CHAPTER XIX .-- --THE COMMUNES AND THE THIRD ESTATE.
The history of the Merovingians is that of barbarians invading Gaul and settling upon the ruins of the Roman empire.

The history of the Carlovingians is that of the greatest of the barbarians taking upon himself to resuscitate the Roman empire, and of Charlemagne's descendants disputing amongst themselves for the fragments of his fabric, as fragile as it was grand.

Amidst this vast chaos and upon this double ruin was formed the feudal system, which by transformation after transformation became ultimately France.

Hugh Capet, one of its chieftains, made himself its king.

The Capetians achieved the French kingship.