-
Chapter V
- Liberty Fund
- Chapter
- Additional Information
191 u chapt e r v u Of France.§1. As far as we can search into the most ancient Histories, it is evident from thence, That Gaul, now call’d France, has been a very powerfull and populous Country. For the Gauls [die Gallische nation] in ancient times had conquer’d a great part of Italy, where they settled themselves; who also, when they had over run Greece and some other Countries [Oerter], inhabited a part of the Lesser Asia, which was called from them Galatia or Gallo-graecia: Yet formerly this so powerfull Country did never either rightly understand or exert its own Strength against other Nations [die fremden], because it was not then under the Government of one ‘Prince’ [lord], but divided into a great many petty States [Staaten], which were always at variance with one another. This much facilitated the Conquest of the Romans over them, who else stood not in fear of any Nation [sic] so much as the Gauls. And tho’ the incomparable Valour of Julius Caesar was chiefly instrumental in subduing this Nation, yet with ten Legions he had work enough to effect it [only] in ten Years time. But as soon as the Romans had brought this fair Country [Land] under their Subjection, they employ’d all means to suppress the Martial Spirit of this Nation [Volck], in which they succeeded as well in this as in ‘other Nations’ [their other provinces], it being their Custom to civilize and refine the Manners of these Nations [Leute], thereby to render them soft and effeminate. 1. This paragraph offers a good example of the imprecision of Crull’s terminology , which cannot be used to gauge Pufendorf’s own usage and consistency. The most ancient State of France. Gaul subdued by the Romans. 192 chapter v After France had been near 500 Years under the Dominion of the Romans, it fell, under the Reign of the Emperour Honorius, into the Hands of the Barbarous Nations. For the Goths, after they had overrun Italy, settled themselves in Gallia Narbonensis, and the Burgundians , conquer’d a considerable part of the rest. But the Franks entring this Kingdom, settled and maintained themselves in it, giving it the Name of France, after their own Name. These Franks, were for certain, Germans, tho’ some of our Modern French Writers pretend to demonstrate, That this Nation was a Colony of the ancient Gauls, who being overstock’d with People at home, passed over the Rhine, and having settled a Colony in Germany, after several hundred Years, return’d into their Native Country. But it is more probable, That the Franks are the same ‘Nations’ [peoples] which were formerly encompass’d by the Rivers of the Mayn, the Rhine, the Weser, and the Sea; and which in Tacitus’s time were call’d Salii, Bructeri, Frisii, Angrivarii , Chamari, Sigambri and Chatti, and who having enter’d into a mutual Confederacy against the Romans, called themselves, in spite of their Power, Franks, or a free People, as not doubting but to be able to defend their Liberty against them. And it is certain, that they did transplant the German Tongue into France, which was for a great while after in fashion among persons of the best Quality, till at last they used themselves, by degrees, to the Latin Tongue, formerly introduced by the Romans, which being corrupted by the German Tongue produced the modern French Language. It is also evident, that the Race of the ancient Gauls was not quite extinguish’d, but that both Nations were by degrees united in one, yet with this difference, that the Frankish Families made up the ‘Body’ [most distinguished part] of the Nation. 2. After the death of Theodosius the Great in 395, the Roman Empire was again divided into eastern and western halves. Honorius (384–423) ruled in the West while his brother Arcadius (377–408) ruled the East. Rome was sacked in 410 under Honorius. 3. The region south of the Alps and east of the Pyrenees, along the Mediterranean , which was also called Transalpine Gaul. The in-text designation reflects the province’s capital city of Narbonne. 4. See The Present State of Germany, I.3–5, in Pufendorf (2007), pp. 28–31. By the Barbarous Nations. That the Franks came out of Germany. The origin of the French Language. [3.89.116.152] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 10:34 GMT) of france 193§2...