National anthem by country in Europe [2000 × 2000]

Well, a byproduct of the Carolingian Empire. German/Dutch speaking lands West of the Rhine were core Frankish areas but otherwise the rest was a mix of conquered tribes that were being integrated. When the Carolingian power structure crumbled, power was taken over by the traditional elites everywhere : Frankish high-ranking aristocracy in Northern France, Saxon aristocracy in the East etc. The Saxons didn't give a crap about anything Frankish but thought the whole Imperial thing was cool. They snatched Eastern France, Northern Italy, Popeland and the HRE was born. Add a few centuries of doing to Slavs and Balts what the Franks has done to them, that is killing them until they accept Christ in their hearts and the Emperor in their coffers, and you get Germany.

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