WI Franks were annihilated in 388 AD?

According to the account of Gregory of Tours Marcomer, Sunno and Genobaud invaded the Roman provinces Germania and Belgia in 388 AD. They broke through the limes, killed many peoples, destroyed the most fruitfull lands and made the city Colonia Agrippina panic. After this raid the main body of the Franks moved back over the river Rhine with their booty. Some of the Franks remained in the Belgian woods. When the Roman generals of Magnus Maximus, Nanninus and Quintinus heard the news in Augusta Treverorum, they attacked those remaining Frankish forces and massacred them. After this engagement Quintinus crossed the Rhine to punish the Franks in their own country, however his army was surrounded and beaten. Some Roman soldiers drowned in the marshes, others were killed by Franks, few made it back to their Empire.
WI Quintinus army was successfull in punishing Franks and they were annihilated? Could Roman Empire hold Gaul longer after Franks were wiped out? How is this altering History? Any thoughts?
 

Valdemar II

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I don't think it would make a big difference, they would just be replaced by another tribe. Even if the Franks is annihilated most of their population will survive and join other tribal confederations, and they will invade again a few years later.
 
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yourworstnightmare

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Donor
Yeah, but it might be stronger than Syargius little Kingdom, and last longer, however I guess they'd be overrun by someone sooner or later.
 
I think the Burgundians would take the place of the Franks, along with the Alans and Suebi. I could see a Syagrius-like ruler holding on to part of Gaul, but not all of it. At this point Rome was collapsing and I can't see much of it beyond the Domain of Soissons holding together.

Also, the Franks did not expand into Gaul until the late 5th century after defeating Syagrius at the Battle of Soisson in 486, and Aquitaine after the Battle of Vouillé in 507... so their absence would make even less difference. In the 4th-early 5th centuries.
 
How about any long terms results in Gaul without Frankish presence? Burgundians pull out a Charlemagne on 9th century?
 
How about any long terms results in Gaul without Frankish presence? Burgundians pull out a Charlemagne on 9th century?
Unless the Suebi or Alans do instead, but I think some kind of unifier of the various tribes is plausible to happen at some point. Note that Charlemange did not add a huge amount outside of Italy, much was already Frankish.
 
An interesting twist would be if Vandals decide to move north of Hispania and set up in Gaul instead of Africa...
In OTL they were invited to Africa by Comes Bonifacius in order to help him in his revolt... An invitation gladly accepted by Vandals since they were pressed by Visigoths and Suebi in Hispania if i recall correctly...
If Gaul isnt occupied by Franks they could choose settling there to avoid Visigothic aggresion... By early 5th century Roman authority in Gaul was crumbling so it would be an easy target for Vandals...
So as a result if WRE manages to retain the wealthy North Africa provinces they have some resources to survive...
 
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