The Merovingian Dynasty 481751 AD

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The Merovingian Dynasty 481-751 AD

• They were said to be descended from the god
  Merowech.
• Merovingian kings ruled more than 2 ½ centuries.
• They were known as the long-haired kings, and
  rois fainéants do-nothing kings.
• Loss of centralized power to the Mayors of the
  Palace.

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some famous Merovingian kings

• Clovis (r. 481-511)
• made Paris his capital
• Christian convert
• issued legal code, the Salic law
• Dagobert I (r. 623-638)
• king of all Francia 632-8
• reconstituted Frankish unity

Dagobert I
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The Carolingian Dynasty 751-987 AD

• The Carolingians were originally mayors of the
  palace under the Merovingians.
• Their kings claimed to derive their power from
  divine Christian grace.
• Name comes from Charles Martel.
• Through their expansionist measures, they revived
  a booty economy of plunder.
• They campaigned with cross sword.
• They contained Arabic power in the Iberian
  peninsula (Spain Portugal).
• They developed a bureaucratic style of
  government.
• Finally lost power to local leaders (lords of
  fortified castles).

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Charlemagner. 768-814 AD

• Charlemagne was the greatest Carolingian King.
• He was sole ruler of Francia from 771 AD.
• He forced defeated pagans to convert to
  Christianity.
• In 800 AD, he was consecrated Emperor by the
  Pope.

rule by the cross the sword
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Treaty of Verdun, 843 AD

• Divided Francia into 3 kingdoms, ruled by
  Charlemagnes grandsons.
• West Francia, ruled by Charles the Bald
• Lotharingia, ruled by Lothair
• East Francia, ruled by Louis the German
• One of many examples of Francia divided among
  heirs.

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Salic law

• The Salic law was the Frankish law code, issued
  by Clovis (the 1st Merovingian king).
• Influenced by Roman precedent.
• Law enforcement depended on family and kin (not
  on the state).
• Exemplified respect for womens bodies (though
  women were possessions of husbands).

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The Church under the Franks

• Bishops were allowed a great deal of authority
  under Frankish kings.
• The Church transmitted Roman values through book
  production, manuscript collection, and education.
• Nunneries spread, 6th 7th centuries.
• The Church provided the Carolingians with
  administrators, councilors, imperial agents,
  scholars, legal experts, teachers.

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Melting Pot of French civilization

• Celts
• Romans
• Germanic invaders

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Decline of central authority

• Counts more important, first delegated by the
  king, then hereditary
• Originally land was temporarily granted by the
  king gradually the land became owned by the local
  authorities
• Local patronage networks in the administration
  and the Church
• Local defense behind the walls of a castle

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Key terms (review)

• Franks
• Francia
• Visigoths
• Saracens
• Magyars
• Basques
• Normans

• Salic law
• Merovingians
• Carolingians
• Charlemagne
• Counts
• Vassals