Salian Franks

The Salian Franks were a subgroup of the Franks. They are distinguished from the Ripuarian Franks (ripuarian means 'river-dwelling', while salian means 'salty', i.e. associated with the sea).

Related Topics:
Franks - Ripuarian Franks - River - Sea

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The name Salian appears to be derived from the Latin word for 'salt' and by extension the sea, sal. Alternatively, it may be derived from the name the Romans gave to a river in The Netherlands: Isala, a branch of the Rhine, currently named IJssel (or Gelderse IJssel) in Dutch. In the third century A.D., the Romans named the Germanic tribe living in this area after this river. Even nowadays, this area is called Salland.

Related Topics:
The Netherlands - Salland

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From this area, the Salian Franks occupied the Rhine delta in the 4th and the 5th century A.D. and moved further south, with the Belgian city of Tournai (Doornik in Dutch) becoming the center of their domain. Later still, they again moved south and gained control over Roman Gaul, i.e. France, which bears its current name after them.

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The Salian Franks formed, with the Nether-Saxons and the Frisians, the foundation for early Dutch culture and society.

Related Topics:
Saxons - Frisians

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The adjective Salian as applied to the Frankish people is the origin of the name of the Salic Law.

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