After the wanderings had subsided, the Netherlands are found with much the same ethnological character as before.  The Frank dominion has succeeded the Roman, the German stock preponderates over the Celtic, but the national ingredients, although in somewhat altered proportions, remain essentially the same.  The old Belgae, having become Romanized in tongue and customs, accept the new Empire of the Franks.  That people, however, pushed from their hold of the Rhine by thickly thronging hordes of Gepidi, Quadi, Sarmati, Heruli, Saxons, Burgundians, move towards the South and West.  As the Empire falls before Odoacer, they occupy Celtic Gaul with the Belgian portion of the Netherlands; while the Frisians, into which ancient German tribe the old Batavian element has melted, not to be extinguished, but to live a renovated existence, the “free Frisians;” whose name is synonymous with liberty, nearest blood relations of the Anglo-Saxon race, now occupy the northern portion, including the whole future European territory of the Dutch republic.

The history of the Franks becomes, therefore, the history of the Netherlands.  The Frisians struggle, for several centuries, against their dominion, until eventually subjugated by Charlemagne.  They even encroach upon the Franks in Belgic Gaul, who are determined not to yield their possessions.  Moreover, the pious Merovingian faineans desire to plant Christianity among the still pagan Frisians.  Dagobert, son of the second Clotaire, advances against them as far as the Weser, takes possession of Utrecht, founds there the first Christian church in Friesland, and establishes a nominal dominion over the whole country.

Yet the feeble Merovingians would have been powerless against rugged Friesland, had not their dynasty already merged in that puissant family of Brabant, which long wielded their power before it assumed their crown.  It was Pepin of Heristal, grandson of the Netherlander, Pepin of Landen, who conquered the Frisian Radbod (A.D. 692), and forced him to exchange his royal for the ducal title.

It was Pepin’s bastard, Charles the Hammer, whose tremendous blows completed his father’s work.  The new mayor of the palace soon drove the Frisian chief into submission, and even into Christianity.  A bishop’s indiscretion, however, neutralized the apostolic blows of the mayor.  The pagan Radbod had already immersed one of his royal legs in the baptismal font, when a thought struck him.  “Where are my dead forefathers at present?” he said, turning suddenly upon Bishop Wolfran.  “In Hell, with all other unbelievers,” was the imprudent answer.  “Mighty well,” replied Radbod, removing his leg, “then will I rather feast with my ancestors in the halls of Woden, than dwell with your little starveling hand of Christians in Heaven.”  Entreaties and threats were unavailing.  The Frisian declined positively a rite which was to cause an eternal separation from his buried kindred, and he died as