Francia
Kingdom of the Franks Regnum Francorum (Latin) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 481–800/843 | |||||||||
 Flag | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| Status | Kingdom | ||||||||
| Capital | Aachen | ||||||||
| Official languages | Latin | ||||||||
| Religion | Catholicism | ||||||||
| Government | Patrimonial monarchy | ||||||||
• first king | Clovis I | ||||||||
• last king | Charlemagne | ||||||||
| Establishment | |||||||||
• Clovis I became king of Franks | 481 | ||||||||
| 800 | |||||||||
| 843 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of |  France Germany Italy Spain Andorra Belgium Luxembourg | ||||||||
Francia was a kingdom founded in 481 AD. It may also be called the Kingdom of the Franks, Frankish Kingdom, or Frankish Empire. It was first a province of the Western Roman Empire founded by Clovis I. Before that it was a Germanic state. After the Treaty of Verdun in 843, West Francia became the predecessor of France, and East Francia became that of Germany.
History and Origins
[change | change source]Franks used to inhabit the area of the Rhine River (currently in Germany and the Netherlands). At the time the Roman Empire was losing control in the 400s, the Franks invaded an area known as Gaul (today, France).[1][2]
The Two Dynasties
[change | change source]The kingdom was ruled by two main families, or "dynasties":[3]
The Merovingians (481–751):
[change | change source]- Clovis I was the great king first. He brought together all the Frankish tribes.
- He turned to Christianity and this saw him find support of the Church.
- Merovingians were referred to as the long haired kings as they thought that their strength lay in their hair.
The Carolingians (751–843):
[change | change source]- This family replaced the Merovingian kings who were weakened.
- Charles Martel (or the Hammer) was one of the well known rulers who repelled an invading army in the Battle of Tours in 732.
- The most renowned Frankish king was Charlemagne (Charles the Great). The Pope made him Holy Roman Emperor in the year 800.
Key Events Timeline
[change | change source]| Year | Event |
| 481 | Clovis I becomes king and starts the Merovingian dynasty. |
| 507 | The Franks defeat the Visigoths and take control of most of Gaul. |
| 732 | Charles Martel wins the Battle of Tours, stopping an invasion. |
| 751 | Pepin the Short becomes the first Carolingian king. |
| 800 | Charlemagne is crowned Emperor in Rome. |
| 843 | The Treaty of Verdun splits the kingdom into three parts. |
How the Kingdom Ended
[change | change source]Franks also had a tradition in which when a king passed away the territory was distributed among all his sons. This caused many wars. The empire was officially divided into three parts in 843 in the Treaty of Verdun:[4]
- West Francia: This was the nation of France.
- East Francia: This was turned into the German country.
- Middle Francia: This was an intermediate zone that was later to vanish.
Why It Matters
[change | change source]- The country is called France because of the term Frank.[5]
- They were the ones who contributed to the proliferation of Christianity in Europe.[6]
- They established numerous laws and orders, which defined the Middle Ages.[7]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Franks | History | Research Starters | EBSCO Research". EBSCO. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ↑ "Kids Britannica".
- ↑ "Kids Britannica About Frank".
- ↑ "Franks facts for kids". kids.kiddle.co. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ↑ "Britannica Frank People".
- ↑ DIY. "Franks Facts For Kids". DIY.org. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ↑ "The Franks Facts for Kids- History for kids". 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2026-03-22.