Upon this victory of the _Romans_, the _Franks_ and rebelling _Gauls_, who in the time of _Theudomir_ were at war with one another, united to strengthen themselves, as _Ordericus Vitalis_[1] thus mentions. _Cum Galli prius contra Romanos rebellassent, Franci iis sociati sunt, & pariter juncti, Ferramundum Sunonis ducis filium, sibi regem praefecerunt_. _Prosper_ sets down the time; _Anno 25 Honorii, Pharamundus regnat in Francia_. This, _Bucher_ well observes, refers to the end of the year 416, or the beginning of the next year, dating the years of _Honorius_ from the death of _Valentinian_; and argues well, that at this time _Pharamond_ was not only King by the constitution of the _Franks_, but crowned also by the consent of _Honorius_, and had a part of _Gallia_ assigned him by covenant. And this might be the cause that _Roman_ writers reckoned him the first King: which some not understanding, have reputed him the founder of this kingdom by an army of the _Transrhenane Franks_. He might come with such an army, but he succeeded _Theudomir_ by right of blood and consent of the people. For the above cited passage of _Fredigarius_, _Extinctis Ducibus, in Francis denuo Reges creantur ex eadem stirpe qua prius fuerant_, implies that the kingdom continued to this new elected family during the reign of more Kings than one. If you date the years of _Honorius_ from the death of his father, the reign of _Pharamond_ might begin two years later than is assigned by _Bucher_. The _Salique_ laws made in his reign, which are yet extant, shew by their name that it was the kingdom of the _Salii_ over which he reigned; and, by the pecuniary mulcts in them, that the place where he reigned abounded much with money, and consequently was within the Empire; rude _Germany_ knowing not the use of money, till they mixed with the _Romans_. In the Preface also to the _Salique_ laws, written and prefixed to them soon after the conversion of the _Franks_ to the Christian religion, that is, in the end of the reign of _Merovaeus_, or soon after, the original of this kingdom is thus described: _Haec enim gens, quae fortis dum esset & robore valida, Romanorum jugum durissimum de suis cervicibus excussit pugnando_, &c. This kingdom therefore was erected, not by invasion but by rebellion, as was described above. _Prosper_ in registering their Kings in order, tells us: _Pharamundus regnat in Francia; Clodio regnat in Francia; Merovaeus regnat in Francia_: and who can imagine but that in all these places he meant one and the same _Francia_? And yet 'tis certain that the _Francia_ of _Merovaeus_ was in _Gallia_.