Carte Golden Irises inspiring the symbol Fleur de Lis.

a i Gemini generated image of the Swarte Water river banks loaded with invasive natural golden yellow iris flowers in the Westerveldse Bos region. Salland ... the countryside around the Rivers Ijssel, Zwarte Water, and Vecht was according to historian Zosimus the earliest known place of origin of the tribe Salii The 6th-century Byzantine historian Zosimus identifies the Salii (Salian Franks) as a group that originally lived in a territory outside the Roman Empire—often identified by modern scholars as the Salland region in the present-day Netherlands. Livius.org Livius.org +1 Key Historical Details from Zosimus Expulsion by Saxons: According to Zosimus, the Salii were driven out of their original homeland by a group of Saxons (referred to as the "Kouadoi" or Quadi). Arrival in Batavia: After their expulsion, they migrated to Batavia, an island region formed by the branches of the Rhine. Conflict with Rome: In 358 AD, while they were in Batavia, they encountered Roman forces under Julian the Apostate. Julian eventually allowed them to settle in Toxandria (modern-day North Brabant and parts of Belgium) as foederati (allies) of the Roman Empire. Wikipedia Wikipedia +3 Connections to Salland The name "Salian" is widely believed to be etymologically linked to the region of Salland in the province of Overijssel. Geography: Salland is situated around the IJssel and Vecht rivers. Etymology: Some theories suggest "Salii" derives from the name of this medieval swampy region, though other interpretations link the name to the Latin salire ("to jump") or to the word for salt, referencing a coastal origin. Wikipedia Wikipedia +2 While Zosimus is the primary ancient source to claim they used the name "Salii" before entering the Roman Empire, modern historians use his account to bridge the gap between the archaeological evidence in Salland and the tribe's later prominence in the Merovingian dynasty. Mark Edward Westerfield 04 -20 - 2026