Christian Europe—Frankish Empire
500 to 845
Baptism of Clovis to Treaty of Verdun
Era Summary Characters Timeline Reading Assignments
Characters—Frankish Empire
| Character/Date | Short Biography |
|---|---|
Merovingians | |
466–511 |
Founder of the Frankish Kingdom. Converted to Christianity by his wife Clotilda. |
d. 545 |
Christian wife of Clovis; converted him to Christianity, and built a church. |
d. 597 |
Murderous queen consort of Chilperic, a Merovingian King. Quarreled for 40 years with Brunhilda, sister of his former wife. |
| Brunhilda 603-639 | Merovingian Queen who ruled as regent for her sons and grandsons. Feuded with Fredegonde. |
| Dagobert I 603-639 | Last of the strong, respected Merovingian kings. Later Merovingians were "do-nothing" kings. |
Carolingians | |
686–741 |
Frankish King who defeated the Moors at the Battle of Tours. |
714–768 |
King of the Franks. Son of Charles Martel. Father of Charlemagne. |
742–814 |
First Holy Roman Emperor. Unified most of Western Europe into a Frankish Empire. |
d. 778 |
Nephew of Charlemagne and legendary hero of his wars. Died at Roncesvalles. |
~ 780 |
Leader of Saxon resistance to Charlemagne. After years of struggle, converted to Christianity. |
735–804 |
Famous teacher of the middle ages in both England and France. Founded schools in York, and under Charlemagne. |
Later Carolingians | |
778–840 |
Son of Charlemagne and king of Franks. On his death his three sons divided the kingdom between them. |
804–876 |
Grandson of Charlemagne, ruler of East Franconia. |
823–877 |
Grandson of Charlemagne who Inherited Kingdom of the West Franks. Dealt with Norse pirates who besieged Paris. |
832–888 |
Briefly reunited the East and West Kingdoms of Charlemagne. |
850–899 |
Deposed uncle, Charles the Fat. Repelled Vikings invaders at Battle of Leuven. |
Early French Saints | |
d. 250 |
Saint of the third century who was martyred in Roman Gaul by druid priests for converting Celts to Christianity. |
317–397 |
Roman soldier who gave up his military career to follow Christ. Bishop of Tours and early monastic personality. |
~ 190 |
Early Christian theologian, bishop in Roman Gaul, recognized as a Father of the Church. |
380–448 |
Renowned Bishop from Gaul visited Britain in order to help combat Pelagianism heresy. |
538–594 |
Bishop of Tours, historian who record the deeds of the early Merovingians and Martin of Tours. |
| Genevieve 420-502 | Peasant girl of France whose prayers diverted the Huns from attacking Paris. |
| Remigius 437-533 | Bishop of Reims who befriended, helped convert, and baptized Clovis. |
Timeline—Frankish Empire
| AD Year | Event |
|---|---|
Merovingian Kings | |
| 448 | Merovech succeeds Clodio as king of the Salian Franks. |
| 451 | Romans, Visigoths, and Franks under Merovech, defeat Attila the Hun at the Battle of Chalons. |
| 465 | Clovis I, grandson of Merovech, succeeds as leader of the Salian Franks. |
| 486 | Clovis defeats Syagrius, the last Roman appointed ruler of Gaul at the Battle of Soissons. |
| 492 | Clovis marries Clotilda, a Catholic princess of Burgundy. |
| 496 | Clovis baptized in Christmas day in 496 in the Abbey of Rheims by St. Remigus. |
| 507 | Clovis defeats a Visigoth army and conquers Aquitaine in Southwest France at the Battle of Vouille. |
| 511 | Frankish kingdom divided among sons of Clovis at his death. Capitals were at Soissons, Paris, Orleans, and Rheims. |
| 558 | Chlothar I becomes sole ruler of Franks. Kingdom later divided into four regions: Burgundy, Neustria, Austrasia, Aquitaine. |
| 575 | Brunhilda ruled Austrasia after Sigebert I. Feuded with Fredogunda of Nuestria. |
| 613 | Chlothar II (Fredogunda son) rules Franks after executing Sibebert II and Brunhilda. |
| 632 | Dagobert I becomes king of Franks by treachery. Later Merovingian are "do-nothing" kings. |
Mayors of the Palace | |
| | Pepin II (of Herstal) (father of Charles Martel) served as "Mayor of Palace" of Austrasia, then for entire kingdom. |
| 718-723 | Charles Martel, illegitimate son of Pepin Herstal, fought to claim 'Mayor of Palace' office from his step-brother. |
| 731 | Martel leads army against Odo, Duke of Aquitaine, who had made a truce with the Moors. Odo submits to Martel. |
| 732 | Battle of Tours: Franks and Burgundians under Martel severely defeat invading Moors of the Umayyad Caliphate. |
| 741 | Frankish realms divided between Pepin the Short and Carloman. Pepin sole ruler after Carlomon withdraws to Monastery (747). |
Carolingian Kings | |
| 751 | Pepin the Short crowned king of the Franks, first Carolingian ruler of the Franks. |
| 751 | Lombards conquer 'Exarchate of Ravenna' in central Italy, from Byzantines. Rome under rule of pagan Lombards. |
| 756 | Donation of Pepin: Pepin forces the Lombards to surrender conquests in central Italy to Pope of Rome. Legal basis for Papal States. |
| 771 | Charlemagne, son of Pepin, becomes ruler of the Franks. |
| 774 | Charlemagne surrounds Pavia, exiles Desiderous, and is crowned king of the Lombards. |
| 778 | Battle of Roncevaus Pass: Charlemagne leads Franks over the Pyrennes to oppose Basques and Moors. Basis for 'Song of Roland'. |
| 782 | Alcuin becomes Master of the Palace School in Aachen. Begins educational and ecclesiastic reforms. |
| 785 | Saxon leader Wittekind is baptized and swears fealty to Charlemagne. |
| 789 | Charlemagne issues laws that guide reforms throughout the Frankish kingdom. |
| 780-840 | Carolingian Renaissance: increased activity in art, literature, law, architecture, liturgy, and religion throughout Frankish realms. |
| 795 | Charlemagne creates 'Spanish March' as buffer between Franks and Spanish Moors. |
| 800 | On Christmas, 800, Charlemagne is crowned 'King of the Romans' by Pope Leo III. |
| 814 | Charlemagne dies and his only legitimate son, Louis the Pious, inherits the Empire. |
| 840 | On death of Louis the Pious, his three sons, Lothair I, Louis the German, and Charles the Bald fight over Frankish dominions. |
| 843 | Treaty of Verdun: Sons of Louis the Pious divide the Empire into three Parts. |
Recommended Reading—Frankish Empire
Core Reading Assignments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Guerber - The Story of Old France | France Long Ago to The Strassburg Oath (24) | |
| Marshall - A History of France | Gauls Defeat Romans to Louis the Stammerer (15) | |
Supplemental Recommendations | ||
| Macgregor - The Story of France | The Druids to Louis the Good-Natured (9) | |
| Lansing - Barbarian and Noble | Clovis, King of the Franks to The School of the Palace (4) | |
| Marshall - The Story of Europe | Rise of the Franks to Treaty of Verdun (3) | |
| Morris - Historical Tales: French | The Huns at Orleans to The Crowning of Charlemagne (6) | |
Easy Reading Selections | ||
| Finnemore - France: Peeps at History | Gauls and the Franks to Merovings and Carlovings (2) | |
| Haaren - Famous Men of the Middle Ages | Clovis to Charlemagne (3) | |
| Evans - Old Time Tales | Clovis Becomes a Christian to The Death of Roland (6) | |
| Dalkeith - Stories from French History | entire book | |