 Childeric I King of the Franks, son of Merovech I 'The Young' King of the Salic Franks and Verica Princess of Sweden.Born between 436 BET., - and at Westphalia, Germany, died Nov 26, 481 [Neet3.FTW] Historical Figures Rulers of France: Kings, Queens, Presidents Caesar to Charlemagne Julius Caesar subdued the Gauls, native tribes of Gaul (France) 58 to 51 BC. The Romans ruled 500 years. The Franks, a Teutonic tribe, reached the Somme from the East ca. 250 AD. By the 5th century the Merovingian Franks ousted the Romans. In 451 AD, with the help of Visigoths, Burgundians and others, they defeated Attila and the Huns at Chalons-sur-Marne. Childeric I became leader of the Merovingians 458 AD. His son Clovis I (Chlodwig, Ludwig, Louis), crowned 481, founded the dynasty. After defeating the Alemanni (Germans) 496, he was baptized a Christian and made Paris his capital. His line ruled until Childeric III was deposed, 751. The West Merovingians were called Neustrians, the eastern Austrasians. Pepin of Herstal (687-714), major domus, or head of the palace, of Austrasia, took over Neustria as dux (leader) of the Franks. Pepin's son, Charles, called Martel (the Hammer), defeated the Saracens at Tours-Poitiers, 732; was succeeded by his son, Pepin the Short, 741, who deposed Childeric III and ruled as king until 768. His son, Charlemagne, or Charles the Great (742-814) became king of the Franks, 768, with his brother Carloman, who died 771. He ruled France, Germany, parts of Italy, Spain, Austria, and enforced Christianity. Crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III in St. Peter's, Rome, Dec. 25, 800 AD. Succeeded by son, Louis I the Pious, 814. At death, 840, Louis left empire to sons, Lothair (Roman emperor); Pepin I (king of Aquitaine); Louis II (of Germany); Charles the Bald (France). They quarreled and by the peace of Verdun, 843, divided the empire. Source: The World Almanac® and Book of Facts 1995 is licensed from Funk & Wagnalls Corporation. Copyright © 1994 by Funk & Wagnalls Corporation. All rights reserved. The World Almanac and The World Almanac and Book of Facts are registered trademarks of Funk & Wagnalls Corporation. Political Events, 481 AD The king of the Salian Franks Childeric I dies at age 44 after a 24-year reign. He is succeeded by his son, 15, who will reign until 511 as Clovis I. Source: The People's Chronology is licensed from Henry Holt and Company, Inc. Copyright © 1994 by James Trager. All rights reserved. Married/ Related to:  Basina of ThuringiaBorn between 438 BET., - and at Thuringia, Germany, died after AFT. 470 Child: 1. Clovis I 'The Great' King of the Salic FranksBorn ± ABT. 466, died Nov 27, 511 at Paris, France, approximately 45 years [Neet3.FTW] Clovis I, in German, Chlodwig (circa 466-511), king of the Franks (481-511) and first important ruler of the Merovingian dynasty. He succeeded his father, Childeric I, as king of the Salian Franks. His career focused largely on forging the Salian Franks on the northern Rhine River and the Ripuarian Franks on the lower Rhine into a single dominion. He began with a victory in 486 over Syagrius, the last Roman governor in northern Gaul. By 493, when he married the Bourguignon princess Clotilda (later canonized as St. Clotilda), Clovis had defeated many petty princes whose territories had surrounded his capital at Soissons. He next came into conflict in 496 with the confederation of Germanic tribes known as the Alamanni, who inhabited land east of his domains. According to legend, it was only by invoking the God of his Christian wife, Clotilda, that he defeated his enemy. Clotilda was almost certainly instrumental in Clovis's conversion to Christianity, and he was baptized in 496. He became the champion of orthodox Christians in every part of Gaul and was supported effectively by the church in all his campaigns. He continued to fight the Alamanni, who were completely conquered by 506; the next year the Visigoths were decisively defeated when their king, Alaric II, was killed by Clovis in a battle near Poitiers. Clovis made Paris the capital of the Frankish kingdom, which at that time included most of present-day France and southwestern Germany. According to Salian custom, he divided his kingdom among his four sons. Source: "Clovis I," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. | |||