Franks

A Germanic-speaking people who invaded the western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. Dominating present-day northern France, Belgium, and western Germany, the Franks established the most powerful Christian kingdom of early medieval western Europe. The name France (Francia) is derived from their name. They originally settled to the east of the Rhine and expanded west from the later 3rd and early 4th centuries. The Frankish kingdom was increased in size by Clovis (481-511) to occupy much of Roman Gaul, but reached its greatest extent under Charlemagne. The archaeology of the Franks is best known from their cemeteries and the goods interred within them. Many Roman manufacturing industries were preserved by the Franks, but they introduced Germanic craftsmanship, arts, and building techniques.

A Germanic tribe who crossed the Rhine in the later 3rd and 4th centuries. The Salian Franks settled in Flanders around the Gallo-Roman centre of Toumai, while the Ripurian Franks penetrated the central Rhineland and Cologne, Bonn and Mainz. Both tribes rose to dominate early medieval politics. The territory of the Salian Franks was greatly increased by their great king Clovis at the end of the 5th century, when much of northern France was drawn within their hegemony. Meanwhile, the Ripurian Franks consolidated their hold over the Rhineland, and provided the basis for the Austrasian kingdom. The archaeology of the Franks is best known from their cemeteries (see Reihengraberfeld) and the goods interred within them. Many Roman manufacturing industries were preserved by the Franks, but they introduced Germanic craftsmanship, arts and building techniques.