List of Frankish kings

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.

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.

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.

Merovingian dynasty (481-751)
Main article: Merovingian dynasty

Early Kings of the Franks (481-613)

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
481
–
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		 United all Franks under his rule
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.

See also

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.
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