Merovingians

At the end of the 5th century, Clovis brought a large part of the Franks under his rule and expanded his kingdom in Gaul. He was king of the Franks, not king of a France that did not yet exist in its later form. After him, the kingdom was repeatedly divided among his sons, while the mayors of the palace gradually gained power. The French monarchy would later claim this Merovingian legacy.

Figures of this era

  1. Clovis Ier (481-511) — King of the Franks, he expanded his kingdom in Gaul and converted to Christianity (the date of his baptism is debated)
  2. Thierry Ier (511-534) — King of Reims (Austrasia), divided kingdom
  3. Clodomir (511-524) — King of Orléans, divided kingdom
  4. Childebert Ier (511-558) — King of Paris, divided kingdom
  5. Clotaire Ier (511-561) — King of Soissons then sole king from 558
  6. Charibert Ier (561-567) — King of Paris, divided kingdom
  7. Gontran (561-592) — King of Burgundy, divided kingdom
  8. Sigebert Ier (561-575) — King of Austrasia, husband of Brunhilda, murdered on the orders of Fredegund
  9. Chilpéric Ier (561-584) — King of Neustria, husband of Fredegund, murdered in 584
  10. Childebert II (575-596) — King of Austrasia then of Burgundy, divided kingdom
  11. Clotaire II (584-629) — King of Neustria then sole king from 613
  12. Dagobert Ier (629-639) — King of the Franks (nearly unified, last great Merovingian)
  13. Clovis II (639-657) — King of Neustria and Burgundy, start of the decline of royal power in favour of the mayors of the palace
  14. Clotaire III (657-673) — King of Neustria and Burgundy, dominated by the mayor of the palace Ebroin
  15. Childéric II (662-675) — King of Austrasia then of all the Franks, tried to restore royal authority, murdered
  16. Thierry III (673-691) — King of Neustria then of all the Franks, power exercised by the mayors of the palace
  17. Clovis III (675-676) — Proclaimed king of Austrasia by the mayor of the palace Ebroin in 675, contested existence, often considered an impostor
  18. Clovis IV (691-695) — King of the Franks, son of Theuderic III, reign dominated by the mayor of the palace Pippin of Herstal
  19. Childebert III (695-711) — King of the Franks, monarchy stabilised but still dominated by the mayors of the palace
  20. Dagobert III (711-715) — King of the Franks, rise of the Pippinids
  21. Chilpéric II (715-721) — King of Neustria then of the Franks, rival of Charles Martel
  22. Thierry IV (721-737) — King of the Franks, completely dominated by Charles Martel
  23. Childéric III (743-751) — Last Merovingian king, restored to the throne in 743 by Pippin the Short and Carloman then deposed in 751

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