The wars and conquests of Clovis had little resemblance to what we understand by the same words at the present day. The principal object of the Frankish expeditions was to make booty, and carry off slaves; this is what was called conquest in those days. The victor sometimes imposed a tribute; but there resulted from his victory hardly any permanent possession, and no civil settlement. Among other proofs of this assertion, I may instance the small number of the warriors who accompanied Clovis, who was never attended, on his expeditions, by more than five or six thousand men. Now, with this number, no civil settlement, not even a military occupation, was possible. When the conqueror had withdrawn, the conquered people gradually resumed their independence—a new chieftain arose. Barely did the conquerors settle in the lands which they had subjected; thus it was necessary incessantly to make the same conquests over again.
For a detailed narrative of these events, I refer you to the general histories of France, especially to the work of M. Sismondi.
Nowhere do we obtain a better picture of the manners of the Greeks in the heroic age than that supplied by the Iliad. A similar authority, with reference to the expeditions and manners of the Germanic people, exists in the poem of the Nibelungen. There you will best be able to obtain a correct knowledge and thorough comprehension of the state of society, and the nature of the wars at this epoch.
Death Of Clovis.
At the death of Clovis, in 571, the Frankish monarchy was definitively established; for he had made the Frankish name and people the most formidable and least contested power in Gaul.
Lecture X.
Division of territory among the sons of the Frankish kings.
Rapid formation and disappearance of several Frank kingdoms.
Neustria and Austrasia; their geographical division.
Early predominance of Neustria.
Fredegonde and Brunehaut.
Elevation of the Mayors of the Palace.
True character of their power.
The Pepin family.
Charles Martel.
Fall of the Merovingians.