In ancient Gaul, the Romans found the forest outside of holy groves as communal property. After the conquest, all the unseated lands, especially the extensive mountain forests, were declared either State or imperial property--more than half the whole territory--and were managed as _res publica_ by the administrators of public affairs. And while later, with the advent of the German hordes, property conditions shaped themselves somewhat according to their ways, the influence of the Roman law and institutions were never quite eradicated. * * * * * The country, outside of the public property, was by the Romans divided into communities, called _fundus_, each placed under a Gallic seigneur (_eques_), a former chief, now proprietor, his tribesmen and the remnants of the earlier sessile population becoming serfs. One-third of the _fundus_ was handed to the serfs as their property and divided among them--the first private property--; another third was retained by the seigneur and utilized by means of the service of the serfs (_corvées_), but usually also burdened by rights of user on their part; and the last third became common property of the community at large. There remained, however, here and there, also, some of the original free communes or Mark (_vicus_), so that five different property classes were in existence. The 5th century saw the Teutonic tribes, Suevi, Alani, Vandals and Burgundians, overwhelm the Romans, who had for 500 years kept the Gallo-Celtic population under their rule; and these were followed by Visigoths and Franks, who in turn took possession of the country. The conquerors did not drive out the Gallo-Romans, but merely quartered themselves on them under the euphemistic title of “guests,” assuming to themselves two-thirds of each estate, and leaving the remainder to their “hosts.” On these lands, undoubtedly, similar economic and social institutions were developed as in Germany. Communal ownership under these was at first developed to such an extent that the Salic laws declared all trees which were not reserved by special sign as subject to the use of all and any of the Markers. But later, as in Germany, the socialistic Mark was followed by the feudal system with its ban forests and the creation of great landed proprietors or lords.