- Toxandria
Toxandria is the classical name for a region between the Meuse and the
Scheldt rivers inthe Netherlands andBelgium . The name is also spelled Taxandria. TheSalian Franks that settled the area in the4th century became known asToxandri ans. These tribes gave rise to theMerovingian dynasty that came to dominate what is nowFrance .In these ancient times, the many barbarian tribes, given the broad label as
Germanic tribes (Latin "Germanicus") by the Romans, originated fromScandinavia and had by the1st century BC spread through vast areas of today's central and westernEurope .Because of their continuous raids, these tribes subdivided into separate clans and moved on to other areas. In the middle of the 3rd century, two members of the tribal confederacy known as the
Franks , the Salians and the Ripuarians, began penetrating the Roman frontier aroundMainz but were soon driven back by EmperorProbus . Despite the temporary setback, the moves against the ever-weakening Roman masters resulted in Emperor Julian buying peace in358 by handing over Toxandria to the Salians who then became Roman allies and provided troops for the imperial army. This entente would shape both the Salian language and law, resulting in the 6th century Salic law written inLatin . The Ripuarians took up residence in a strip of territory between theRhine River and the Meuse and, like all the wandering tribes, never formed any permanent alliances with the Salians in Toxandria.In the ensuing years, the Toxandrians did not continue to collectively wander from one place to another as other Germanic tribes, but instead began to expand their territory outwards. The Romans were soon again under attack with the emergence of the first strong leader Meroveus, after whom the Merovingian dynasty would be named. Notably, his son,
Childeric I made further agreements that expanded their territory while aiding the Romans in driving out several invaders from aroundOrléans andAngers . In the ensuing years, Childeric's sonClovis I emerged as the dominant force who would, through his military might, add parts of present dayGermany to his kingdom and shape what was to become modern day France.ee also
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Campine External links
* [http://www.turnhout.be/taxandriamuseum/ Taxandriamuseum] (Dutch)
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