After Rome

The Germanic Barbarians

• barbarian warlords and their families who assimilated into Roman culture became the nobles or aristocrats of Medieval Europe 
• Germanic tribes who ruled from Roman lands sought to conquer and assimilate other barbarian peoples who lived beyond the frontiers were still pagans 
• The Angles and the Saxons invaded Britain and assimilated the other Britons 
• Most of the Anglo- Saxons were converted to Christianity in the seventh century
• The most powerful Germanic tribe was the Franks
• But the real power lay with the "Mayors of the palace" who were royal officials and nobles themselves.