The first powerful dynasty in former Roman Gaul was the Merovingians. Under the leadership of King Clovis I, who converted to Christianity with the aid of his wife St. Clotilde, Roman administrative practices were combined with the Germanic folk law to create an enduring legal structure. That structure formed the basis of medieval feudalism that slowly developed, in part, due to Clovis’ efforts to maintain loyalty among the Franks while expanding a budding empire.

Magna Carta Series Bibliography