Stéphane Lebecq

How did the political entity known as France emerge? In this dense book, the author covers the consolidation of Frank power in Roman Gaul, in what was to become the Kingdom of France, and France.

The Franks, a Germanic tribe from beyond the Limes of the empire swept and established themselves in northern Roman Gaul in a number of fractious kingdoms, including Neustria and Austrasia covering approximately Northern France, the Benelux and Western Germany, in present day terms. Through the force of arms and demographic pressure, a Frankish Chief, Clovis was able to establish domination as rex francorum. The book covers a number of dynasties which established themselves at the head of the Franks and over this territory – the Merovingians firstly, and then the Pippinids (Palace Mayors) from whom the Carolingian emerged. Their success can be attributed to their synthesis of Frankish customs, Gallo-roman heritage, and the espousal of Christianity as their religion. While their legacy has been impressive in that they established what was to become France, the author argues that the heritage of the greatest Frank king, Charlemagne, or Charles the Great, has been mitigated: while he ruled over empire, the vassalage relationships he established were personal and temporal in nature, and not institutional and therefore did not survival his death.

This was a good meaty historical read, well supported by period accounts – the chronicles of monks, supported by archaeological evidence. Perhaps it suffers from a density of style, overabundance of names – minor actors tonsured and shipped off to monasteries never to be seen again – and a sparseness of maps and genealogical lineages. Also, perhaps due to the historical record, this story is predominantly told from the elite’s perspective but more on the context, including the great upheavals reshaping the society, would have been welcome. Welcomed too would have been a few notes on the other great legacy which emerged in this time: the French language. Having said that, I enjoyed revisiting those glorious historical episodes we learned of in elementary school: Clovis, Pepin le Bref, Charles Martel, Roncesvalles, and les rois fainéants – including – full disclosure – a few Thierrys, without suffering too many tears of boredom.… (mais)