The Franks, Germanic 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, following the Battle of Vouillé in 507 AD.
The sons of Clovis I, the first King of all Franks, conquered the Burgundian and the Alamanni kingdoms, as well as 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, and 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 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" in Northern France Chlodio ( 420-450) Merovech ( 450–457), perhaps a relative of Chlodio Childeric I ( 457–481), son of Merovech Clovis I ( 481–511), the first Merovingian king, who ruled all Franks by 509
"Ripuarian Franks" in Cologne
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 (509–751)
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. In almost every case, the brothers ended up fighting each other.
Kings in Austrasia (Reims/Metz); lines of Theuderic I and Sigibert I Kings in Orléans; lines of Chlodomer and Guntram Kings in Paris; lines of Childebert I and Charibert I Kings in Neustria (Soissons); lines of Chlothar I and Chilperic I
PortraitKingReignSuccessionMarriage(s)Life detailsClovis IKing of all Franks 509 – 27 November 511(2 years)Son of Childeric I and grandson of Merovech. Ruled initially over the Salian and later Ripuarian Franks; killed his rivals and became sole kingClotilde 466 – 27 November 511(aged ~45)King of the Salian Franks since 481; conquered Gaul in 486 and Aquitaine in 507. Baptized on Christmas Day in 508 —Theuderic IKing of AustrasiaDecember 511 – 534(nearly 23 years)Eldest son of Clovis and an earlier concubineSuavegothaClovis' eldest son; died of natural causesChlodomerKing of OrléansDecember 511 – 21 June 524(12 years and 6 months)Eldest son of Clovis I and ClotildeGuntheuc 496 – 21 June 524(aged ~28)Killed in Burgundy; his sons were then killed by his brothers, who divided his realmChildebert IKing of ParisKing of Orléans (524–558)December 511 – 23 December 558(46 years)Son of Clovis I and Clotilde. Later inherited Orléans after the death of Chlodomer in 524Ultragotha 498 – 23 December 558(aged ~60)Conquered Burgundy alongside his brothersChlothar IKing of NeustriaKing of Austrasia (555–561)King of all Franks (558–561)December 511 – December 561(50 years)Youngest son of Clovis I and Clotilde; ruled over the Salian heartlands and briefly reunited Francia in 558 500 – December 561(aged ~61)Longest-reigning Frankish monarchTheudebert IKing of Austrasia534 – 548(14 years)Son of Theuderic I and Suavegotha Vuldetrada Deuteria 500 – 548(aged ~48)First king to mint his own coins —TheudebaldKing of Austrasia548 – 555(7 years)Son of Theudebert I and DeuteriaWaldrada 535 – November/December 555 (aged ~28)Died of illness; his realm was taken by Chlothar ICharibert IKing of Paris & AquitaineDecember 561 – December 567(6 years)Eldest son of Chlothar I and Ingund 521 – December 567(aged ~46)At his death his brothers divided his realm Chilperic IKing of NeustriaKing of Paris (567–584)December 561 – September 584(22 years and 9 months)Son of Chlothar I and Aregund Audovera Galswintha Fredegund 523/9 – September 584(aged 55–61)Assasinated, possibly at the instigation of Sigebert IGuntramKing of OrléansKing of Paris (584–592)December 561 – 28 March 592(1 year and 3 months)Son of Chlothar I and Ingund Vénérande Marcatrude Austregilde 532 – 28 March 592(aged ~60)Revered as a saint by the Catholic ChurchSigebert IKing of AustrasiaDecember 561 – December 575(13 years and 11 months)Son of Chlothar I and IngundBrunhilda 535 – December 575(aged ~40)Fought a civil war against Chilperic; assasinated at the instigation of queen FredegundChildebert IIKing of AustrasiaKing of Orléans (592–596)December 575 – November 595(9 years and 11 months)Son of Sigebert I and Brunhilda; began his reign as a babyFaileuba 570 – November 595 (o 596)(aged ~25)Poisoned by Chlothar II during their civil warGundoald (disputed)King of Aquitaine584 – 585(a few months)Usurper king; claimed to be a son of Chlothar I—Revolted with the support of Eastern emperor Maurice, defeated and killed by Guntram's forcesChlothar IIKing of NeustriaKing of all Franks (613–629)September 584 – September 629(45 years)Son of Chilperic I and Fredegund; began his rule as a baby under several regencies Haldetrude Bertrude SichildeMay/June 584 – September 629(aged 45)Fought several wars against his brothers and queen Brunhilda, whom he executed in 613Theudebert IIAustrasia596 – 612(16 years)Son of Childebert II and grandson of queen Brunhilda, who ruled as regent Bilichild Théodechilde 586 – 612 (aged ~26)Deposed and murdered by Chlothar II Theuderic IIKing of OrléansKing of Austrasia (612–613)596 – 613(17 years)Son of Childebert II and grandson of queen Brunhilda, who ruled as regentErmenberga 587 – 613(aged ~26)Fought his cousin and brother; died of natural causesSigebert IIKing of Orléans, Paris & Austrasia613(very briefly)Son of Theuderic II — 602– late 612(aged ~10)Murdered while still a child by Chlothar IICharibert IIKing of AquitaineSeptember 629 – 632(less than 2 years)Son of Chlothar II— 606 – 632(aged ~26)Died of natural causes, or assasinated —ChilpericKing of Aquitaine632(very briefly)Son of Charibert II—Succeeded as a baby and was killed shortly after; may have never actually reignedDagobert IKing of AustrasiaKing of Neustria (629–639)King of all Franks (632–639)February/March 623 –19 January 639(9 years and 2 months)Son of Chlothar II 603 – 19 January 639(aged ~35)Last Merovingian to exercise real power; first king to be buried in the Basilica of Saint-Denis
Puppet kings (639–751) Francia was reunified by Chlothar II and his son Dagobert I. By that time the realms of Neustria, Burgundy and Austrasia had developed regional identities. In order to appease the local nobility, Austrasia, which composed the Western half of the kingdom, was usually ruled by a separate king, often a son or brother of the king ruling in Neustria and Burgundy. A similar arrangement for Aquitaine was short-lived. The kings of this period are known as the roi fainéant, "do-nothing kings" who were increasingly overshadowed by their mayors of the palace. Most of them began their reign as children and died young.
Kings in Neustria PortraitKingReignSuccessionMarriage(s)Life detailsClovis IIKing of Neustria19 January 639 – October 657(18 years and 9 months)Son of Dagobert IBalthild 633/4 – Sept/Nov 657(aged ~22/23)Held no real powerChlothar IIIKing of NeustriaKing of all Franks ( 662)October 657 – April 673(5 years and 6 months)Son of Clovis II; briefly reunified Francia in 662 but was forced to divide it again — 652 – March/May 673(aged ~21)Died suddenly of unknown causes— Francia briefly reunified by Childeric II —Theuderic IIIKing of NeustriaKing of all Franks (679–691)late 675 – early 691(nearly 16 years)Son of Clovis II; exiled by mayor of the palace Ebroin in 673 but restored to the throne after Childeric's murder. Reunified Francia in 679Chrothildis 651 – early 691 (aged ~40)Defeated Dagobert II at the Battle of Lucofao in 679, but was himself defeated at the Battle of Tertry against the Austrasian mayor Pepin of Herstal in 687
Kings in Austrasia PortraitKingReignSuccessionMarriage(s)Life detailsSigebert IIIKing of Austrasia633 – 1 February 656(33 years)Son of Dagobert I; proclaimed king while as a babyChimnechild 630 – 1 February 656(aged ~26)Ruled under several regenciesChildebert III "the Adopted"King of Austrasia656–662 (?)(6 years?)Son of mayor Grimoald and adopted son of Sigebert III —Exact chronology disputed; may have reigned only briefly before his execution in 662— Francia briefly reunified by Chlothar III —Childeric IIKing of AustrasiaKing of all Franks (673–675)662 – October 675(13 years)Second son of Clovis II; proclaimed king as a babyBilichild 650 – October 675(aged ~25)Assasinated in a conspiracyClovis III (disputed)King of Austrasia675 – 676(1 year)Son of Chlothar III; installed by mayor Ebroin after Childeric's murder —Obscure king often excluded from regnal listsDagobert IIKing of AustrasiaMay 676 – 23 December 679(3 years and 6 months)Son of Sigebert III — 650 – 23 December 679(aged ~29)Assasinated in a conspiracy
Successors of Theuderic III (691–751)