List of Frankish kings

This article is about kings before the 843 Treaty of Verdun. For kings after the treaty, see List of French monarchs and List of German monarchs.

The Franks, Germanic-speaking peoples that invaded the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, were first led by individuals called dukes and reguli. The earliest group of Franks that rose to prominence was the Salian Merovingians, who conquered most of Roman Gaul, as well as the Gaulish territory of the Visigothic Kingdom, in 507 AD.

Map of the Frankish kingdom (481–814)

Animated map of Frankish expansion

The sons of Clovis I, the first King of the Franks, conquered the Burgundian and the Alamanni Kingdoms. They acquired Provence, and went on to make the peoples of the Bavarii and Thuringii their clients. The Merovingians were later replaced by the new Carolingian dynasty in the 8th century. By the late 10th century, the Carolingians themselves had been replaced throughout much of their realm by other dynasties.

A timeline of Frankish rulers has been difficult to trace since the realm, according to old Germanic practice, was frequently divided among the sons of a king upon the king's death. However, territories were eventually reunited through marriage, treaty or conquest. There were often multiple Frankish kings who ruled different territories, and divisions of the territories were not very consistent over time.

As inheritance traditions changed over time, the divisions of Francia (the lands of the Franks) started to become kingdoms that were more permanent. West Francia formed the heart of what was to become the Kingdom of France; East Francia evolved into the Kingdom of Germany; and Middle Francia became the Kingdom of Lotharingia in the north, the Kingdom of Italy in the south, and the Kingdom of Provence in the west. West and East Francia soon divided up the area of Middle Francia.

The idea of a "King of the Franks" (Rex Francorum) gradually disappeared. The title "King of the Franks" is attested in the Kingdom of France until 1190, that of "Queen of the Franks" (for queen consorts) until 1227. That represented a shift in thinking about the monarchy from that of a popular monarchy, the leader of a people, sometimes without a defined territory to rule, to that of a monarchy tied to a specific territory.

Early Frankish rulers

• Genobaud (3rd century?)
• Merogais & Ascaric (4th century)
• Marcomer (4th century), dux
• Sunno (4th century), dux
• Genobaud (4th century), dux
• Mallobaudes (4th century)
• Theodemer (5th century)
• Ragnachar (died c. 509), killed by Clovis
• Chararic (died c. 509), killed by Clovis

Salian Franks (Merovingians)

• Chlodio (5th century)
• Merovech (c. 450–457), perhaps a son of Chlodio
• Childeric I (c. 457–481), son of Merovech
• Clovis I (c. 481–511), united all Franks by 509

Ripuarian Franks

• Childebert (5th century)
• Sigobert the Lame (died c. 509), killed at the instigation of Clovis
• Chlodoric the Parricide (died c. 509), son of Sigobert, killed by Clovis

Merovingian dynasty

Main article: Merovingian dynasty

Early Kings of the Franks (c. 507-613)

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.^[1]

•   Lines of Theuderic I and Sigibert I (Kings at Reims/Metz (Austrasia) and later in Burgundy)
•   Chlodomer and Guntram (Kings at Orleans and Burgundy)
•   Childebert I and Charibert I (Kings at Paris)
•   Lines of Clothar I and Chilperic I (Kings at Soissons)

Name Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s) Issue	Death	Notes
Clovis I c. 507 – 27 November 511		c. 466 Tournai Son of Childeric I and Basina of Thuringia	1. unknown wife: 1 son 2. Clotilde, 493: 4 children	27 November 511 Aged 44/45 Paris	King of the Salian Franks since 481; united all Franks under his rule by 509
Theuderic I^[1]^[2] 27 November 511 – Early 534		c. 487 Paris Son of Clovis I and an earlier wife: Evochildis of Cologne	1. Suavegotha, 510s: childless 2. Several concubines: at least 2 sons	Early 534 Aged 46/47	Resided at Reims
Chlodomer^[1] 27 November 511 – 524		c. 495 Reims Son of Clovis I and Clotilde	Guntheuc, 510s: 3 sons	524 Aged 28/29 Vézeronce	Resided in Orleans, conquered Burgundy
Childebert I^[1] 27 November 511 – 13 December 558		c. 496 Reims Son of Clovis I and Clotilde	Ultragotha, 510s: 2 daughters	13 December 558 Aged 61/62 Paris	Resided in Paris
Chlothar I^[1] 27 November 511 – 29 November 561		c. 497 Paris Son of Clovis I and Clotilde	1. Guntheuc, 524: childless 2. Radegund, 538: childless 3. Ingund, 532: 4 children 4. Aregund, 536: 1 son 5. Chunsina: 1 son	29 November 561 Aged 63/64 Compiègne	Resided in Soissons Reunited the kingdom in 558
Theudebert I^[1] Early 534 – c. 548		c. 503 Metz Son of Theuderic I and a concubine (prob.)	1. Deuteria, 534: 1 son 2. Wisigard, 540: childless 3. Unknown wife, 540s: 1 son	c. 548 Aged 44/45	Resided at Reims
Theudebald^[1] c. 548 – c. 555		c. 535 Son of Theudebert I and Deuteria	Waldrada, 540s: Childless	c. 555 Aged 19/20	Resided at Reims
Charibert I^[1] 29 November 561 – December 567		c. 517 Paris Son of Chlothar I and Ingund	Ingoberga, 537: 4 children	December 567 Aged 49/50 Paris	Resided at Paris
Guntram^[1] 29 November 561 – 28 March 592		c. 534 Soissons Son of Chlothar I and Ingund	1. Veneranda: 1 son 2. Marcatrude: 1 son 3. Austregilde: 2 sons	28 March 592 Aged 59/60 Chalon-sur-Saône	Resided at Orleans and Chalon-sur-Saône, ruled Burgundy Adopted Childebert II
Sigebert I^[1] 29 November 561 – c. 575		c. 535 Son of Chlothar I and Ingund	Brunhilda 567 3 children	c. 575 Aged 39/40 Vitry-en-Artois	Resided at Reims and Metz
Chilperic I^[1] 29 November 561 – September 584		c. 539 Paris Son of Chlothar I and Aregund	1. Audovera, 540s: 5 children 2. Galswintha, 567: Childless 2. Fredegund, 568: 7 children	September 584 Aged 44/45 Chelles	Resided at Soissons
Childebert II c. 575 – March 595		c. 570 Son of Sigebert I and Brunhilda	Faileuba: 4 children	March 595 Aged 24/25	Resided at Metz His mother Brunhilda acted as regent in his early years. Inherited Burgundy from Guntram
Chlothar II^[1] September 584 – 18 October 629		c. 584 Paris Son of Chilperic I and Fredegund	1. Haldetrude: 1 son 2. Bertrude, 613: childless 3. Sichilde, 618: 1 son	18 October 629 Aged 44/45	Resided at Soissons His mother Fredegunde acted as regent in his early years. Reunited the kingdom.
Theudebert II March 595 – 612		586 Son of Childebert II and Faileuba	1. Bilichilde, 608: 2 children 2. Teodechilde, 610 1 son.	612 Aged 25/26	First son of Childebert II Resided at Metz His grandmother Brunhilda acted as regent in his early years.
Theuderic II 612 – 613		587 Soissons Son of Childebert II and Faileuba	Several paramours: 4 sons	613 Aged 25/26 Metz	Second son of Childebert II Ruled Burgundy (with his grandmother Brunhilda), conquered Austrasia
Sigebert II 613 – Late 613		601 Son of Theuderic II and Ermenberge	Unmarried	613 Aged 11/12	Illegitimate son of Theuderic II Ruled Burgundy and Austrasia with his great-grandmother Brunhilda as regent.

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.

Name Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s) Issue	Death	Notes
Chlothar II^[1] September 584 – 18 October 629		c. 584 Paris Son of Chilperic I and Fredegund	1. Haldetrude: 1 son 2. Bertrude, 613: childless 3. Sichilde, 618: 1 son	18 October 629 Aged 44/45	Reunited the Kingdom
Dagobert I 18 October 629 – 19 January 639		603^[3] Paris Son of Chlothar II and Haldetrude	1. Gormatrude: childless 2. Nanthild, pre-629: 1 son 3. Wulfegundis; childless 4. Berchildis: childless	19 January 639 Aged 33/34 Épinay-sur-Seine	Son of Chlothar II King in Austrasia 623-634
Charibert II October 629 – 8 April 632		607/617 Paris Son of Chlothar II and Sichilde	Gisela, daughter of Amand, Ruler of the Gascons 629 Chilperic	8 April 632 Aged 15/25 Blaye, Gironde	Son of Chlothar II Ruled Aquitaine
Clovis II 19 January 639 – 27 November 657		633^[4] Paris Son of Dagobert I and Nanthild	Balthild, 640s: 3 sons	27 November 657 Aged 23/24	Son of Dagobert I
Chlothar III 27 November 657 – Spring 673		652^[5] Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	Unknown paramour: possibly 1 son	Spring 673 Aged 20/21	First son of Clovis II
Theuderic III Spring 673		654 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	1. Chrothildis, pre-675: 2 sons 2. Amalberga of Maubeuge, 674: 1 daughter 3. Several concubines: At least 3 children	12 April 691 Aged 36/37	Third son of Clovis II
Clovis (III) September 675 – June 676		c. 670 Son of Chlothar III and unknown paramour	Unmarried	c. 676 Aged 5/6	Illegitimate son of Chlothar III King in Austrasia also claimed Neustria and Burgundy
Childeric II Spring 673 – Autumn 675		653^[5] Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	Bilichild, 662: 2 sons	Autumn 675 Aged 21/22	Second son of Clovis II King in Austrasia 662-675
Theuderic III Autumn 675 – 12 April 691		654 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	1. Chrothildis, pre-675: 2 sons 2. Amalberga of Maubeuge, 674: 1 daughter 3. Several concubines: At least 3 children	12 April 691 Aged 36/37	Third son of Clovis II Also king in Austrasia after 679

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.

Name Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s) Issue	Death	Notes
Dagobert I 623 – 634		605 Paris Son of Chlothar II and Haldetrude	1. Gormatrude: childless 2. Nanthild, pre-629: 1 son 3. Wulfegundis; childless 4. Berchildis: childless	19 January 639 Aged 34/35 Épinay-sur-Seine	Son of Chlothar II After 629 also King in Neustria and Burgundy
Sigebert III 634 – 1 February 656		630 Son of Dagobert I and Ragnertrude (concubine)	Chimnechild of Burgundy 651 2 children	1 February 656 Aged 25/26	Son of Dagobert I
Childebert The Adopted 1 February 656 – 661		640s Son of Grimoald and Itta of Metz	Unmarried	661 Aged 20s	Adoptive son of Sigebert III
Chlothar III 661 – 662		649 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	Unknown paramour: possibly 1 son	Spring 673 Aged 23/24	First son of Clovis II Also King in Neustria and Burgundy
Childeric II 662 – Autumn 675		654 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	Bilichild, 662: 2 sons	Winter 691 Aged 21/22	Second son of Clovis II After 673 also King in Neustria and Burgundy
Clovis (III) September 675 – June 676		c. 670 Son of Chlothar III and unknown paramour	Unmarried	c. 676 Aged 5/6	Illegitimate son of Chlothar III Claimed rule also in Neustria and Burgundy
Dagobert II c. 676 – 23 December 679		c. 650 Son of Sigebert III and Chimnechild of Burgundy	Unknown woman	23 December 679 Aged 28/29 Stenay	Son of Sigebert III

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.

Name Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s) Issue	Death	Notes
Theuderic III Autumn 675 – 12 April 691		654 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	1. Chrothildis, pre-675: 2 sons 2. Amalberga of Maubeuge, 674: 1 daughter 3. Several concubines: At least 3 children	12 April 691 Aged 36/37	Recognized king of all Franks after 23 December 679
Clovis IV 12 April 691 – 695		c. 677 Son of Theuderic III and Chrothildis	Unmarried	695 Aged 17/18	First son of Theuderic III
Childebert III The Just 695 – 23 April 711		c. 678 Son of Theuderic III and Chrothildis	1. Ermenchild: 1 son 2. Unknown paramour: 1 son	23 April 711 Aged 32/33	Second son of Theuderic III
Dagobert III 23 April 711 – 31 December 715		c. 699 Son of Childebert III and Ermenchild	1. Unknown wife: 1 son 2. Unknown paramour: 1 son	31 December 715 Aged 16	Second son of Childebert III
Chilperic II Daniel 31 December 715 – 13 February 721		c. 672 Son of Childeric II and Bilichild	Unknown woman: 1 son	13 February 721 Aged 48/49 Attigny, Ardennes	Second son of Childeric II First cousin of Dagobert III
Theuderic IV 13 February 721 – 16 March/30 April 737		c. 712 Son of Dagobert III and unknown woman	Unknown woman: 1 son	16 March/30 April 737 Aged 24/25	Son of Dagobert III
Interregnum (737–741) – Charles Martel reigned as prince
Childeric III 741 – November 751		c. 717 Son of Chilperic II and unknown woman	Unknown woman: 1 son	754 Aged 36/37	Son of either Chilperic II or Theuderic IV

Carolingian dynasty

Main article: 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,^[6][7] 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.

Name Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s) Issue	Death	Claim
Pepin The Short November 751 – 24 September 768		714 Son of Charles Martel and Rotrude of Trier	Bertrada of Laon 741 5 children	24 September 768 Aged 54 Saint-Denis	Elected by Frankish nobles
Charles I The Great "Charlemagne" 24 September 768 – 28 January 814		2 April 742 Son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon	(1) Himiltrude (concubine) 768 1 son (2) Desiderata of the Lombards 770 Childless (3) Hildegard of the Vinzgau 771 9 children (4) Fastrada 784 2 daughters (5) Luitgard 794 Childless (6) Several concubines 6 children	28 January 814 Aged 71 Aachen	First son of Pepin the Short
Carloman I 24 September 768 – 4 December 771		28 June 751 Soissons Son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon	Gerberga 741 2 sons	4 December 771 Aged 20 Samoussy	Second son of Pepin the Short
Louis I The Pious 28 January 814 – 20 June 840		16 April 778 Casseuil Son of Charles I and Hildegard of the Vinzgau	(1) Ermengarde of Hesbaye 794 6 children (2) Judith of Bavaria 819 2 children	20 June 840 Aged 62 Ingelheim am Rhein	Second son of Charles I

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.

Western Kingdom (eventually France) Names marked with an asterisk (*) were not Carolingians, but Robertians. Charles II, called the Bald, 843–877, King of Italy and Emperor 875 Aquitaine: Charles the Child, 855–866; Louis the Stammerer, 866–877 Neustria: Louis the Stammerer, 856–877 Louis II, called the Stammerer, 877–879 Louis III, 879–882, jointly with Carloman II, 879–884 Charles the Fat, 884–888, Emperor 881 Odo,* 888–898 Aquitaine: Ranulf II, 888–889 (Ramnulfid, not Carolingian) Charles III, called the Simple, 898–922 Robert I,* 922–923 Rudolph,* 923–936 Louis IV, called Transmarinus, 936–954 Lothair, 954–986 Aquitaine: Louis the Sluggard, 980–986 Louis V, called the Sluggard, 986–987 After this, the House of Capet ruled France. For the continuation, see the list of French monarchs.

Middle Kingdom Lothair I, 843–855, Emperor from 824 (senior Emperor from 840) Italy: Lothair I, 818–855; Louis II, with his father 839–855 After Lothair's death in 855, his realm was divided between his sons: Louis II, 855–875, the eldest son, succeeded his father as Emperor and received Italy. For the continuation, see King of Italy. Lothair II, 855–869, the second son, received the northern half of Middle Francia, which came to be named "Lotharingia" (Lorraine) from his name. For the continuation, see the list of rulers of Lorraine. Charles II, 855–863, the youngest son, received the southern half of Middle Francia, consisting of Provence and Burgundy. For the continuation, see King of Burgundy.

Eastern Kingdom (eventually Germany) Louis II, called the German, 843–876 Bavaria: Carloman, with his father 864–876 Louis divided his lands between his three sons, but they all ended up in the hands of the youngest by 882: Carloman, King of Bavaria 876–880. King of Italy 877 Louis III, called the Younger, King of Saxony, Franconia, and Thuringia 876–882, inherited Bavaria from his brother Carloman in 880 Charles III, called the Fat, King of Swabia, Alemannia and Rhaetia 876–887, inherited Italy from his brother Carloman in 879, and inherited the remainder of East Francia from his brother Louis in 882. Emperor 881 On the deposition of Charles the Fat, East Francia went to his nephew: Arnulf, 887–899, King of Italy and Emperor 896 Italy: Ratold, 896 Lotharingia: Zwentibold, 895–900 Louis the Child, 899–911 Louis the Child was the last East Frankish Carolingian ruler. He was succeeded by Conrad of Franconia and then the Saxon Ottonian dynasty. For the continuation, see the list of German monarchs.

See also

• Historia Francorum
• List of French monarchs

References

1. William Deans; Frederick Martin (1882). A History of France: From The Earliest Times to the Present Day. Vol. 1. Edinburgh & London: A. Fullarton & Co. pp. vi–ix, 420, 1792, Table of Sovereigns of France.
2. contested by Munderic, 533, rival king
3. Paul Oldfield, Sanctity and Pilgrimage in Medieval Southern Italy, 1000–1200, (Cambridge University Press, 2014), 218.
4. McConville 2018, p. 362.
5. Bachrach, Bachrach & Leese 2018.
6. Charles Knight, The English Cyclopaedia: Volume IV, (London : 1867); p. 733 "We have no circumstantial account of this important event, except that Pepin was anointed at Soissons, in March 752, by Boniface, bishop of Mainz, called the Apostle of Germany, before the assembly of the nation."
7. Claudio Rendina & Paul McCusker, The Popes: Histories and Secrets, (New York : 2002), p. 145

Sources

• Bachrach, Bernard S.; Bachrach, David S.; Leese, Michael (2018). Deeds of the Bishops of Cambrai, Translation and Commentary. Routledge. ISBN 9781317036210.
• McConville, Julia (2018). "Clovis III". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press.

Further reading

• The history of France as recounted in the "Grandes Chroniques de France", and particularly in the personal copy produced for King Charles V between 1370 and 1380 that is the saga of the three great dynasties, the Merovingians, Carolingians, and the Capetians, that shaped the institutions and the frontiers of the realm. This document was produced and likely commissioned during the Hundred Years' War, a dynastic struggle between the rulers of France and England with rival claims to the French throne. It should therefore be read and considered carefully as a source, due to the inherent bias in the context of its origins.
• The Cambridge Illustrated History of France – Cambridge University Press
• The Origins of France: Clovis to the Capetians 500–1000 by Edward James ISBN 0-333-27052-5
• Late Merovingian France: History and Hagiography, 640–720 (Manchester Medieval Sources); Paul Fouracre (Editor), Richard A. Gerberding (Editor) ISBN 0-7190-4791-9
• Medieval France: An Encyclopedia, eds. W. Kibler and G. Zinn. New York: Garland Publishing, 1995.

External links

• "Merovingian dynasty". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2011.