Mannert, in his treatise entitled, _The liberty of the Franks, Freyheit der Franken_, has very clearly explained the formation of the nobility among the Franks. There were many Roman Gauls among the Leudes of the Frankish kings: we find, for example, the names of _Protadius, Claudius, Florentinianus,_ among the mayors of the palace towards the close of the sixth, and the commencement of the seventh century. They often changed their names into barbaric names. Thus the brother of Duke Lupus, born a Roman, called himself _Magn-Wulfus _(great wolf), and his son, who was bishop of Rheims, he called _Rom-Wulfus_ (Roman wolf). These Romans entered into the company of the Leudes because they needed the protection of the kings; because they were disposed to place what power they had in his service; because they were acquainted with the country, and knew that the king required them; because, lastly, the kings, when they embraced Christianity, became reconciled to many wealthy and influential Gauls. Bishops, and the principal heads of monasteries, or of large ecclesiastical corporations, were reckoned among the number of the king's Leudes. The power of the bishops among the Gauls, before the arrival of the Germans, is proved directly by facts; their influence, their wealth, is proved indirectly by the eagerness with which the position of a bishop was sought. Their importance was greatly augmented after the establishment of the Barbarians. They protected the ancient inhabitants from the Barbarian kings, and served the latter by their power in governing the ancient inhabitants. {144} Power Of The Bishops.