The Roman Empire established control over much
of Europe. As Germanic tribes invaded Rome,
centralized control of the Empire faded. While
some tribes, like the Franks, assimilated into
Roman culture and became an established part of
the society, others, like the Anglo-Saxons, kept
their own native culture dominant. Certain west Germanic tribes recognized an intermediate status of half-free persons, who could enter into legal transactions and marry but had no political rights. ... Its main institutions of government were the king, his council, and the tribal assembly (mallus, witan, mot, ding, or thing). Clovis I was king of the Franks and ruler Franks to unite all of the Frankish
tribes under one ruler