The Lex Ripuaria was the law of the Ripuarian Franks, whose centre was Cologne. We have no ancient mss. of the law of the Ripuarians; the 35 mss. we possess, as well as those now lost which served as the basis of the old editions, do not go back be yond the time of Charlemagne.
On analysis, the law of the Ripuarians, which contains 89 chapters, falls into three heterogeneous divisions. Chapters i.– xxviii. consist of a scale of compositions; but, although the fines are calculated, not on the unit of 15 solidi, as in the Salic Law, but on that of 18 solidi, it is clear that this part is already in fluenced by the Salic Law. Chapters xxix.–lxiv. are taken directly from the Salic Law ; the provisions follow the same arrangement; the unit of the compositions is 15 solidi; but capitularies are interpolated relating to the affranchisement and sale of immovable property. Chapters lxv.–lxxxix. consist of provisions of various kinds, some taken from lost capitularies and from the Salic Law, and others of unknown origin.
There is an edition of the text of the Ripuarian Law in Mon. Ger. hist. Leges (5883), v. 185 seq. by R. Sohm, who also brought out a
separate edition in 1885 for the use of schools. For further informa tion see the prefaces to Sohm's editions ; H. Brunner, Deutsche Rechts geschichte (2nd ed., Leipzig, 5906), I., 442 ; Bruno Krusch, Die Lex Bajuvariorum, mit zwei Anhangen: Lex Alamannorum und Lex Ribuaria (5924) 333 seq. and Neue Forschungen caber die drei ober deutschen Leges: Bajuvariorum, Alantannorum, Ribuariorum (1927) 142 seq.; Franz Beyerle, in the Zeitschrift der Savigny-Stiftung, xlviii., 264 seq.
Lastly, we possess a judicial text in 48 paragraphs, which bears the title of Notitia vel commemoratio de ilia ewa (law), quae se ad Amorem habet. This was in use in the district along the Yssel formerly called Hamalant. The name Hamalant is unquestionably derived from the Frankish tribe of the Chamavi, and the docu ment is often called Lex Francorum Chamavorum.
There is an edition of this text by R. Sohm in Mon. Germ. hist. Leges, v. 269, and another appended to the same writer's school edition of the Lex Ribuaria. See also Fustel de Coulanges, Nouvelles Recherches sur quelques problemes d'histoire (1891).