Merovingians

Encyclopædia Orbis Latini

The first Frankish ruling dynasty (see Franks). It was founded by Merovech, King of the Salian Franks, in the mid-5th century. His grandson Clovis (reigned 481-511) greatly extended Merovingian possessions and the kingdom reached its zenith in the mid-6th century. The last Merovingian king, Childeric III, was deposed in 751 by the Carolingian Pepin the Short.