The history of the Franks becomes, therefore, the history of the Netherlands.
In the tenth century the old Batavian and later Roman forms have faded away.
Enthusiasm could not supply the place of experience.
The crusades made great improvement in the condition of the serfs.
The ferocious inroads of the Normans scared many weak and timid persons into servitude.
Thus the whole country was broken into many shreds and patches of sovereignty.