23/03/2023 17:55 THE FRANKS

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Franks
250-700 AD
By Clive McLeod

One of the classic barbarian foot armies.  The Franks troubled the Roman Rhine
frontier for 2 centuries before finally taking over Gaul and setting up the longest
lasting kingdom of all the Germanic tribes which brought down the Western Roman
Empire.  The area still bears their name (France to the uneducated). Their
characteristic weapons were the Angon a barbed heavy throwing spear and, of course,
the Francisca a one handed throwing axe. 

Franks were among the German tribes which breached the Rhine Frontier in 406 AD. 
They occupied parts of Roman Gaul and set up their own kingdom under the
Merovingian Dynasty.   A series of wars followed as the Franks gradually occupied
all of the old Roman province.  They subjugated the Burgundians and remnant
Romano-Gallic states  and drove the Visigoths out into Spain. 

Tactics 
Simple minded all out attack is the only real option for this army.  Make the most of
the warband impetus.  Use the small number of skirmishers and cavalry to protect the
flanks.

The real cutting edge of the army is the Comitatus, a body of well equipped
professional warriors. These are tough and hard hitting. Use them wisely.  The army
will struggle against cavalry armies unless it has plenty of terrain to play in.  Read
about the battle of Casilinum if you want to know what happens to this army in the
open.

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