List of Frankish kings

See also: List of Frankish queens

King of The Franks
Roi des Francs Fränkische Herrscher
Coronation Crown of Charlemagne
Details
Style	Majesty Majesty
First monarch	Clovis I
Last monarch	Philip II
Formation	509
Abolition	843 (as "King of Francia") 987 (as "King of West Francia") 1190 (as "King of the Franks")
Residence	Palace of Aachen (768–840)
Appointer	Hereditary

The Franks were originally led by dukes (military leaders) and reguli (petty kings). The Salian Merovingians rose to dominance among the Franks and conquered most of Roman Gaul. They also conquered the Gaulish territory of the Visigothic Kingdom in 507. The sons of Clovis conquered the Burgundians and Alamanni. They acquired Provence and made the Bavarii and Thuringii their clients. The Merovingians were later replaced by a new dynasty called the Carolingians in the 8th century. By the end of the 9th century, the Carolingians themselves were replaced throughout much of their realm by other dynasties. The idea of a "King of the Franks" or Rex Francorum gradually disappeared over the 11th and 12th centuries, replaced by the title King of France, which 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.

A timeline of Frankish rulers is difficult since the realm was, according to old Germanic practice, frequently divided among the sons of a leader upon his death and then eventually reunited through marriage, treaty, or conquest. Thus, there were often multiple Frankish kings ruling different territories, and divisions of those territories was inconsistent over time. As inheritance traditions changed, the divisions of Francia (a modern historiographical term used to denote the lands of the Franks) became more-or-less permanent kingdoms, West Francia formed the nucleus of what later became the Kingdom of France, East Francia evolved into the Kingdom of Germany, while Middle Francia became the short-lived Kingdom of Lotharingia, which was soon divided up between its neighbors. By the time of the Capetian dynasty, the Frankish rulers became Kings of France, a title formalized when Philip II of France altered the prior form in 1190. In the east, Germany passed from Frankish control in 911 with the election of Conrad I as king.

Kings of all Franks (450–511)

• Note: The following tables are summaries of Frankish kings, additional detailed information can be found in the individual articles.

Merovingian dynasty

Main article: Merovingian dynasty

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. He took his seat at Paris, which along with Soissons, Reims, Metz, and Orléans became the chief residences. Upon his death, the kingdom was split among his four sons.

Name & Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Issue	Death
Merovech 450–458		c. 411 Tournai Son of Chlodio and Basina	Verich	2 children	c. 458 Aged 46/47
Childeric I 458–481		c. 437 Son of Merovech and Verich	Basina of Thuringia	4 children	c. 481 Aged 43/44 Tournai
Clovis I 481–511		c. 466 Tournai Son of Childeric I and Basina of Thuringia	(1) Unknown concubine (2) Clotilde	5 children	511 Aged 44/45 Paris

Kings of the Neustrian Franks (511–679)

•   King of both the Neustrian and Austrasian Franks

Merovingian dynasty

Name & Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Issue	Death
Childebert I 511–558		c. 496 Reims Son of Clovis I and Clotilde	Ultragotha 510s	2 daughters	558 Aged 61/62 Paris
Chlothar I The Old 558–561		c. 497 Paris Son of Clovis I and Clotilde	(1) Guntheuc 524 (2) Radegund 538 (3) Ingund pre-580 (4) Aregund pre-580 (5) Chunsina 580	8 children	561 Aged 63/64 Compiègne
Charibert I 561–567		c. 517 Paris Son of Chlothar I and Ingund	Ingoberga 537	4 children	567 Aged 49/50 Paris
Chilperic I 567–584		c. 539 Paris Son of Chlothar I and Aregund	(1) Audovera 540s (2) Galswintha 567 (3) Fredegund 568	12 children	584 Aged 44/45 Chelles
Chlothar II The Young 584–629		c. 584 Paris Son of Chilperic I and Fredegund	(1) Haldetrude (2) Bertrude 613 (3) Sichilde 618	2 children	629 Aged 44/45
Dagobert I 629–639		603 Paris Son of Chlothar II and Haldetrude	(1) Gormatrude (2) Nanthild pre-629 (3) Wulfegundis (4) Berchildis	1 child	639 Aged 33/34 Épinay-sur-Seine
Clovis II 639–657		633 Paris Son of Dagobert I and Nanthild	Balthild 640s	3 children	657 Aged 23/24
Chlothar III 657–673		652 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	Unmarried	None	673 Aged 20/21
Childeric II 673–675		653 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	Bilichild ?	2 children	675 Aged 21/22
Theuderic III 675–679		654 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	(1) Clotilda pre-675 (2) Amalberga of Maubeuge 674 (3) Several concubines	6 children	691 Aged 36/37

Kings of the Austrasian Franks (511–679)

Merovingian dynasty

Notes

Chlothar II defeated Brunhilda and her grandson, reunifying the kingdom. However, in 623, to appease the local nobility and also secure the borders, he gave the Austrasians his young son as their own king. His son and successor, Dagobert I, emulated this move by appointing a sub-king for Aquitaine, with a seat at Toulouse, in 629 and Austrasia in 634.

•   King of both the Neustrian and Austrasian Franks

Name & Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Issue	Death
Theuderic I 511–534		c. 487 Paris Son of Clovis I and an earlier wife: Evochildis of Cologne	(1) Suavegotha 510s (2) Several concubines	2 children	Early 534 Aged 46/47
Theudebert I 534–c. 548		c. 503 Metz Son of Theuderic I and a concubine (prob.)	(1) Deuteria 534 (2) Wisigard 540 (3) Unknown wife 540s	2 children	c. 548 Aged 44/45
Theudebald c. 548–c. 555		c. 535 Son of Theudebert I and Deuteria	Waldrada 540s	None	c. 555 Aged 19/20
Chlothar I The Old 558–561		c. 497 Paris Son of Clovis I and Clotilde	(1) Guntheuc 524 (2) Radegund 538 (3) Ingund pre-580 (4) Aregund pre-580 (5) Chunsina 580	8 children	561 Aged 63/64 Compiègne
Sigebert I 561–c. 575		c. 535 Son of Chlothar I and Ingund	Brunhilda of Austrasia 567	3 children	c. 575 Aged 39/40 Vitry-en-Artois
Childebert II c. 575–595		c. 570 Son of Sigebert I and Brunhilda of Austrasia	Faileuba	4 children	595 Aged 24/25
Theudebert II 595–612		586 Son of Childebert II and Faileuba	(1) Bilichilde 608 (2) Teodechilde 610	3 children	612 Aged 25/26
Theuderic II 612–613		587 Soissons Son of Childebert II and Faileuba	Several paramours	4 children	613 Aged 25/26 Metz
Sigebert II 613		601 Son of Theuderic II and Ermenberge	Unmarried	None	613 Aged 11/12
Chlothar II The Young 584–629		c. 584 Paris Son of Chilperic I and Fredegund	(1) Haldetrude (2) Bertrude 613 (3) Sichilde 618	2 children	629 Aged 44/45
Dagobert I 629–639		603 Paris Son of Chlothar II and Haldetrude	(1) Gormatrude (2) Nanthild pre-629 (3) Wulfegundis (4) Berchildis	1 child	639 Aged 33/34 Épinay-sur-Seine
Sigebert III 634–656		630 Son of Dagobert I and Ragnertrude (concubine)	Chimnechild of Burgundy 651	2 children	656 Aged 25/26
Childebert The Adopted 656–661		640s Son of Grimoald and Itta of Metz	Unmarried	None	661 Aged 20s
Chlothar III 657–673		652 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	Unmarried	None	673 Aged 20/21
Childeric II 673–675		653 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	Bilichild ?	2 children	675 Aged 21/22
Clovis III 675–c. 676		c. 670 Son of Chlothar III and unknown paramour	Unmarried	None	c. 676 Aged 5/6
Dagobert II c. 676–679		c. 650 Son of Sigebert III and Chimnechild of Burgundy	Unknown woman	1 son (uncertain)	679 Aged 28/29 Stenay

Kings of the Franks (679–840)

Merovingian dynasty

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 "idle kings" who were increasingly overshadowed by their mayors of the palace.

Name & Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Issue	Death
Theuderic III 679–691		654 Paris Son of Clovis II and Balthild	(1) Clotilda pre-675 (2) Amalberga of Maubeuge 674 (3) Several concubines	6 children	691 Aged 36/37
Clovis IV 691–695		c. 677 Son of Theuderic III and Clotilda	Unmarried	None	695 Aged 17/18
Childebert III The Just 695–711		c. 678 Son of Theuderic III and Clotilda	(1) Ermenchild (2) Unknown paramour	2 children	711 Aged 32/33
Dagobert III The Just 711–715		c. 699 Son of Childebert III and Ermenchild	(1) Unknown wife (2) Unknown paramour	2 children	715 Aged 16
Chilperic II 715–721		c. 672 Son of Childeric II and Bilichild	Unknown concubine	1 child	721 Aged 48/49 Attigny, Ardennes
Theuderic IV 721–737		c. 712 Son of Dagobert III and unknown woman	Unknown concubine	1 child	737 Aged 24/25
Interregnum (737–741); Charles Martel reigned as Regent
Childeric III The Phantom King 741–751		c. 717 Son of Chilperic II and unknown paramour	Unknown paramour	1 child	754 Aged 36/37

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, Pippin 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 Pippin's reign. Between 715 and 716, the descendants of Pippin disputed the succession.

In March 752, Pippin (Pepin) became the King of the Franks and the office of mayor disappeared. The Carolingians displaced the Merovingians as the ruling dynasty.

Name & Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Issue	Death
Pepin The Short 751–768		714 Son of Charles Martel and Rotrude of Trier	Bertrada of Laon 741	5 children	768 Aged 54 Saint-Denis
Carloman I 768–771		751 Soissons Son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon	Gerberga 741	2 children	771 Aged 20 Samoussy
Charles I The Great ("Charlemagne") 768–814		742 Son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon	(1) Himiltrude (concubine) 768 (2) Desiderata of the Lombards 770 (3) Hildegard of the Vinzgau 771 (4) Fastrada 784 (5) Luitgard 794 (6) Several concubines	18 children	814 Aged 71 Aachen
Louis I The Pious 814–840		778 Casseuil Son of Charles I and Hildegard of the Vinzgau	(1) Ermengarde of Hesbaye 794 (2) Judith of Bavaria 819	8 children	840 Aged 62 Ingelheim am Rhein

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.

Kings of West Francia (843–987)

The western kingdom was formed in 843 with Charles the Bald (Charles II) as the first king. "West Francia" or "Kingdom of the West Franks" was part of the Carolingian Empire until 888 AD, after which the kingdom became its own entity. This western kingdom eventually was absorbed into the Kingdom of France in 987 and ruled by the House of Capet. It was under this dynasty that the title became known as "King of France" in 1190.

Name & Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Issue	Death
Charles II The Bald 843–877		823	(1) Ermentrude of Orleans (2) Richilde of Provence (consort)	15 children	877
Louis II The Stammerer 877–879		846	(1) Ansgarde of Burgundy (2) Adelaide of Paris	8 children	879
Louis III 879–882 Carloman II 879–884		863 or 865	None	None	882
		c. 866	None	None	884
Charles III The Fat 884–887		839	Richardis 862	1 child	888
Odo 888–898		c. 857	Théodrate of Troyes	1 child	898
Charles III The Simple 898–922		879	(1) Frederuna 907 (2) Eadgifu of Wessex 919	6 children	929
Robert I 922–923		c. 866	(1) Aelis (2) Beatrice of Vermandois	3 children	923
Rudolph 923–936		c. 890	Emma of France	1 child	936
Louis IV Transmarinus 936–954		920 or 921	Gerberga of Saxony	7 children	954
Lothair 954–986		941	Emma of Italy 965	2 children	986
Louis V Do-Nothing 986–987	N/A	966 or 967	Adelaide-Blanche of Anjou 982	None	987
Succeeded by: House of Capet (987–1190)

King of Middle Francia (843–855)

Middle Francia, also known as the "Kingdom of Middle Francia" was ruled by only one king named Lothair I.

Name & Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Issue	Death
Lothair I 840–855		795	Ermengarde of Tours 821	8 children	855 Aged 59/60 Prüm

After Lothair's death in 855, his realm was divided between his three sons who each became a king in their own right.

• Louis II of Italy aka "Louis II", the eldest son, succeeded his father as the next Carolingian Emperor until 875. He received lands in northern and central Italy.
• Lothair aka "Lothair II", the second son, received the northern half of Middle Francia, which came to be named "Lotharingia" (Lorraine) from his name.
• Charles aka "Charles of Provence", the youngest son, received the southern half of Middle Francia, consisting of Provence and Burgundy.

Kings of East Francia (843–962)

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.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

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.

Kings of the Franks (987–1190)

Further information: List of French monarchs

The title "King of the Franks" continued to be used in the Kingdom of France until 1190. While the Kingdom of the Franks had long been extinct by this time, the title "Queen consort of the Franks" continued to be used until 1227.

House of Capet

Name & Reign	Portrait	Birth	Marriage(s)	Issue	Death
Hugh Capet 987–996		939	Adelaide of Aquitaine 969	3 children	996
Robert II 987–1031
Henry I 1031–1060
Philip I 1060–1108
Louis VI 1108–1137
Louis VII 1137–1180
Philip II 1180–1190 (as "King of the Franks")

External links

• "Merovingian dynasty". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 2011.