Franks (RTW:BI Faction)

Franks (RTW:BI Faction)
Name:	Franks
From Game:	Barbarian Invasion
Religion:	Pagan/Christian
Culture:	Barbarian
Playable:

The Franks are one of the playable factions in the Barbarian Invasion for Rome: Total War. They are in the Barbarian culture group.

Game Play

Starting Position

• Vicus Franki (Tribus Franki)

The Franks start with a city that can provide good troops from the beginning. It is surrounded by potential enemies, though. The Alemanni are the most direct threat in the south. The Western Roman Empire lives to the west with large armies nearby. The Saxons live to the north. In the east the fearsome Burgundii and Lombardii expand quickly.

Win Conditions

• Capture and hold 20 provinces, including Lugdinensis (Avaricum), Aquitania (Burdigala), Narbonensis (Arles).

Units

Unique Units

• Paladins

Obtainable after the Franks have converted to Christianity and the appropriate religious structure built. They are good heavy cavalry.

• Catholic Priest

Also obtained after Christan conversion. They are a weak unit in close ocmbat, but their chanting gives friendly troops bonuses.

• Axe Heerbann

The basic heerbann unit. They carry a powerful long-handled axe and are relatively cheap to build. They can form shieldwall.

• Sword Heerbann

With better armor and a stabbing sword, sword heerbann provide a strong front against the enemy. They can form shieldwall.

• Francisca Heerbann

These are the elite heerbann and the most famous Frankish troops. They carry several francisca throwing axes to throw at the enemy. They can also perform a terrifying warcry.

History

The Franks were a people originating from around the Lower Rhine River in Germany. They migrated southwards into Gaul, resulting in fights with the Roman Empire and other people. As there were several different tribes of Franks, some chose to raid Roman lands while others chose to join them- and most chose to ally with them. The most prominent of the tribes were the Salians, who remained a threat to the Romans. The Merovingian kings, who were of Salian roots, united many tribes of the Franks. Their dynasty was founded by King Merovech. Merovech and his sons won many victories over other tribespeople such as the Saxons, Visigoths, and Alemanni. His grandson Clovis I managed to defeat the Romans and control slightly more than half of Gaul (France). After Clovis I died, he left his empire to his four sons who effectively ruled in four different areas. However, when these four sons had sons, wars and disputes did erupt between the divided kingdoms. After one king's death (often of war or assassination), other claimants would try and take hold of the thrones. By this time, many of the Franks had converted to Roman Catholicism. In 570 onwards Brunhilda, a queen of the Franks, ruled as the power behind the thrones of her sons and grandsons. Because of her dealings, many wars went on between the different relatives in the Frankish kingdoms. Also because of her Frankish lands were annexed until there were only two main kingdoms- Austrasia in the east and north of France, where she and her select children ruled and Neustria in the west and south. After Brunhilda and her ruling grandson's death, the Neustria's king, Chlothar II, ruled all the Franks and more or less all of France. However, he was later forced to make his son Dagobert I King of the Austrasias because they wanted a king of their own. Family feud continued as Dagobert inherited all of the Frankish kingdoms on his father's death and had his half-brother's son killed so there were no contestants. As of 632, he was seen as the most powerful Western ruler. He made Paris his capital. After his death, the practice of kings and relatives assassinating and usurping the throne continued. Often the "united" Franks were divided into a few kingdoms ruled by rivaling sons, brothers, or cousins. Charles Martel (688 – October 741) was a military general (only defeated once in battle) who worked for the Merovingian rulers. He was a brilliant general and extremely popular with the people. He is often known for "defeating" the Muslims at Tours, although in reality the two armies never even fought. He became a military leader and ruled de facto. Because of the Catholic Church backed him, his son Philip the Short was elected to be king by the Pope, starting the Carolingian dynasty. Philip ruled from 751-768 as a protector of the Church and a uniter of the Frankish kingdoms. His sons Charlemagne and Carloman succeeded him. After his brother's death in 771, he became sole ruler of the Kingdom of Franks. This was the golden age of the Franks, where the entire land that would become France was under a single monarch (except Britanny) after his campaigns, as well as all the area the Rhine River covers, Belgium, almost all of Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, and more than half of Italy. It was the biggest European-based empire since the Fall of Rome and would remain that way for many years to afterwards. Under Charlemagne Frankish learning, laws, arts, language, and military improved. He was staunchly Catholic, but rather tolerant, lawful, strong, intelligent, and reasonable. Although many years of wars and disputes followed his death, he truly did set the way for a "France" as we know it.

See Also

• Factions in BI

Barbarian Invasion Factions
Eastern Roman Empire | Western Roman Empire | Huns | Goths | Sarmatians | Vandals | Franks | Saxons | Alemanni | Sassanids | Celts | Burgundii | Lombardi | Roxolani | Berbers | Slavs | Romano British | Ostrogoths | Eastern Roman Rebels | Western Roman Rebels | Rebels