Merovingian Dynasty Of Long Haired Kings
David Tee - AncientPages.com - The demise of the Roman Empire left a power vacuum, not just in Italy but also in the Frankish territory in what is now called France.
A strong leader needed to rise and fill that void before the wrong King took over.
Left: Crowning of a Merovingian king. Credit:François-Louis Dejuinne (1786–1844), Public Domain. Right: Tomb of Clovis I at the Basilica of St Denis in Saint-Denis in Paris, France. Credit: Public Domain
In the Merovingian Dynasty, that leader was Clovis I, whose reign may have overlapped the end of the 5th century AD and the beginning of the 6th. But before Clovis could defeat the last Roman army in Gaul, he had to descend from a line of kings who had already started to rule.
The Long Hair Kings
Clovis I was considered the founder of the French state. However, his work was built on those kings who came before.
Unfortunately for him, that history has been lost to time and legend.
Much is said about the great-grandfather, grandfather, and father of Clovis I that has little basis. One example is that the ancestors of Clovis had supernatural power and could heal a person by merely touching them.
These former Frankish kings were also said to grow their hair long. They would lose their power if their hair were cut. Some scholars debate this and wonder if that legend was not added later after the Merovingian line embraced Christianity.
Another long tale that has come down from ancient times is the birth of Merovech, the second Frankish King. He was half-god and half-human as his mother became pregnant with him after a liaison with the god Neptune.
Like Clovis, Childeric Was Real
Because time has a way of losing historical records, little is known about Clovis' grandfather and great-grandfather, Childeric. He was a Merovingian king and true historical figure that led a very debauchery-type lifestyle. His lifestyle got so bad that he was forced off the throne in favor of Aegidius, a Roman dux.
Map of Merovingian kingdoms. Credit: Ridric, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Upon Aegidius' assassination, Childeric was reinstalled as King, which led to his son Clovis assuming the throne after his death.
Merovingian Law
According to the Merovingian Law, the family's father was the head and authority over all other family members. This tradition continued down through the Merovingian line even after they had ascended to be the royal family of the Franks.
Also, the King was in charge of the treasures he obtained through the different battles and wars each King fought. He was the one who made sure the prizes were distributed according to those who were his first followers.
Then on a king's death, his property was divided equally among his heirs. Probably, the dynasty lasted as long as it did, for it was not divided but united in wealth and thought.
Also, the Merovingian law was not universal. It applied accordingly to the status of origin of each family. Then each Merovingian King ensured that tradition was followed and balked at creating new laws.
The Decline Of The Dynasty
As with most dynasties, the weaker rulers tend to lose power over time and lose hold of their kingdom. The Merovingians were no different. In the middle of the 7th century AD, the dynasty's kings were seen as figureheads, while the real power lay with the palace's mayors. When King Theuderic IV died, no king replaced him, and Charles Martell, the mayor of the palace, reigned in his stead. His two sons took over when he died, and no new king ascended the throne.
But because the people were beginning to become suspicious of the growing power of the mayor of the palace, the two sons placed Childeric III on the throne. In 751, Childeric III decided to abdicate and spend the rest of his years in a monastery.
It opened the door for Charles Martell's son, Pepin the Short, to reassume power and end the Merovingian dynasty. The new King considered the Merovingians lazy, incompetent and distorting history.
Updated on June 16, 2022
Written by – David Tee - AncientPages.com Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesMore From Ancient Pages
-
Knights Templar – Strict Rules For Clothing And Eating Habits
Featured Stories | Jan 2, 2018
-
Ancient Secrets Of Rare Maps Of Judah Ben Zara Revealed
Artifacts | Sep 20, 2022
-
Remarkable 700-Year-Old Ship Found In Estonia Is One Of The Most Important Archaeological Discoveries In Europe – Scientists Say
News | Apr 22, 2022
-
Enigma Of San Bernardo Mummies That Refuse To Decompose
Featured Stories | Nov 7, 2018
-
Dargavs: Strange City Of The Dead – Mysterious Village And Ancient Cemetery Shrouded In Myths
Featured Stories | Nov 25, 2017
-
15th Century Cooking Pot With 500 Silver And Gold Coins Unearthed In Vianen, Netherlands
Archaeology | Mar 6, 2018
-
Has The Mystery Of Neanderthals’ Flower Burial At Shanidar Cave Been Solved?
Archaeology | Aug 31, 2023
-
Rare Discovery Of 4,300-Year-Old Copper Ingots Left By Mistake In A Settlement In Oman
Archaeology | Jun 2, 2023
-
Could Doggerland Be Europe’s True ‘North Atlantis’ Of Stone Age?
Featured Stories | Nov 19, 2018
-
Mystery Of The Giant Boulder In North Salem
Featured Stories | Aug 8, 2019
-
Suomenlinna Fortress: Impressive ‘Castle Of Finland’ Has Rich History
Featured Stories | Feb 13, 2016
-
Did Crassus, Ancient Rome’s Wealthiest Man Really Die From Drinking Molten Gold?
Featured Stories | Feb 15, 2017
-
Oldest Footprints Of Pre-Humans Discovered In Crete – They Are 6 Million-Year-Old!
Archaeology | Oct 12, 2021
-
Massive Head Of Hercules Pulled From The Antikythera Shipwreck
Archaeology | Jun 23, 2022
-
‘Golden Man’ – Sak Warrior Covered With Thousands Of Pieces Of Gold – More Light On Gold Techniques Used In Kazakhstan
Archaeology | Jan 9, 2019
-
1,750-Year-Old Fresco Travertines Buried Underground – Recovered In Ancient Laodicea
Archaeology | Mar 19, 2020
-
On This Day In History: Tsar Peter The Great Opens New Chapter in Russia’s History – On Mar 19, 1697
News | Mar 19, 2017
-
Mummy Of Pharaoh Amenhotep I Digitally Unwrapped For The First Time In 3,000 Years
Archaeology | Dec 30, 2021
-
17th Century Medical Pop-Up Book Digitized
Archaeology | Jan 16, 2016
-
Restorations At Stratonicea Ancient City Of Gladiators In Turkish Muğla Province
Archaeology | May 10, 2023