control a sizable chunk of Europe. A strong administration, written laws, education, a monetary standard, and support for the arts were just a few of the reforms he brought to the Franks.

Holy Roman Empire

The first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, was anointed by the Pope on December 25, 800 AD. The Holy Roman Empire started with this. The Catholic Church was thought to be protected by the Holy Roman Emperor. He was regarded as the head of the European kings and had the support of the church.

An Empire Divided

Following Charlemagne’s passing, his son Louis the Pious was the only emperor in power. But Louis was a father of three sons. The sons of the king shared the empire, so the Frankish myth goes. Following King Louis’s death in 843, the Frankish Empire was split up into three states, two of which would go on to become Western European nations, France and Germany.

Culture

In many ways the Franks were at the heart of the culture of the Middle Ages. It was the Franks who developed the concept of the knight and the feudal system.

Frankish Knight

The heavily armored cavalry was one of the Frankish army’s most formidable formations. The name “knight” was given to these warriors. The cost of war horses and metal armor made knighthood an exclusive privilege for the exceedingly affluent. For their wartime contributions, knights were frequently given land awards. The feudal system developed as a result of this.

Feudal System

Under the feudal system, the land was divided up among knights or lords. In return for the land, the knights pledged to fight for the king. This land was known as a fief and both the land and the title of knight were often inherited by the oldest son.

Facts about the Franks

• The name for the Merovingian Dynasty comes from the grandfather of Clovis, King Merovech.
• Clovis became king when he was just 15 years old.
• Charlemagne was also known as Charles the Great or King Charles I.
• Charlemagne founded both the French and the German monarchies. His nickname is the “Father of Europe”.
• Frankish knights wore chain mail armor usually in the form of a long shirt called a hauberk.
• Charlemagne’s mother was called “Bigfoot Bertha”. This was a complement at the time meaning that she had attractive long and narrow feet.
• The reign of Charlemagne is sometimes called the “Carolingian renaissance.

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