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Siems's wording 'in association with the Reichstag' is somewhat confusing, since it could be read as 'during the Reichstag' (as in Halbertsma, 2000, p 165, and also in an earlier version of this web page, see Versions). However, Henstra noted that the actual collection of the Frisian rules (that, up till than, had only been transmitted verbally) and putting them into writing, would have been a long and labour-intensive process. It probably started several years before the Reichstag. Indeed, Charlemagne was already busy recording the various Germanic customary laws by the end of 780's, with the intention of formalising them later (Henstra, p 51 and 71 and pers. comm.). Henstra suggests that in the case of Lex Frisionum, the drafting must have ended some 10 years before the Reichstag. This is based on the amounts of money mentioned in the Lex. At several places, the Lex speaks of 'new money' or 'old money'. In the 8th century, two money reforms took place, by order of the Frankish rulers: in 754/755 (under Pippin the Short) and in 793/794 (under Charlemagne). The amount of silver that a coin should contain was re-assessed. The question is, whether the distinction old/new in the Lex refers to the first or to the second reform. Henstra calculated that it must have been the first reform. Ergo, the Lex must have been drafted before the second reform of 793. And after 785. That means an origination around the year 790.
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