Question 1

Who were the Franks?

Accepted Answer

The Franks were a Germanic people originating along the lower Rhine River. They were originally settled in Belgium and along the Rhine by the Western Roman Empire, but they eventually conquered Gaul and expanded their influence to include much of Western and Central Europe.

Question 2

What ethnicity were the Franks?

Accepted Answer

The Franks were of Germanic origin, though they gradually became Romanized culturally as they intermingled with the Gallo-Roman population of Gaul. By the time of the Crusades, the word 'Frank' had lost its ethnic meaning and was used to broadly refer to Western or Central Europeans who practiced Catholicism.

Question 3

Why were the Franks called 'the Franks'?

Accepted Answer

The word 'Frank' means 'the fierce' or 'the brave', and also came to mean 'the free', which became the definition favored by the Franks themselves. The name also may have originated from the "franca", a type of throwing javelin that the Franks used in battle.

Question 4

Who were some important Frankish leaders?

Accepted Answer

Some notable Frankish leaders include Clovis I (r. 481-511), who conquered Gaul, converted to Christianity, and united the Franks; Charles Martel (r. c. 715-741), who founded the Carolingian Dynasty; and Charlemagne (r. 768-814), who doubled the size of the Frankish realm and became the first Holy Roman Emperor.

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