下载辰思小说免费APP
Infine，asthisconstitutionwasmadetoredressgrievances，itcannotrelatetoClothariusI，sincetherewerenocomplaintsofthatkindinhisreign，andhisauthoritywasperfectlyestablishedthroughoutthekingdom，especiallyatthetimeinwhichtheyplacethisconstitution；
whereasitagreesextremelywellwiththeeventsthathappenedduringthereignofClothariusII，whichproducedarevolutioninthepoliticalstateofthekingdom。Historymustbeillustratedbythelaws，andthelawsbyhistory。
3。AuthorityoftheMayorsofthePalace。InoticedthatClothariusII
hadpromisednottodepriveWarnachariusofhismayor’splaceduringlife；arevolutionproductiveofanothereffect。Beforethattimethemayorwastheking’sofficer，butnowhebecametheofficerofthepeople；hewaschosenbeforebytheking，andnowbythenation。BeforetherevolutionProtariushadbeenmademayorbyTheodoric，andLandericbyFredegunda；[28]butafterthatthemayors[29]werechosenbythenation。[30]
Wemustnotthereforeconfound，assomeauthorshavedone，thesemayorsofthepalacewithsuchaswerepossessedofthisdignitybeforethedeathofBrunehault；theking’smayorswiththoseofthekingdom。WeseebythelawoftheBurgundiansthatamongthemtheofficeofmayorwasnotoneofthemostrespectableinthestate；[31]norwasitoneofthemosteminentunderthefirstKingsoftheFranks。[32]
Clothariusremovedtheapprehensionsofthosewhowerepossessedofemploymentsandfiefs；andwhen，afterthedeathofWarnacharius，[33]heaskedthelordsassembledatTroyes，whoisittheywouldputinhisplace，theycriedouttheywouldchoosenoone，butsuingforhisfavourcommittedthemselvesentirelyintohishands。
Dagobertreunitedthewholemonarchyinthesamemannerashisfather；
thenationhadathoroughconfidenceinhim，andappointednomayor。
Thisprince，findinghimselfatlibertyandelatedbyhisvictories，resumedBrunehault’splan。ButhesucceededsoillthatthevassalsofAustrasialetthemselvesbebeatenbytheSclavonians，andreturnedhome；sothatthemarchesofAustrasiawerelefttopreytothebarbarians。[34]
HedeterminedthentomakeanoffertotheAustrasiansofresigningthatcountry，togetherwithaprovincialtreasure，tohissonSigebert，andtoputthegovernmentofthekingdomandofthepalaceintothehandsofCunibert，BishopofCologne，andoftheDukeAdalgisus。Fredegariusdoesnotenterintotheparticularsoftheconventionsthenmade；butthekingconfirmedthemallbycharters，andAustrasiawasimmediatelysecuredfromdanger。[35]
Dagobert，findinghimselfnearhisend，recommendedhiswifeNentechildisandhissonClovistothecareof？ga。ThevassalsofNeustriaandBurgundychosethisyoungprincefortheirking。[36]？gaandNentechildishadthegovernmentofthepalace；[37]theyrestoredwhateverDagoberthadtaken；[38]andcomplaintsceasedinNeustriaandBurgundy，astheyhadceasedinAustrasia。
Afterthedeathof？ga，QueenNentechildisengagedthelordsofBurgundytochooseFloachatusfortheirmayor。[39]ThelatterdispatchedletterstothebishopsandchieflordsofthekingdomofBurgundy，bywhichhepromisedtopreservetheirhonoursanddignitiesforever，thatis，duringlife。[40]Heconfirmedhiswordbyoath。ThisistheperiodatwhichtheauthoroftheTreatiseontheMayorsofthePalacefixestheadministrationofthekingdombythoseofficers。[41]
Fredegarius，beingaBurgundian，hasenteredintoamoreminutedetailastowhatconcernstheMayorsofBurgundyatthetimeoftherevolutionofwhichwearespeaking，thanwithregardtothemayorsofAustrasiaandNeustria。ButtheconventionsmadeinBurgundywere，fortheverysamereasons，agreedtoinNeustriaandAustrasia。
Thenationthoughtitsafertolodgethepowerinthehandsofamayorwhomshechoseherself，andtowhomshemightprescribeconditions，thaninthoseofakingwhosepowerwashereditary。
4。OftheGeniusoftheNationinregardtotheMayors。Agovernmentinwhichanationthathadanhereditarykingchoseapersontoexercisetheregalauthorityseemsveryextraordinary；but，independentlyofthecircumstancesofthetimes，IapprehendthatthenotionsoftheFranksinthisrespectwerederivedfromaremotesource。
TheFranksweredescendedfromtheGermans，ofwhomTacitussays[42]
thatinthechoiceoftheirkingtheyweredeterminedbyhisnobleextraction，andinthatoftheirleader，byhisvalour。Thisgivesusanideaofthekingsofthefirstrace，andofthemayorsofthepalace；
theformerwerehereditary，thelatterelective。
Nodoubtbutthoseprinceswhostoodupinthenationalassemblyandofferedthemselvesastheconductorsofapublicenterprisetosuchaswerewillingtofollowthem，unitedgenerallyintheirownpersonboththepowerofthemayorandtheking’sauthority。Bythesplendouroftheirdescenttheyhadattainedtheregaldignity；andtheirmilitaryabilitieshavingrecommendedthemtothecommandofarmies，theyrosetothepowerofmayor。Bytheregaldignity，ourfirstkingspresidedinthecourtsandassemblies，andenactedlawswiththenationalconsent；
bythedignityofdukeorleader，theyundertookexpeditionsandcommandedthearmies。
InordertobeacquaintedwiththegeniusoftheprimitiveFranksinthisrespect，wehaveonlytocastaneyeontheconductofArgobastes，[43]aFrankbynation，onwhomValentinianhadconferredthecommandofthearmy。Heconfinedtheemperortohisownpalace，wherehewouldsuffernobodytospeaktohim，concerningeithercivilormilitaryaffairs。ArgobastesdidatthattimewhatwasafterwardspractisedbythePepins。
5。InwhatMannertheMayorsobtainedtheCommandoftheArmies。Solongasthekingscommandedtheirarmiesinperson，thenationneverthoughtofchoosingaleader。ClovisandhisfoursonswereattheheadoftheFranks，andledthemonthroughaseriesofvictories。Theobald，sonofTheodobert，ayoung，weak，andsicklyprince，wasthefirstofourkingswhoconfinedhimselftohispalace。[44]HerefusedtoundertakeanexpeditionintoItalyagainstNarses，andhadthemortificationofseeingtheFrankschooseforthemselvestwochiefs，wholedthemagainsttheenemy。[45]OfthefoursonsofClothariusI，Gontramwastheleastfondofcommandinghisarmies；[46]theotherkingsfollowedthisexample；and，inordertoentrustthecommandwithoutdangerintootherhands，theyconferredituponseveralchiefsordukes。[47]
Innumerableweretheinconvenienceswhichthencearose；alldisciplinewaslost，noonewouldanylongerobey。Thearmiesweredreadfulonlytotheirowncountry；theywereladenwithspoilsbeforetheyhadreachedtheenemy。OfthesemiserieswehaveaverylivelypictureinGregoryofTours。[48]"Howshallwebeabletoobtainavictory，"saidGontram，[49]
"wewhodonotsomuchaskeepwhatourancestorsacquired？Ournationisnolongerthesame。"……StrangethatitshouldbeonthedeclinesoearlyasthereignofClovis’grandchildren！
Itwasthereforenaturaltheyshoulddetermineatlastuponanonlyduke，adukeinvestedwithanauthorityoverthisprodigiousmultitudeoffeudallordsandvassalswhohadnowbecomestrangerstotheirownengagements；adukewhowastoestablishthemilitarydiscipline，andtoputhimselfattheheadofanationunhappilypractisedinmakingwaragainstitself。Thispowerwasconferredonthemayorsofthepalace。
Theoriginalfunctionofthemayorsofthepalacewasthemanagementoftheking’shousehold。Theyhadafterwards，inconjunctionwithotherofficers，thepoliticalgovernmentoffiefs；andatlengththeyobtainedthesoledisposalofthem。[50]Theyhadalsotheadministrationofmilitaryaffairs，andthecommandofthearmies；employmentsnecessarilyconnectedwiththeothertwo。Inthosedaysitwasmuchmoredifficulttoraisethantocommandthearmies；andwhobutthedispenseroffavourscouldhavethisauthority？Inthismartialandindependentnation，itwasprudenttoinviteratherthantocompel；prudenttogiveawayortopromisethefiefsthatshouldhappentobevacantbythedeathofthepossessor；prudent，infine，torewardcontinually，andtoraiseajealousywithregardtopreferences。Itwasthereforerightthatthepersonwhohadthesuperintendenceofthepalaceshouldalsobegeneralofthearmy。
6。SecondEpochoftheHumiliationofourKingsofthefirstRace。AftertheexecutionofBrunehault，themayorswereadministratorsofthekingdomunderthesovereigns；andthoughtheyhadtheconductofthewar，thekingswerealwaysattheheadofthearmies，whilethemayorandthenationfoughtundertheircommand。Butthevi
