The elective power had been lost under the Romans, who, after conquest, had conferred the administrative authority over their subject provinces upon officials appointed by the metropolis.

The Franks pursued the same course.

In Charlemagne's time, the revolution is complete.

Popular assemblies and popular election entirely vanish.

Military, civil, and judicial officers-dukes, earls, margraves, and others--are all king's creatures, 'knegton des konings, pueri regis', and so remain, till they abjure the creative power, and set up their own.