The Frankish Kingdom

At the decline of the Roman Empire the Franks took a leading position among the German tribes. During the Merovingian dynasty, which started with Clovis (466?-511), the Frankish kingdom was expanded to include most of present-day France and the south western half of what is now Germany. Clovis became a Christian.

By the eighth century, Merovingian authority had faded and the kingdom split into a collection of armed factions competing for power. Charles Martel, a gifted military leader, conquered much of the Frankish kingdom. His son, Pepin the Short, deposed the last Merovingian king and started the Carolingian dynasty. Pepin was succeeded by his sons, Charlemagne and Carloman.

Charlemagne took over the entire kingdom after his brother's death in 771 and extended it to include much of western Europe. He protected the papal holdings against the Lombards, and in 800 was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome.

Charlemagne's empire survived through the lifetime of his son, and was then divided among his three grandsons by the Treaty of Verdun, 843. Charles the Bald received the west portion, which eventually became France. Louis the German took the east portion, which became Germany. A strip between the two larger areas was given to Lothair. Lotharingia (French: Lorraine) was later claimed by both France and Germany and became a source of lasting conflict.