Merovingian Dynasty

The Merovingians (also Merovings) were a Salian Frankish dynasty that came to rule the Franks in a region (known as Francia in Latin) largely corresponding to ancient Gaul from the middle of the 5th century. Their politics involved frequent civil warfare among branches of the family. During the final century of the Merovingian rule, the dynasty was increasingly pushed into a ceremonial role. The Merovingian rule was ended March 752 when Pope Zachary formally deposed Childeric III.[1][2] Zachary's successor, Pope Stephen II, re-confirmed and crowned Pepin the Short in Childeric's place in 754 beginning the Carolingian monarchy and early introduction of the Holy Roman Empire.

They were sometimes referred to as the "long-haired kings" (Latin reges criniti) by contemporaries, for their symbolically unshorn hair (traditionally the tribal leader of the Franks wore his hair long, as distinct from the Romans and the tonsured clergy). The term "Merovingian" comes from medieval Latin Merovingi or Merohingi ("sons of Merovech"), an alteration of an unattested Old West Low Franconian form, akin to their dynasty's Old English name Merewīowing,[3] with the final -ing being a typical patronymic suffix.

Merovingian saints of more than local cult

Kings

• Guntram, king of Burgundy (region)|Burgundy (died 592);
• Sigebert III, king of Austrasia (died ca. 656);
• Dagobert II, king of Austrasia, son of the former (died 679)

Queens and abbesses

• Genevieve|Genovefa, virgin of Paris (died 502)
• Clothilde, queen of the Franks (died 544/45)
• Monegund, widow and recluse of Tours (died 544)
• Radegund, Thuringian princess who founded a monastery at Poitiers (died 587)
• Rusticula, abbess of Arles (died 632)
• Cesaria II, abbess of St Jean of Arles (died ca 550)
• Glodesind, abbess in Metz (died ca 600)
• Burgundofara, abbess of Faremoutiers Abbey|Moutiers (died 645)
• Sadalberga, abbess of Laon (died 670)
• Rictrude, founding abbess of Marchiennes (died 688)
• Itta, founding abbess of Nivelles (died 652)
• Begga, abbess of Andenne (died 693)
• Gertrude of Nivelles, abbess of Nivelles (died 658) presented in The Life of St. Geretrude (in Fouracre and Gerberding 1996)
• Aldegonde, abbess of Maubeuge Abbey|Mauberges (died ca 684)
• Waltrude, abbess of Mons (died ca 688)
• Balthild, queen of the Franks (died ca 680), presented in The Life of Lady Bathild, Queen of the Franks (in Fouracre and Gerberding 1996)
• Eustadiola, widow of Bourges (died 684)
• Bertilla, abbess of Chelles Abbey|Chelles (died ca. 700)
• Anstrude, abbess of Laon (died before 709)
• Austreberta, abbess of Pavilly (died 703)

Bishops and abbots

• Amandus (c. 584 – 675), one of the great Christian Saints of Flanders.
• Arnulf of Metz|Arnulf, Bishop of Metz
• Ouen|Audouin of Rouen, presented in The Life of Audoin, Bishop of Rouen (in Fouracre and Gerberding 1996);
• Aunemond, presented in The Deeds of Aunemond (in Fouracre and Gerberding 1996);
• Saint Eligius|Eligius (c. 588 – 660) chief counsellor to Dagobert I and bishop of Noyon-Tournai
• Gregory of Tours, Bishop of Tours and historian;
• Hubertus, Apostle of the Ardennes and first Bishop of Liège.
• Lambert of Maastricht|Lambert (c. 636 – c. 700), bishop of Maastricht (Tongeren)
• Leodegar, Bishop of Autun; presented in The Suffering of Ludegar (in Fouracre and Gerberding 1996);
• Praejectus The Suffering of Praejectus (in Fouracre and Gerberding 1996);
• Prætextatus (6th century)|Prætextatus, Bishop of Rouen and friend of Gregory;
• Saint Remigius|Remigius, Bishop of Reims who baptized Clovis I

Merovingian kings

• 447 - 458: Merovech
• 458 - 482: Childerik I
• 482 - 511: Chlodovech I
• 511 - 558: Childebert I
• 558 - 562: Chlotar I
• 562 - 566: Charibert
• 562 - 575: Sigebert I
• 566 - 584: Chilperik I
• 584 - 628: Chlothar II
• 628 - 637: Dagobert I
• 637 - 655: Clovis II
• 655 - 668: Chlothar III
• 668 - 674: Childerik II
• 674 - 678: Dagobert II
• 674 - 691: Theuderik III
• 691 - 695: Clovis III
• 695 - 711: Childebert II
• 711 - 716: Dagobert III
• 716 - 721: Chilperik II
• 721 - 737: Theuderik IV
• 743 - 751: Childerik III