Property Conditions. 187 
1. Development of Forest Property. 
In ancient Gaul the Romans found the forest as com- 
munal property, 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 under 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 Mark 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 Clovis, the king of the Franks, in the first 
