On November 12, 2022, the calm at the headquarters of the European Union was shattered and Italy filed a lawsuit against France. The lawsuit stemmed from the docking of an Italian port by a French refugee ship called the "Viking of the Seas", which sparked discontent among Italians. However, the incident should not be a dispute between the two neighboring countries and the EU member states. This controversy reflects a norm within the European Union and also recalls the once mighty Frankish kingdom, which is not only the pride of France, but also the origin of Italy and Germany.
The strength of the Frankish kingdom was closely linked to the expansion of the Roman Empire. In the fourth century AD, the Gauls migrated to the northwestern frontier of the Roman Empire. Since the Roman Empire was unable to administer its vast territory, they welcomed federal co-rulers who were willing to maintain friendly relations, such as the Gauls. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 395 AD, the Franks rose rapidly and occupied large swaths of land.
In 486 AD, the Franks defeated the last ruler of Gaul and occupied the territory of the Gallic Empire. By 507 AD, the Franks had taken control of parts of present-day France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The founding ruler of the Franks, Clovis, declared feudalism and converted to religion, allowing the Frankish kingdom to form a common language with the Romans and Gauls in religion. The Kingdom of the Franks also promulgated the Salic Code, which had a profound impact on modern European legal systems.
However, the political crisis within the Frankish kingdom hindered its progress towards the unification of Europe. The "heir law" enacted before Clovis died led to the decline of royal power and the rise of feudal lords. In 639 AD, Charles Matt became the de facto ruler and became known as the "Lazy King". Charles Matt repelled the Arab invasion in 732 AD, raising the prestige of himself and his family. In 737 AD, after the death of the king under the control of Charles Matt, he directly took over the power of the kingdom. After the death of Charlie Matt, his sons Pepin and Carloman inherited the territory. Pepin became emperor in 751 and changed the rulers of the Frankish kingdom.
Pepin's son, Charlemagne, continued to expand the Frankish kingdom, defeating the Saxons and making the Frankish kingdom the most powerful empire in Europe. However, as Charlemagne aged, the internal problems of the Frankish kingdom were gradually exposed. After the death of Charlemagne, his sons fought for the kingdom.
In 843, the Frankish kingdom was divided into three kingdoms by the Treaty of Verdun, which became the Kingdom of France, the Kingdom of Germany, and the Kingdom of Italy. After that, Europe never formed a strong empire again. Even during the Age of Discovery, Spain and Portugal failed to unify Europe. With the Industrial Revolution, Britain rose rapidly, and France became its main rival. At every time in history, Europe has had several great powers, but none of them have been able to dictate the fate of Europe.
In 1991, Germany, France, Italy and other countries signed the Treaty on European Union in Mahericht, the Netherlands, and Europe as a whole appeared on the international stage. After the establishment of the European Union, France and Germany promoted the establishment of the Eurocorps and unified the currency. The European Union, which now includes 27 member states, is an important force in international politics. However, there are still disputes within the EU.
The European Commission's Shinas has said that the EU will not allow member states to fight openly, but this seems inevitable. The world of the future will develop towards multipolarity, but the road is tortuous. In the process of multipolarization, the EU will face greater challenges. Whether Europe can unite in the future and create new glories will depend on history and the European people.