MEROVINGIAN KINGS OF THE FRANKS
AD 448 ~ 751

The Franks are thought to have originated from the region of Pomerania, near the Black Sea. They moved up to the Rhine during the third century (the Period of Migration). The Salian (Western) Franks led the influx of Frankish and sub-Frank peoples into Gaul during the 4-5th centuries, and founded minor kingdoms along the line of their advance, such as at Cambrai and Yssel.

The Frankish leader, Clovis, united the Salians with the Ripuarian (Eastern) Franks and they were converted to Christianity in 497. Their kingdom expanded under Clovis and his sons to include Neustria (northern France), Austrasia (Netherlands, Austria, northern Germany), Burgundy and Provence by 714.The Franks quickly became the dominant Germanic tribe in not only Gaul but throughout Central and Western Europe. The territory between modern-day France and Germany, and south to Central Italy, became known as Francia. The kingdoms this eventually encompassed included West Francia (France), East Francia (eventually to emerge as Germany), Burgundy, Lombardy, Lotharingia / Lorraine (only briefly an independent kingdom before it splintered into various interrelated principalities, known as the Stem Duchies), and the Papal States (which started life as the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna), which were centered on Rome. All of this territory was part of the Empire of Charlemagne.

448 ~ 458	Merove`e / Merovech/Meerwig the Young	Son of Chlodio (Clodion or Clodius V)
458 ~ 496	Childeric I	King of the Franks of Yssel.
456 ~ 511	Clovis I /Chlodwig	Son of Childeric.. Founded
486	Clovis Occupies Northern Gaul
496	The Franks conquer the Alemanni
505	The Franks absorb the Alemanni (who later emerge as the Swabians).
507	The Fanks defeat the Visgoths, forcing them out of Gaul
511	The Kingdom is divided between Clovis’ four sons, ruling Austrasia, Orleans, Paris, and Soissons. Clotaire, king of Soissons was also the new king of the Franks. Soissons was incorporated directly under that rule
511 ~ 560	Clotaire / Chlothar I	Son. Established the basis of early Frankish monarchy in Gaul.
531	§ The Thuringians are conquered.
534	§ The Burgundians are conquered.
555	§ The Bavarians are conqured.
561 ~ 567	Charibert I	King of the Franks
561 ~ 584	Chilperic I	Son King of Neustria.
558	§ Orleans and Paris are drawn back under direct control of the king of the Franks.
584 ~ 629	Clotaire / Chlothar II	Son. King of Neustria
613	§ The Frankish Empire is reunified under Chlothar II’s rule, with Neustria (and the attached Swiss territories) forming its heartland. Austrasia becomes semi-independent again in 622
629 ~ 632	Charibert II	King of Acquitaine
630 ~ 638	Dagobert I	King of Austrasia. Defeated in battle by Carinthian Slavs.
633 ~ 656	Clovis II	633 could be year of birth
656	Dagobert II
Grimoald ~ Son of Pepin I. Carolingian Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia
656 ~ 661	Childebert Adoptivus	Son. Adopted by Sigibert III of Austrasia.
662 ~ 675	Childeric II	Son of Clovis II. King of Austrasia.
675 ~ 676	Clovis III
673 ~ 691	Theuderich III	Son of Clovis II. King of Neustria, Burgundy, and Austrasia.
689 ~ 719	The Franks Conquer the Kingdom of Friesland
691 ~ 695	Clovis IV	Reunited Neustria and Austrasia under central government
695 ~ 711	Childebert III	Son of Theuderich III. King of Neustria, Burgundy, and Austrasia.
711 ~ 715	Dagobert III	Son. King of Neustria, Burgundy, and Austrasia.
715 ~ 721	Daniel Chilperich II	Son of Childerich II. King of Neustria
717 ~ 720	Chlothar / Lothair IV	Son of Theuderich III. King of Austrasia.
721 ~ 737	Theuderich IV	Son of Dagobert III. King of Neustria, Burgundy, and Austrasia.
737 ~ 743	Interregnum, Carolingian Mayors Rule
743 ~ 751	Childeric III	Grandson of Childeric II. King of Neustria, Burgundy, and Austrasia. Deposed. Died 755
751	With the Pope’s blessing, the Carolingian Mayors of the Palace depose the Merovingians and take control of the empire. Neustria, Austrasia and Burgundy are controlled directly, and the former two names fade from common use.