Property Conditions. 187 



1. Development of Forest Property. 



In ancient Gaul the Eomans found the forest as com- 

 munal propert}', except the holy groves. After the con- 

 quest all the unseated lands, especially the extensive 

 mountain forests, were declared either State or imperial 

 property. 



The invasions of the Normans in the 9th century must 

 also have influenced the progress of forest policies. This 

 latter influence was probably strongest in the northern 

 part, while in the southern portions Roman laws re- 

 mained in force, although the Roman policy which 

 treated the forests as a res publica imder the manage- 

 ment of the administrators of public affairs fell to the 

 ground. Here the forests became property of the com- 

 munities without the socialistic limitations of the Mark 

 and being left without restriction or control they were 

 rapidly devastated. 



The 5th century after Christ saw the Teutonic tribes, 

 Visigoths and Burgundians, overwhelm the Romans who 

 had for 500 years kept the Gallo-Celtic population under 

 its rule. The conquerors subjugated and enslaved the 

 Gauls and introduced the same economic and social in- 

 stitutions which had developed in Germany, somewhat 

 modified by the existing Roman conditions. As in Ger- 

 many the socialistic ilark was followed by the feudal 

 system and the ban forests, the dukes becoming great 

 landed proprietors or lords, and kings. Communal 

 ownership was at first developed to such an extent that 

 the Salic laws declared all trees which were not reserved 

 by special sign as subject to the use of all and any of the 

 Markers. 



When Clevis, the king of the Franks, in the first 



