List of Frankish kings

• Genobaud (3rd century?) • Merogais and Ascaric (4th century) • Marcomer (4th century), dux • Sunno (4th century), dux • Genobaud (4th century), dux • Mallobaudes (4th century) • Theodemer (5th century) • Ragnachar (died 509), killed by Clovis • Chararic (died 509), killed by Clovis === Salian Franks === • Pharamond (388-420), legendary first ruler of the Franks, reputedly father of Chlodio • Chlodio ( 420-450) • Merovech ( 450–457), perhaps a son of Chlodio • Childeric I ( 457–481), son of Merovech • Clovis I ( 481–511), the first Merovingian king, who united all Franks by 509 === Ripuarian Franks === • Childebert (5th century) • Sigobert the Lame (died 509), killed at the instigation of Clovis • Chlodoric the Parricide (died 509), son of Sigobert, killed by Clovis == Merovingian dynasty ==

Early Kings of the Franks (509–613) Clovis I united all the Frankish petty kingdoms as well as most of Roman Gaul under his rule, conquering the Domain of Soissons of the Roman general Syagrius as well as the Visigothic Kingdom of Toulouse (Aquitaine). He took his seat at Paris, which along with Soissons, Reims, Metz, and Orléans became the chief residences. Upon his death, his four sons – and later his grandsons – split the kingdom among them. Every son received a part of the original Frankish territory and also a part of the newly acquired Aquitaine. • • • • Kings in Neustria and Burgundy (613–679) Chlothar II defeated Brunhilda and her great-grandson, Sigibert II, reunifying the kingdom. By that time the realms of Neustria, Burgundy and Austrasia had developed regional identities. In order to appease the local nobility, Austrasia was usually ruled by separate king, often a son or brother of the king ruling in Neustria and Burgundy. A similar arrangement for Aquitaine was short-lived. Kings in Austrasia (623–679) Chlothar II had reunified the kingdom in 613. By that time the realms of Neustria, Burgundy and Austrasia had developed regional identities. In order to appease the local nobility, Clothar made his young son, Dagobert I, king of Austrasia. Austrasia was usually ruled by a separate king, often a son or brother of the king ruling in Neustria and Burgundy, for the following decades. Later Kings of the Franks (679–751) Theuderic III was recognized as king of all the Franks in 679. From then on, the kingdom of the Franks can be treated as a unit again for all but a very brief period of civil war. This is the period of the roi fainéant, "do-nothing kings" who were increasingly overshadowed by their mayors of the palace. ==Carolingian dynasty==

The Carolingians were initially mayors of the palace under the Merovingian kings, first in Austrasia and later in Neustria and Burgundy. In 687 Pepin of Heristal took the title Duke and Prince of the Franks (dux et princeps Francorum) after his conquest of Neustria in at the Battle of Tertry, which was cited by contemporary chroniclers as the beginning of Pepin's reign. Between 715 and 716, the descendants of Pepin disputed the succession. Finally, in 747 Pepin the Short became Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia in addition to that of Neustria, making him ruler of the entire Frankish kingdom. He arranged for the deposition of the Merovingian king Childeric III and in March 752, Pepin was himself anointed King of the Franks. The office of Mayor was absorbed into the Crown, and this marked the start of the Carolingians as the ruling dynasty. Charlemagne was crowned emperor in the year 800, beginning the line of Holy Roman Emperors that lasted (with some interruptions) until 1806, although the title was held by German monarchs after 962. Louis the Pious made many divisions of his empire during his lifetime. The final division, pronounced at Worms in 838, made Charles the Bald heir to the west, including Aquitaine, and Lothair heir to the east, including Italy and excluding Bavaria, which was left for Louis the German. However, following the emperor's death in 840, the empire was plunged into a civil war that lasted three years. The Frankish kingdom was then divided by the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Lothair was allowed to keep his imperial title and his kingdom of Italy, and granted the newly created Kingdom of Middle Francia, a corridor of land stretching from Italy to the North Sea, and including the Low Countries, the Rhineland (including Aachen), Burgundy, and Provence. Charles was confirmed in Aquitaine, where Pepin I's son Pepin II was opposing him, and granted West Francia (modern France), the lands west of Lothair's Kingdom. Louis the German was confirmed in Bavaria and granted East Francia (modern Germany), the lands east of Lothair's kingdom. The following table does not provide a complete listing for some of the various regna of the empire, especially those who were subregna of the Western, Middle, or Eastern kingdom such as Italy, Provence, Neustria, and Aquitaine. == Kings of all Franks (simplified) ==

• Clovis I ( 509–511) • Chlothar I (558–561) • Dagobert I (632–634) • Chlothar III (662–663) • Childeric II (673–675) • Theuderic III (679–691) • Clovis IV (691–695) • Childebert IV (695–711) • Dagobert III (711–715) • Chilperic II (715–717, 719–721) • Theuderic IV (721–737) • Charles Martel (regent, 737–741) • Childeric III (743–751) • Pepin the Short (751–768) • Charles the Great (771–814) • Louis the Pious (814–840) • Charles the Fat (885–887) ==Graphic lists==

Successors of Clovis I (511–561) Successors of Chlothar I (561–634) Successors of Dagobert I (634–751) Successors of Louis I (840–987) == See also ==