Editing History of Bavaria (section)

===Bavaria and the Agilolfings under Frankish overlordship===
The Bavarians soon came under the dominion of the Franks, probably without a serious struggle. The Franks regarded this border area as a buffer zone against peoples to the east, such as the [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]] and the [[Slavs]], and as a source of manpower for the army. Sometime around 550 AD they put it under the administration of a duke – possibly Frankish or possibly chosen from amongst the local leading families – who was supposed to act as a regional governor for the [[Kingdom of the Franks|Frankish]] king. The first duke known was [[Garibald I (Bavaria)|Garibald I]], a member of the powerful [[Agilolfing]] family.{{sfn|Schutz|2000|page=292}} This was the beginning of a series of Agilolfing dukes that was to last until 788 AD.

For a century and a half, a succession of dukes resisted the inroads of the [[Slavs]] on their eastern frontier and by the time of [[Theodo of Bavaria|Duke Theodo I]], who died in 717, had achieved complete independence from the feeble Frankish kings. When [[Charles Martel]] became the virtual ruler of the Frankish realm he brought the Bavarians into strict dependence and deposed two dukes successively for [[contumacy]]. His son and successor [[Pippin III|Pepin the Short]] likewise maintained Frankish authority. Several marriages took place between the family to which he belonged and the Agilolfings, who were united in a similar manner with the kings of the [[Kingdom of the Lombards|Lombards]]. The ease with which the Franks suppressed various risings gives colour to the supposition that family quarrels rather than the revolt of an oppressed people motivated the rebellions.

Bavarian law was committed to writing between the years 739 AD and 748 AD. Supplementary clauses, added afterward, bear evidence of Frankish influence. Thus, while the duchy belongs to the Agilolfing family, the duke must be chosen by the people and his election confirmed by the Frankish king, to whom he owes [[fealty]]. The [[duke]] has a fivefold [[weregild]], summons the nobles and clergy for purposes of deliberation, calls out the host, administers justice, and regulates finance. Five noble families exist, possibly representing former divisions of the people. Subordinate to the nobles we find the freeborn and then the freedmen. The law divided the country into ''gaits'' or counties, under their counts, assisted by judges responsible for declaring the law.