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dred years after Rome's fall before
that restoration would
be
fully ac–
complished, the power ofthe Franks
was already growing less than ten
years after Rome's collapse in A.D.
476.
Years 482-511 : The Frankish
Kingdom. Clovis, or Chlodovech,
becomes Jeader of those Frankish
tribes which acknowledged the su–
premacy of bis father. He is only
fifteen , but within five years, his
forces wiU defeat Syagrius, the ruler
of the kingdom of Soissons.
Syagrius is the Jast independent Ro–
man ruler in Gaul.
Clovis' great expansion through–
out Gaul brings him face to face
with the Visigoths. The Visigothic
king, alarmed by the increasing
power of Clovis' kingdom, warns
him to proceed no further.
Clovis is still a pagan; he ís ac–
knowledged neither by the emperor
in Byzantium nor the Roman pon–
títf. Clovis then takes a crucial step.
He and his army are solemnly bap–
tized and received into the Catholic
church at Rheims on Christmas day,
496. This unique event marks a
turning point in the history of Euro–
pean civilization and transforms the
political and religious relationships
in Europe.
Clovis no doubt sees the political
advantages of bis baptism. He will
be the only Catholic Germanic king
in Gaul. In fact, he will be the only
one in
al/
of Western Europe. All
the others are Arian. As a Catholic,
he gains the support of the episco–
pate.
Clovis is now the champion of
Roman Catholicism against Arian–
ism. In 507, he disregards the threat
of the Visigothic king, boldly takíng
on the whole Visigothic empire in
southern Gaul and northern Spain.
CJovis even effects an alliance with
the eastern emperor against the Os–
trogoths in Italy.
But after Clovis' death, his Me–
rovingian dynasty disintegrates. The
bishops of Gaul who have provided
the greatest support are very disap–
pointed by the decline; the bishop
22
at Rome has lost his temporal
sword. Clovis has led his Franks in a
prodigious campaign of expansion
across the Rhine and as far as the
Alps and Pyrenees. But bis succes–
sors are unable to follow up the
thrust during the next two cen turies.
Years 714-741: T he Frankish
Kingdom. In 714, Charles Marte!
becomes ruler of the Franks. He be–
gins the reunification of bis people.
His reunification will culminate in
the reestablishment of a Western
European empire under his grand–
son, Charlemagne.
The situation is desperate
throughout Europe. A new política!
and religious power threatens to ex–
termínate Christianity and the cul–
ture of Europe. This new power
conquers under the banner of Allah
-Islam.
As early as 638, Jerusalem falls to
Arab armies. Withio three decades,
the forces of Islam sweep away
Syria, Persia, Egypt and North Af–
rica. In 711, the Visigoths are driven
from Spain. By 7 17, Arab armies
are assaulting Constantinople. The
Arabs are masters of the Mediterra–
nean Sea, and they take Sicily and
Crete and harass ltaly. The fate of
Asia Minor is in doubt. Moslem ar–
mies make forays into soutb-central
France after 717.
The need for a strong European
power to withstand the Moslem on–
slaught is vital. There ís only one:
the
regnum Francorum.
By 732, Charles Marte! has uníted
various principalities in Gaul. He
forros a powerful and united army
which defeats the Arabs near Poi–
tiers in 732. Charles " the Hammer"
is now the hero of Western Chris–
tianity, a proveo fighter who can of–
fer protection to the weak.
Just prior to and during the era of
Charles Martel, the Anglo-Saxon
Wynfrid, or St. Boniface, is accom–
plishing much of his missionary
work. One historian will call Boni–
face one of the " truly outstanding
creators of the first Europe." St.
Boniface is also "the chief fomentor
of the alliance between the papacy
and the
Caro~ingian
family." Ao–
other Anglo-Saxon, Alcuin, will
be
a
dominant force during the reign of
Charlemagne. English leaders will
have a great part in solidifying a
revíved Roman Empire.
Years 741-768: The Frankish
Kingdom. In 741 , Pepin the Short
falls heir to the power of bis father,
Charles Martel. He further cements
the kingdom together and paves the
way for a greater working relation–
ship wíth the papacy.
Pepin holds the office of Mayor of
the Palace under the ancient line of
Merovingian kings established by
Clovis. Seeing how ineffectual the
line is, Pepin sees his opportunity.
He wants to depose the Merovin–
gians and establish bis own family.
Casting about for sorne justifica–
tion, Pepin writes to Pope Zacharias
in 751. In so many words, Pepio
asks, "Would it be sinful to depose
the Merovingian king and take the
Frankish throne?" Zacharias, an old
política! hand, sees the opportunity.
The papacy has awaited this mo–
ment for a century and a half. It can
only give Pepin the answer he
wants.
An ancient chronicler documents
the words and position of Zach–
arias: "In the exercise of bis Aposto–
lic authority, he [Zacharias] replied
that it seemed to him better, and
indeed necessary, that he who held
and wielded the power
in
the king–
dom should be called king, and be
king, rather than he who faJsely
bore that title. And the pope, there–
fore, commanded the King of the
Franks and his people that Pepin,
who held the power of a King, be
seated on the throne and be called
king."
The Anglo-Saxon St. Boniface, as
the papal representative in France,
anoints Pepin with oil and then
crowns him king of the Franks in
752. This symbolic act is criticaJ. It
confirms a sacerdotal mission on the
Frankish monarchy. The king of the
Franks now accepts a universal
commission. He is to unite all
PLAIN TRUTH November 1973