The Merovingians and Carolingians

The Franks, a confederation of Germanic peoples, appear on the Rhine in the 3rd century. Chlodio « the Long-Haired » (c. 392 – 451), chief of the Salian Franks, is the earliest king whose existence is certain; his ancestry remains debated. From him descends Merovech, who gives his name to the Merovingian dynasty. It is with his grandson Clovis that the Frankish kingdom takes shape.

Clovis I (465–511), grandson of Childeric, unifies the Franks and founds the kingdom. He defeats Syagrius at Soissons (486), then the Alemanni at Tolbiac. Under the influence of his wife Clotilde, he converts to Christianity and is baptized at Reims by Bishop Remigius (c. 496): he is the first Catholic barbarian king, ally of the Church. On his death, by Frankish custom, the kingdom is divided among his four sons.

With the Merovingians weakened (the « do-nothing kings »), real power passes to the mayors of the palace of Austrasia, the Arnulfings-Pippinids. Charles Martel halts the Arabs at Poitiers (732) and effectively governs the Franks. His son Pepin « the Short », with the pope’s support, deposes the last Merovingian and has himself elected king in 751: the Carolingian dynasty is born.

Charlemagne (747–814), son of Pepin, builds a vast empire: Saxony, Lombardy, Bavaria, the Spanish March. On Christmas night 800, he is crowned Emperor of the West by Pope Leo III in Rome: the imperial idea is reborn in the West. A patron of arts and letters (the « Carolingian renaissance »), he reigns over much of Christian Europe.

On the death of Louis the Pious (840), his sons fight one another. The Treaty of Verdun (843) divides the empire in three: Lothair I receives Middle Francia and the imperial title, Louis the German East Francia (future Germany), Charles the Bald West Francia (future France). It is here that our page stops, with Lothair I (855). The descent leading to the family continues through the Robertians and the Capetians — heirs, through the women, of Carolingian blood.