Clovis I

Salic Law

  • Salic Law was a Code of Civil Laws commissioned by the King of France Clovis I (466-511 CE) and published in Latin between 507-511 CE.
  • The Law governed the Salian Franks and was therefore called Salic Law. It is noted for its adherence to Primogeniture regarding the Royal Succession.

History

  • The Kings of the Merovingian Dynasty (c.457-752 CE) differed from the Frankish Kings by wearing their hair long and were known as the ‘Reges Criniti’, meaning the ‘Long haired Kings’.
  • Childeric I (c.457-481 CE), Father of Clovis I, was the son of Merovech the Leader of the Salian Franks.
  • Clovis I (481-511 CE) was Childeric’s son.
    • He defeated the last Roman Ruler of Gaul, Syagrius, who ruled the Kingdom of Soissons. This was an area of Gaul between the Loire and the Somme from 464 to 486 CE. Syagrius inherited this Territory from his Father who had been Magister Militum for Gaul.
    • In 486 CE at the Battle of Soissons, Syagrius was defeated and Clovis I united Gaul north of the Loire.
    • In 496 CE at the Battle of Tolbiac, Clovis I defeated the Alemanni.
    • In 507 CE at the Battle of Vouille, Clovis I defeated the Visigoths and occupied the Visigothic Kingdom of Toulouse.
    • Clovis I commissioned Salic Law which excluded women from inheriting the crown.
    • Clovis I established Paris as the Capital of his Kingdom.
  • After Clovis I died, the Kingdom was ruled by his four sons.
    • Theuderic, Chlodomer, Childebert and Clotaire.
    • This tradition of dividing the Kingdom between members of the family continued for another hundred years. However, in the event of a crisis, the family stood together as one Nation.

Merovingian Dynasty

  • Childeric I (c.457-481 CE), Father of Clovis I, was the son of Merovech the Leader of the Salian Franks.
  • Clovis I (481-511 CE) was Childeric’s son.
    • His four sons then ruled separate areas.
  • Theuderic (511-c.534 CE)
  • Chlodomer (495-524 CE)
  • Childebert (511-558 CE)
  • Clotaire (558-561 CE)
    • This tradition of dividing the Kingdom between members of the family continued for another hundred years. However, in the event of a crisis, the family stood together as one Nation.
  • Sigebert I (561-575 CE)
  • Childebert (575-596 CE)
  • Theuderic II (587-613 CE)
  • Sigibert II (613-613 CE)
  • Clothar II (613-629 CE)
  • Charibert II (629-632 CE)
  • Dagobert I (629-639 CE)
  • Theoderic III (679-691 CE)
  • Clovis IV (691-694 CE)
  • Childebert III the Just (694-711 CE)
  • Dagobert III (711-715 CE)
  • Chilperic II (718-721 CE)
  • Theuderic IV (721-737 CE)
  • Charles Martel (718-741 )
    • Not a Merovingian, but the Mayor of the Palace.
    • He became the political and military leader of Francia.
    • In 732 CE he defeated the Ummayyad armies at the Battle of Tours, also known as the Battle of Poitiers.
  • Childeric III (743-751 CE)
    • Last King of the Franks.
    • He was followed by Pepin le Short, father of Charlemagne, starting the Carolingian Dynasty.

 

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