Francia, Fraunce, Frauns, Gaul, Gallia
France is a country located in Western Europe, bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Andorra.
France becomes the playing field for a number of important events in Arthurian romance. In most legends, France is used synonymously with Gaul or Gallia.
Before Rome subjugated Gaul in the first century BC, France was a collection of independent territories ruled by Celtic clans. There were literally hundreds of different tribes of varying origins. The lack of a Gaulish “high king,” or centralized ruler, was to Rome’s advantage. Caesar oversaw the conquest of France in 58 BC. Rome ruled France for the next five hundred years, building a vast infrastructure and protecting the territory from barbarian invasions. With the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century came legions of Frankish, Gothic, and Burgundian invaders. France was splintered, united, and splintered again.
During the Arthurian period, the Franks, from whom its present name is derived, had established themselves as the most prominent rulers by about 457 AD. These included King Childeric I, whom ruled until about 481, when he was succeeded by his son King Clovis I, possibly the King Claudas of Arthurian tales. The latter ruled from 481 to 511, which would place him in the “Arthurian period.” After Clovis’s death his son divided the kingdom and France again collapsed into numerous territories that were not re-united until the time of Charlemagne in the eighth century.
The interesting King Claudas may have been trying to bring France under one crown. Malory mentions another French monarch, King Faramon of France, in the Prose Tristan, appears to have been a sort of high king of France and owed his allegiance to Uther Pendragon.
This must have included more or less the area of present-day France, with a few sub-kingdoms unsubjugated or imperfectly subjugated, like Benwick. Malory confuses as to whether France was one small subkingdom of Gaul, or vice versa, or whether they were in fact completely interchangable names.
According to Geoffrey of Monmouth, Arthur conquered France from Frollo during his reign. A number of other texts likewise tell us that it was under the rule of Arthur, and indeed, it seems that Arthurian heroes spent as much time here as anywhere. Many knights and kings that owed allegiance to Arthur came from Brittany. King Ban of Benoic, King Bors of Gannes, King Claudas of the Land Laid Waste, and the knights Lancelot, Hector, Blamor of Gannes (Blamore de Ganis), and Bleoberis of Gannes, as well as many others, all came from French lands.
Arthur fought his war with the Lucius the Roman on French soil, in Normandy and Burgundy. In the Stanzaic Morte Arthur and in Malory, the country seems to belong to Lancelot, since he appoints Lionel its king when Arthur and Lancelot go to war.
In Welsh legend, three of Arthur’s warriors are named as the “King of France”: Iona, Paris, and Gwilenhin. Arthur apparently has command of the country, for he summons all France’s warriors before the epic hunting of Twrch Trwyth. Der Pleier calls France’s king Linefles.
France | 0 to the 9th century AD
Roman Gaul | 1st century BC – 5th century AD
The territory of modern France was part of the Roman province of Gaul. Julius Caesar conquered Gaul in the first century BC, and it became a Roman stronghold.
Gallic Resistance and Romanization
The Gallic Wars, 58-50 BC, were a series of conflicts between the Romans led by Caesar and various Gallic tribes. The most famous episode was the Siege of Alesia. Over time, Gaul was Romanized, adopting Roman customs, laws, language, and it was characterized by urbanization and infrastructure development.
Fall of the Western Roman Empire | 5th century
In 476 AD, the Western Roman Empire collapsed, marking the end of Roman rule in Gaul. Various Germanic and Frankish tribes, including the Visigoths and Vandals, took control of parts of Gaul.
Frankish Kingdom | 5th – 8th centuries
The Franks, a Germanic tribe, emerged as a dominant force in Gaul under leaders such as Clovis I, the first king of the Merovingian dynasty. Clovis I converted to Christianity in the late fifth century, marking the beginning of Christian rule in the region. The Frankish kingdom expanded its territory and played a crucial role in the post-Roman political landscape.
Merovingian and Carolingian Dynasties
Clovis I’s reign (late fifth to early sixth centuries) is considered foundational for the kingdom of the Franks. He united various Frankish tribes and established a centralized monarchy. Clovis I’s conversion to Christianity had a lasting impact on the religious landscape.
The Carolingian dynasty, established by Charles Martel and furthered by Charlemagne, became prominent in the eighth century. Charles Martel’s victory at the Battle of Tours in 732, halted the advance of the Muslim Moors into Europe. Charlemagne (768-814) expanded the Frankish kingdom, leading to the Carolingian Empire, which included large parts of Western and Central Europe.
Charlemagne’s Empire | 9th century
Charlemagne’s reign marked a brief period of politicial unity in the Carolingian Empire. In 800, he was crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III. The Carolingian Renaissance under Charlemagne saw a revival of learning and culture.
See also
Francia | The Legend of King Arthur
Sources
Culhwch and Olwen | Late 11th century
Historia Regum Britanniae | Geoffrey of Monmouth, c. 1138
Brut | Layamon, late 12th century to mid-13th century
Prose Tristan | 1230-1240
The Stanzaic Le Morte Arthur | 14th century
Le Morte Darthur | Sir Thomas Malory, 1469-1470