The Franks

The Ancients

History Hit

History

4.7 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 19 January 2025

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How did the Franks rise to power in the fragmented Western Roman Empire?

Tristan Hughes explores the dramatic story of the Franks, from their early battles against Romans and Burgundians to their consolidation of power under formidable kings like Clovis.

Tristan is joined by Dr Ian Wood, Professor Emeritus of early medieval history at the University of Leeds and discovers the mysterious origins of the Franks, thrilling tales of Clovis's campaigns, and explore how they battled Romans, Burgundians, Visigoths and Alemanni to wrestle control over large parts of modern day France. Expect legends, myths and monsters, this is no ordinary kingdom.

Presented by Tristan Hughes. The audio editor and producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

Theme music from Motion Array, all other music from Epidemic Sounds

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Tristan Hughes, and if you would like the ancient ad-free, get early access and bonus episodes, sign up to History Hit.
0:08.1	With a History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of hours of original documentaries, including my recent documentary all about Petra and the Nabatans, and enjoy a new release every week.
0:19.3	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com slash subscribe.
0:22.6	It's 486 AD. The Western Roman Empire has completely fragmented. In Gaul, present-day France, the
0:41.7	territory is divided up between Visigoths, Burgundians, Bretons, and a Roman rump state known
0:48.6	as the Kingdom of Suasson. Ruling this kingdom was a figure called Seagrius. But now Seagrius's rule is under threat.
0:57.0	His powerful neighbour to the east has brought him to battle, a new rising king on the European stage.
1:04.0	His name was Clovis, King of the Franks, and a man who was about to transform Western Europe. It's the ancients of the Franks and a man who was about transform Western Europe.
1:13.4	It's The Ancients on History Hit. I'm Tristan Hughes, your host, and today we're covering
1:19.3	the story of the Franks, a Germanic people who forged one of the most successful kingdoms
1:24.4	in Western Europe following the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
1:29.3	Now, if someone mentions the Franks, you might immediately think of the Titanic name that is Charlemagne,
1:34.6	and you'd be right. However, he is a bit too medieval for our liking on the ancients.
1:39.7	Forget Charlemagne, think earlier Frankish rulers such as Childerick and Clovis.
1:45.2	This episode will focus on the rise of the Franks under these so-called Merovingian monarchs.
1:51.5	We'll explore how they battled Romans, Burgundians, Visigoths and Alamans to wrestle
1:57.2	control over large parts of modern-day France as Rome's grip over Western Europe
2:02.5	faltered. It's quite the story. Now our guest today is the esteemed Dr Ian Wood, Professor
2:09.4	Emeritus of Early Medieval History at the University of Leeds and one of the leading experts
2:14.8	on the early Franks and their rise to prominence.
2:18.4	On my way up north for Christmas a few weeks back,
2:20.9	I stopped at Ian's lovely house to record this interview with him in person.
	...

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