The Franks were redoubtable warriors, and were generally of great stature. Their fair or red hair was brought forward from the crown of the head towards the forehead, leaving the nape of the neck uncovered; they shaved the face except the upper lip. They wore fairly close breeches reaching to the knee and a tunic fastened by brooches. Round the waist over the tunic was worn a leathern girdle having a broad iron buckle damascened with silver. From the girdle hung the single-edged missile axe or _francisca_, the _scramasax_ or short knife, a poniard and such articles of toilet as scissors, a comb (of wood or bone), &c. The Franks also used a weapon called the _framea_ (an iron lance set firmly in a wooden shaft), and bows and arrows. They protected themselves in battle with a large wooden or wicker shield, the centre of which was ornamented with an iron boss (_umbo_). Frankish arms and armour have been found in the cemeteries which abound throughout northern France, the warriors being buried fully armed. See J. Grimm, _Deutsche Rechtsalterthuemer_ (Goettingen, 1828); K. Muellenhoff, _Deutsche Altertumskunde_ (Berlin, 1883-1900); E. von Wietersheim, _Geschichte der Voelkerwanderung_, 2nd ed., ed. by F. Dahn (Leipzig, 1880-1881); G. Waitz, _Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte_, vol. i. (4th ed. revised by Zeumer); R. Schroeder, "Die Ausbreitung der salischen Franken," in _Forschungen zur deutschen Geschichte_, vol. xix.; K. Lamprecht, _Fraenkische Wanderungen und Ansiedelungen_ (Aix-la-Chapelle, 1882); W. Schultz, _Deutsche Geschichte von der Urzeit bis zu den Karolingern_, vol. ii. (Stuttgart, 1896); Fustel de Coulanges, _Histoire des institutions politiques de l'ancienne France--l'invasion germanique_ (Paris, 1891). Also the articles SALIC LAW and GERMANIC LAWS, EARLY. (C. Pf.) FOOTNOTES: [1] Their legends are connected with the sea, the name Meroveus signifying "sea-born." [2] The chronicler Fredegarius and the author of the _Liber historiae Francorum_ make Sunno and Marcomeres his predecessors, but in reality they were chiefs of other Frankish tribes. The author of the _Liber_ also claims that Chlodio was the son of Pharamund, but this personage is quite legendary. In the _Chronicon_ of Fredegarius it is already affirmed that the Franks are descended from the Trojans.