List of Frankish kings

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.

See also: List of Frankish queens

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, and Middle Francia become 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, and Germany passed from Carolingian control in 911 with the election of Conrad I as king.

The idea of a "King of the Franks" or Rex Francorum gradually disappeared over the 11th and 12th centuries. 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. This 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.

King of the Franks (509–511)

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.[1]

Name
Reign		 Portrait Birth Marriage(s)
Issue		 Death Claim
Clovis I
509
–
27 November 511		 c. 466
Tournai

Son of Childeric I
and Basina of Thuringia		 (1) Unknown concubine

1 son

(2) Clotilde
493
4 children

 27 November 511
Aged 44/45
Paris		 Son of Childeric I

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 Claim
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		 Son of Clovis I
Inherited fiefdoms of Paris and Neustria
Chlothar I[1]
The Old
13 December 558
–
29 November 561		 c. 497
Paris

Son of Clovis I
and Clotilde		 (1) Guntheuc
524
Childless

(2) Radegund
538
2 sons
(3) Ingund
pre-580
4 children
(4) Aregund
pre-580
1 son
(5) Chunsina
580
1 son

 29 November 561
Aged 63/64
Compiègne		 Son of Clovis I
Natural brother of Childebert I
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		 Son of Chlothar I
Half-brother of Chilperic I
Chilperic I[1]
December 567
–
September 584		 c. 539
Paris

Son of Chlothar I
and Aregund		 (1) Audovera
540s
5 children

(2) Galswintha
567
Childless
(3) Fredegund
568
7 children

 September 584
Aged 44/45
Chelles		 Son of Chlothar I
Half-brother of Charibert I
Chlothar II[1]
The Young
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		 Son of Chilperic I
Dagobert I
18 October 629
–
19 January 639		 603[2]
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 Chilperic I
Inherited all fiefdoms of Neustria
Clovis II
19 January 639
–
27 November 657		 633[3]
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[4]
Paris

Son of Clovis II
and Balthild		 Unmarried Spring 673
Aged 20/21		 First son of Clovis II
Childeric II
Spring 673
–
Autumn 675		 653[4]
Paris

Son of Clovis II
and Balthild		 Bilichild
?
2 sons		 Winter 675
Aged 21/22		 Second son of Clovis II
Theuderic III
Autumn 675
–
23 December 679		 654
Paris

Son of Clovis II
and Balthild		 (1) Clotilda
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

Kings of the Austrasian Franks (511–679)
  •   King of both the Neustrian and Austrasian Franks

Merovingian dynasty

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.

Name
Reign		 Portrait Birth Marriage(s)
Issue		 Death Claim
Theuderic I[1][5]
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		 Son of Clovis I
Inherited fiefdoms of Reims
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		 Son of Theuderic I
Theudebald[1]
c. 548
–
c. 555		 c. 535
Son of Theudebert I
and Deuteria		 Waldrada
540s
Childless		 c. 555
Aged 19/20		 Son of Theudebert I
Chlothar I[1]
The Old
c. 555
–
29 November 561		 c. 497
Paris

Son of Clovis I
and Clotilde		 (1) Guntheuc
524
Childless

(2) Radegund
538
2 sons
(3) Ingund
pre-580
4 children
(4) Aregund
pre-580
1 son
(5) Chunsina
580
1 son

 29 November 561
Aged 63/64
Compiègne		 Son of Clovis I
Natural brother of Childebert I
Sigebert I[1]
29 November 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		 Son of Chlothar I
Inherited fiefdoms of Metz and Reims
Childebert II
c. 575
–
March 595		 c. 570
Son of Sigebert I
and Brunhilda of Austrasia		 Faileuba

4 children		 March 595
Aged 24/25		 Son of Sigebert I
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
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
Sigebert II
613
–
Late 613		 601

Son of Theuderic II
and Ermenberge		 Unmarried 613
Aged 11/12		 Illegitimate son of Theuderic II
Chlothar II[1]
The Young
September 584
–
623		 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		 Son of Chilperic I
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 Chilperic I
Fiefdoms of Austrasia granted by local nobility
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
Chose as heir by his predecessor
Chlothar III
661
–
Spring 673		 649
Paris

Son of Clovis II
and Balthild		 Unmarried Spring 673
Aged 23/24		 First son of Clovis II
Childeric II
Spring 673
–
Autumn 675		 654
Paris

Son of Clovis II
and Balthild		 Bilichild
688
2 sons		 Winter 691
Aged 21/22		 Second son of Clovis II
Clovis III
Autumn 675
–
c. 676		 c. 670

Son of Chlothar III
and unknown paramour		 Unmarried c. 676
Aged 5/6		 Illegitimate son of Chlothar III
Dagobert II
c. 676
–
23 December 679		 c. 650

Son of Sigebert III
and Chimnechild of Burgundy		 Unknown woman
1 son (uncertain)		 23 December 679
Aged 28/29
Stenay		 Natural son of Sigebert III

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 Claim
Theuderic III
23 December 679
–
12 April 691		 654
Paris

Son of Clovis II
and Balthild		 (1) Clotilda
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 IV
12 April 691
–
695		 c. 677


Son of Theuderic III
and Clotilda		 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 Clotilda		 (1) Ermenchild
1 son

(2) Unknown paramour
1 son

 23 April 711
Aged 32/33		 Second son of Theuderic III
Dagobert III
The Just
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
31 December 715
–
13 February 721		 c. 672


Son of Childeric II
and Bilichild		 Unknown concubine
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 concubine
1 son		 16 March/30 April 737
Aged 24/25		 Son of Dagobert III
Interregnum (737–741); Charles Martel reigned as Regent
Childeric III
The Phantom King
741
–
November 751		 c. 717


Son of Chilperic II
and unknown paramour		 Unknown paramour
1 son		 754
Aged 36/37		 Illegitimate son of Chilperic II

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,[6][7] 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 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
Coup d'état against Merovingians
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
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 III
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.

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

References
  1. William Deans; Frederick Martin (1882). A History Of France: From The Earliest Times To The Present Day. 1. Edinburgh & London: A. Fullarton & Co. pp. vi–ix, 420, 1792, Table Of Sovereigns Of France.
  2. Paul Oldfield, Sanctity and Pilgrimage in Medieval Southern Italy, 1000–1200, (Cambridge University Press, 2014), 218.
  3. McConville 2018, p. 362.
  4. Bachrach, Bachrach & Leese 2018.
  5. Contested by Munderic, 533, rival king in the Auvergne
  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

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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