The Ripuarian Franks were a group of early medieval Germanic tribes that settled along the Rhine River in what is now France and Germany. They were part of the larger Frankish people and played a significant role in the formation of the Frankish Empire. Their society was organized around kinship and tribal loyalty, and they were known for their warrior culture. In the 5th century, the Ripuarian Franks began to expand their territory, engaging in both trade and warfare with neighboring tribes. They established a legal code known as the Ripuarian Law, which governed their society and influenced later legal systems in the region. Their legacy contributed to the rise of the Merovingian dynasty and the eventual unification of the Frankish tribes.