Starting Population     11,240                  % of Worldwide          36.4%                   

                                                Population                                      

Starting Income         183,899                 % of Worldwide          28.6%                   

                                                Income                                          

Starting GDP            1,886,902               % of Worldwide GDP      30.5%                   

Starting Surplus        16,748                  % of Worldwide          51.3%
                   

                                                Surplus                                         

Comments: France is the most ancient kingdom in Christendom, under a line of anointed sovereigns unbroken since the time of the Romans. In earliest times inhabited by the Celtic Galli, the country was brought under Roman rule by Caesar himself, after ten years of war, in the generation before the coming of Christ.

For centuries one of the greatest provinces of the Romans, beginning in the late 4th century it was repeatedly invaded by various barbarians. The Franks arrived in the 5th century, and under Clovis (481-511) established a unified, Christian kingdom centered at Paris. The kingdom grew, and under Charlemagne extended from the Elbe to the Ebro. Partitioned soon after the death of Charlemagne, the western Frankish kingdom remains in the hands of the descendants of Charlemagne. Over the last two centuries the kings have pursued a vigorous policy of centralization, after centuries of splintering (Louis VI, who reigned 1108-1137, barely ruled the Ile de France), and, although there remain many strong dukes and counts, the kingdom is more unified than at any time since Charlemagne, albeit that many provinces retain their own estates and rights.

There are many great and rich cities, numerous Archbishops and Bishops, and several famous universities. The kingdom, the most populous in Europe, has much commerce, banking, manufacturing, and shipping, as well as a rich and diverse agriculture.