The Merovingians
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The Merovingians *
The painting depicts the baptism of Clovis, the first king of the Franks. © Gallica, BNF
About the dynastyThe Merovingians extend from a semi-legendary figure called Merovech (Mérovée). He was a chief of the Salian Franks, who were most likely allies or mercenaries of the Roman Empire which dominated the continent at the time. Childeric, said to be either Merovech’s son or grandson, was a Rex (king) under Roman law, and ruled over northern Gaul (Central and Northern France). Childeric’s son, Clovis, would become the famous first king of the Franks, transforming Gaul into a kingdom by converting to Christianity.
History with Myra
The Merovingians
Two and a half centuries of Frankish kings — the whole family laid out by descent, with the queens beside them. Tap any name.
Dates on each card are reign years, not lifespans. The chart is arranged by descent: brothers sit side by side on the same line, in the order of the kingdoms they were given, and each line drops from a father to his sons.
♛ a celebrated queen⚭ principal consorttap a name for her story
Never a king — the mayor of the palace who ruled in the last kings' name, and grandfather of Charlemagne.