For instance; the western roman empire ruled the french region until it fell to the visigoths. Sometime after this the region was ruled by a large number of noble families who answered to a few kings in a feudal system. Did these nobles claim descent from roman emperors, or was the nobility raised from important members of the population or military, or some other origin?
Yes! Great question I want to know too. Follow-up, how did the nobility of the sword become established in France? Paging /u/idjet perhaps?
Can anyone please recommend a few books that focus on this period of transition from the Western Empire's deathbed to the early Dark Age? Thank you.