University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
  
expand section 
  
expand section 
  

expand section1. 
expand section2. 
expand section3. 
expand section4. 
expand section5. 
expand section6. 
expand section7. 
expand section8. 
expand section9. 
expand section10. 
expand section11. 
expand section12. 
expand section13. 
expand section14. 
expand section15. 
expand section16. 
expand section17. 
expand section18. 
expand section19. 
expand section20. 
expand section21. 
expand section22. 
expand section23. 
expand section24. 
collapse section25. 
 25.1. 
expand section25.2. 
expand section25.3. 
expand section25.4. 
 25.5. 
 25.6. 
expand section25.7. 
 25.8. 
 25.9. 
expand section25.10. 
 25.11. 
expand section25.12. 
expand section25.13. 
collapse section25.14. 
  
  
expand section25.15. 
expand section26. 
expand section27. 
expand section28. 
expand section29. 
expand section30. 
expand section31. 

18.30. 30. Of the national Assemblies of the Franks.

It has been remarked above that nations who do not cultivate the land enjoy great liberty.

This was the case of the Germans. Tacitus says that they gave their kings, or chiefs, a very moderate degree of power; [55] and Csar adds further that in times of peace they had no common magistrates; but their princes administered justice in each village. [56] Thus, as Gregory of Tours [57] sufficiently proves, the Franks in Germany had no king.

"The princes," says Tacitus, "deliberate on matters of no great concern; while affairs of importance are submitted to the whole nation, but in such a manner that these very affairs which are under the cognizance of the people are at the same time laid before the princes." [58] This custom was observed by them after their conquests, as may be seen in all their records. [59]

Tacitus says that capital crimes might be carried before the assembly. [60] It was the same after the conquest, when the great vassals were tried before that body.

Footnotes

[55]

"Nec Regibus libera aut infinita potestas. Cæterum neque animadvertere, neque vincire, neque verberare, &c." — "De Moribus Germanorum," 7.

[56]

"In pace nullus est communis magistratus, sed principes regionum atque pagorum inter suos jus dicunt." — "De Bello Gall.," lib. vi. 22.

[57]

Book ii.

[58]

"De minoribus principes consultant, de majoribus omnes; ita tamen ut ea quorum penes plebem arbitrium est, apud principes pertractentur." -- "De Moribus Germanorum," 11.

[59]

"Lex consensu Populi fit et constitutione Regis." — "Capitularies of Charles the Bald," year 864, art. 6.

[60]

"Licet apud Concilium accusare et discrimen capitis intendere." -- "De Moribus Germanorum," 12.