by Royce Radcliffe

Created on: May 02, 2007   Last Updated: February 01, 2010

The implications of Salic Law on French royal history were vast and powerful. Since the French church and state were so intertwined any strong effect on one would have a strong effect on the other.

This was the most direct form of "legislation" or decree that the church ever issued. This law was originally issued in the 6th century to govern the Salic Franks. This was the basis for the laws implemented during the reign of Charlemagne.

These laws were very detailed and exacting about matters such as theft, murder and inheritance. The laws also laid out damages that were required in terms of fines for theft or injury to a person or business.

Their laws have triggered wars and authored some very interesting chapters in our history. The Pragmatic Sanction required Charles VI to wage war on Austria over an attempt to get his niece her inheritance according to Stoic laws, for instance.

These inheritance laws caused Charles VI to also deny Henry V's claim to the French throne, which then led to the Battle of Agnicourt. The conflict between Salic and English law was the excuse for conflict and political strategy between the two monarchs for years. And then finally it led to the separation of the British and Hanoverian thrones entirely.

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