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Main Page: Titles of European hereditary rulers
Last updated: Mar 3, 2018
The Frankish States
Overview.
In the 5th century, the Franks led by their kings
of the Merovingian House, took control of the former Roman province of Gaul
which gradually the country became known as France.
In the 6th-7th centuries, the Merovingian kings
divided the country among the members of their House.
By the end of the 7th century, the Kingdom of the
Franks was united, but the real power passed from the Kings to the "Mayors of
the Palace" of the family which would be known as Carolingians.
In 751, Pepin "the Short", Mayor of the Palace
(Maiordomus), overthrew the last Merovingian King and took the Crown for
himself.
In 800, Charles "the Great" / Charlemagne, King
of the Franks, was declared Emperor by Pope Leo III. This action was considered
as the restoration of the Roman Empire; the kingdom of the Franks became a part
of the Carolingian Empire.
The Kingdom of the Western Frankish Kingdom,
which later became known as France, appeared as the result of divisions of the
Carolingian Empire in the 9th century.
Bibliography.
1. Thierry, Augustin. Chartes, coutumes,
actes municipaux, statuts des corporations d'arts et métiers des villes
et communes de France, région du Nord [Recueil des Monuments
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2. Douët d'Arcq, Louis-Claude . Choix
de pièces inédites relatives au règne de Charles VI (Paris
: 1863-1864) [Sociétés de l'histoire de France].
3. Lecoy de La Marche, Albert. Les
relations politiques de la France avec le Royaume de Majorque.
(1892).
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lois françaises depuis l'an 420 jusqu'à la Révolution de
1789 (Paris; Belin-Le-Prieur : Verdiere, 1821).
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la Gironde (Paris & Bordeaux : 1859-).
6. Garrel, Alexis. Ordonnance du Roi sur
le service des armées en campagne, du 3 mai 1832 (1856).
7. Fain, Agathon-Jean-François
(Baron). Manuscrit de mil huit cent treize, contenant le précis des
événemens de cette année, pour servir à l'histoire
de l'empereur Napoléon (Paris : Delaunay, 1825).
8. Urseau, Charles. Cartulaire Noir de la
Cathédrale d’Angers (1908).
9. Lalore, Charles. Cartulaire de
l’Abbaye de la Chapelle-aux-Planches (1878) [Collection des Principaux
Cartulaires du Diocèse de Troyes; tome IV].
10. Fleury de Chaboulon,
Pierre-Alexandre-Édouard, le Baron de. Les Cent Jours,
Mémoires pour servir à l'histoire de la vie privée, du
retour et du règne de Napoléon en 1815 (1820).
11. Carlier, Claude. Histoire du
Duché de Valois (Paris : 1764).
12. Luce, Siméon. Chronique du
Mont-Saint-Michel (1879, Reprinted in 1966).
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(Paris).
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16. Layettes du
trésor des chartes (1863-).
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de Saint-Calais (Mamers : G. Fleury et A. Dangin; Le Mans : Pellechat,
1888).
18. Morel, Émile. Cartulaire de
L'abbaye de Saint-Corneille de Compiègne (Paris : Société
historique de Compiègne, 1977; Nouvelles éditions
latines).
19. Deloche, Maximin. Cartulaire de
l'abbaye de Beaulieu (en Limousin) (Paris : Impr. impériale, 1859).
20. Laffleur de Kermaingant, Pierre-Paul.
Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Michel du Tréport (Ordre de Saint Benoit)
(Paris : Firmin-Didot, 1880).
21. Jourdan, Athanase-Jean-Léger.
Recueil général des anciennes lois françaises depuis l'an
420 jusqu'à la Révolution de 1789 (Paris : Belin-Le-Prieur :
Verdiere, 1821).
22. Champeval, Jean-Baptiste. Cartulaire
des abbayes de Tulle et de Roc-Amadour (Brive : Roche, 1903).
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: a family who forged Europe (Philadelphia : University of Pennsylvania Press,
1993).
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Francorum (Hannoverae : Hahn, 1883-1897). [Monumenta Germaniae historica...
Legum sectio II].
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de Saint-Cyr de Nevers (Nevers : J. Gremion; Paris : Champion,
1916).
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vicomté de Carlat (Monaco : Impr. de Monaco, 1900).
27. Pahin, Lucien. Cartulaire des
Cordeliers de Pontoise, 1252-1588 (Pontoise : Société historique
du Vexin, 1923).
28. Declaration du Roy par laquelle il veut que
les maisons des Catholiques qui assistent le Roy de Navarre, esquelles il ne se
commet aucun acte d'hostilité soient conservées. Paris, 14
décembre 1589 (Paris : Nicolas Nivelle et Rolin Thierry,
1589).
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de Lectoure : coutumes, statuts et records du XIIIme au XVIme siècle
(Paris : H. Champion, 1885).
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des comtes de Hainaut de l'avènement de Guillaume II a la mort de
Jacqueline de Bavière. 1337-1436 (Bruxelles : F. Hayez, 1881-1896).
31. Archives historiques du Poitou
(Poitiers).
32. Rymer, Thomas; Holmes, George.
Foedera, conventions, litterae, et cujuscumque generic acta publica inter reges
Angliae et alios quosvis imperatores, reges, pontifices, principes, vel
communitates. 1101-1654 (London : Tonson, 1727-1729; 2nd ed., 17
vols).
33. Menjot d'Elbenne, Samuel. Cartulaire
du chapitre royal de Saint-Pierre-de-la-Cour du Mans [Société
historique de la province du Maine].
34. Maulde La Clavière, René
de. Procédures politiques du règne de Louis XII (Paris :
Imprimerie nationale, 1885).
35. Annales de la Société
historique et archéologique de l'arrondissement de Saint-Malo
(Saint-Servan : Haize, 1900-).
36. (Dom) Calmet, Augustin. Histoire de
Lorraine: qui comprend ce qui s'est passé de plus mémorable dans
l'Archevêché de Tréves, & dans les Evêchés
de Metz, Toul et Verdun ... (Nancy : A. Leseure, 1745-1757).
37. Jourdain, Charles-Marie-Gabriel
Bréchillet. Bulles et documents concernant la Grande Aumônerie
de France et le Chapitre de Saint Denis... (Paris : Imprimerie impériale,
1855).
38. Lasteyrie Du Saillant, Robert-Charles
comte de. Cartulaire général de Paris, ou Recueil de documents
relatifs à l'histoire et à la topographie de Paris (Paris :
Imprimerie nationale, 1887).
Chistian (First) names.
Charles -> Carolus;
Guntram -> Gontran;
Hugh -> Hugo; Hugues;
Louis / Chlovis -> Ludovicus / Hludovicus;
Ludwig / Chlodwig;
Odo -> Eudes;
Rudolf -> Ralph; Raoul;
Theodoric -> Thierry;
Dietrich;
Geographical names.
Aquitaine -> Aquitania (in SW
France);
The Franks -> Francorum;
Milan -> Mediolarum; Milano (in N
Italy);
Poland -> Polonia; Pologne,
Polska;
The Kingdom of the Franks
--- the 5th century-774
King of the Franks;
@ Samples:
(Jan 515) [17: Doc.# 1]
< Childebert I (+558), King the Franks 511
>
Childebertus rex Francorum
(Dec 558) [38: tome 1; p.3; Doc.# 2]
Childebertus, rex Francorum
< Chilperich I (+584), King the Franks 561
>
(Nov 585) [24: p.10-11; Doc.# 5]
< Guntram "the Saint" (+592), King of the
Franks 561 >
Gunthramnus rex Francorum
(Feb 596) [24: p.15; Doc.# 7]
< Childebert II (+596), King of the Franks
575 >
Childebertus rex Francorum
(625) [38: tome 1; p.9; Doc.# 5]
< Chlothar II (+629), King the Franks 584
>
Chlotharius rex Francorum
(June 653) [38: tome 1; p.15; Doc.# 11]
< Chlovis / Louis II (+657), King the
Franks 639 >
Chlodovius rex Francorum
< Theodoric III (+691), King the Franks 673
>
(Sep 693) [17: p.8; Doc.# 5]
< Chlovis III (+695), King of the Franks
>
Chlodoveus rex Francorum
(Feb 703) [38: tome 1; p.22; Doc.# 15]
< Childebert III (+711), King of the Franks
>
Childeberthus, rex Francorum
< Dagobert III (+715), King of the Franks
711 >
(Feb 717) [38: tome 1; p.24; Doc.#
17]
< Chilperic II (+721), King of Neustria
715, all the Franks 718 >
Chilperichus, rex Francorum
(July 753) [38: tome 1; p.26; Doc.#
20]
< Pipin"the Short" (+768), King of the
Franks 751 >
Pippinus, rex Francorum
(Feb 774) [17: p.16; Doc.# 10]
< Charles "the Great" / Charlemagne (+814),
King of the Franks 768; Emperor 800 >
Karolus gratiae Dei rex
Francorum
@ Samples [Regents]:
(Apr 742) [24: Doc.# 10]
< Carloman (+755), Mayor of the Palace in
Austrasia [741-747] >
Ego Karlmannus, dux et princeps
Francorum
(Mar 744) [24: p.28-29; Doc.# 12]
< Pipin "the Short" (+768), Mayor of the
Palace in Neustria, Provence & Burgundy [741-751], King of the Franks 751
>
ego Pippinus, dux et princeps
Francorum
--- 774-800 ( Charles I "the Great" / Charlemagne
)
King of the Franks, the Langobards;
@ Added:
- the Langobards
Charles I / Charlemagne conquered the Kingdom of
the Langobards in Italy (774).
@ Samples:
(Nov 775) [16: tome 1; p.1; Doc.# 1]
< Charles "the Great" / Charlemagne (+814),
King of the Franks 768; Emperor 800 >
Karolus, gratia Dei rex Francorum et
Langobardorum ac
patricius Romanorum
(Mar 779) [38: tome 1; p.33; Doc.#
25]
Carolus, gratia Dei rex Francorum et
Langobardorum atque
patricius Romanorum
The Carolingian Empire
(800-887)
Notes:
1. On Christmas Day of 800, Charles "the Great" /
Charlemagne (+814), was declared Emperor by Pope Leo III. This was considered as
the restoration of the Roman Empire. France (the Kingdom of the Franks) became a
part of the Empire.
--- 800-814 ( Charles I "the Great" / Charlemagne
)
Emperor governing the Roman Empire;
King of the Franks, the Langobards;
@ Samples:
(Feb 806) [24: p.126; Doc.# 45]
< Charles "the Great" / Charlemagne (+814),
King of the Franks 768; Emperor 800 >
Karolus serenissimus augustus, a Deo coronatus
magnus pacificus imperator,
Romanum gubernans imperium, qui et
per misericordiam Dei rex Francorum atque
Langobardorum
(Apr 812) [24: p.169; Doc.# 76]
Karolus, serenissimus augustus, a Deo coronatus,
magnus pacificus imperator,
Romanum gubernans imperium, qui et
per misericordiam Dei rex Francorum et
Langobardorum
--- 814-843
Emperor;
@ Removed:
- [814] the Roman Empire, the Franks, the
Langobards
Emperor Louis I "the Fair" (+840) changed the
Imperial title to affirm the unity of the Empire (814) [23:
p.146].
@ Samples:
(Aug 814) [17: p.21; Doc.# 13]
< Louis I "the Fair" (+840), Emperor 814
>
Hludovicus divina ordinante clementia imperator
augustus
(May 825) [17: p.23; Doc.# 14]
Hludovicus divina ordinante providentia imperator
augustus
(829) [8: p.8; Doc. # III]
< Louis I "the Fair" (+840) with Lothar I
(+855), Co-Emperor 817, Emperor 840 >
Hludovicus et Hlotharius, divina ordinante
providentia imperatores augusti
(Oct 833) [9: p.122; Doc. # 5]
Ludowicus divina ordinante providentia imperator
augustus
--- 875-887
Notes:
1. In 875, after the death of Emperor Louis II,
Charles "the Bald", supported by Pope John VIII, descended into Italy, receiving
the Imperial Crown at Rome.
2. In 884, after King Carloman's death, Emperor
Charles III "the Fat" / "le Gros" (+888) added the Kingdom of the Western Franks
to his possessions. It was the last time the Western Frankish (France) and
Eastern Frankish (Germany) Kingdoms were united under the same ruler. When, in
887, his power collapsed he was succeeded in France by Odo / Eudes, Count of
Paris, and by his nephew Arnulf in Germany. Since 887 the Western Franks (the
French) did not recognize any Emperor of the (Holy) Roman Empireas their
overlord.
Emperor;
@ Samples:
(Oct 876) [16: tome 1; p.13; Doc.# 11]
< Charles "the Bald / le Chauve" (+877),
King of the West Franks 843; Emperor 875 >
Karolus, ejusdem Dei omnipotensis misericordia
omnipotenis imperator augustus
(Oct 886) [8: p.34-35; Doc. #
XIV]
< Charles III "the Fat / le Gros" (+888),
King in Swabia 876; Emperor 881 >
Karolus ejusdem Dei misericordia omnipotenis
imperator augustus
The Kingdom of Western Franks
Notes:
1. The Empire was not monolithic, its different
parts were given to the members of the Carolingian House who bore the title of
King and recognized suzerainty of Emperors.
2. In 843, the Treaty of Verdun gave Charles "the
Bald" (+877) the Kingdom of the Western Franks (France).
--- 843-916
@ Samples:
(Feb 844) [8: p.10-11; Doc. # IV]
< Charles "the Bald" / "le Chauve" (+877),
King of the West Franks 843; Emperor 875 >
Karolus Dei gratia rex
(Apr 878) [38: tome 1; p.69; Doc.#
51]
< Louis II "the Stammerer / le
Bègue" (+879), King the West Franks 855/877 >
Hludovicus, misericordia Dei rex
(June 882) [19: p.20; Doc. # VIII]
< Carloman (+884), Kings of the West Franks
>
Karlomannus, gratia Dei, rex
(June 889) [19: p.28; Doc. # XII]
< Odo (+898), King of the West Franks 888
>
Odo, misericordia Dei, rex
(June 911) [38: tome 1; p.80; Doc.#
59]
< Charles III "the Simple" (+929), King of
the West Franks 893 >
Karolus, divina propitiante clementia,
rex
@ Samples [Auxiliary]:
(before 888) [38: tome 1; p.70; Doc.#
52]
< Odo (+898), King of the West Franks 888
>
ego, in Dei nomine, Odo, Parisiorum pagi
humillimus comes