General Notes

Descendants of Charlemagne data base, English version.

Index to Royal Genealogical Data, University of Hull WEB database,
1995.  Merovech.

Merovaeus I.

GenServ database SMIA7MT, December 1998.


From the "selvage1" database at WorldConnect.  Please contactPetersonC@missouri.edu with corrections and additions.

Descendants of Charlemagne data base, English version.

Index to Royal Genealogical Data, University of Hull WEB database,
1995.  Merovech.

Merovaeus I.

GenServ database SMIA7MT, December 1998.


From the "selvage1" database at WorldConnect.  Please contactPetersonC@missouri.edu with corrections and additions.

N

N

Note: Merovee, King of France, died in 458. His lineage connects withthat of his older brother as shown below. He married Verica. They had ason, Childeric I., 436-561, King of France, who married Basina ofThuringia. Their son was Clovis the Great, 465-511, King of France, whomarried St. Clothilde. They had a son, Clothaire I., 497-561, King ofFrance, who married Ingonde. From this marriage there a daughter,Blithildes, who married Ausbert of Moselle, died in 570.

Please let me know if you have any questions..or know of any errors, changes, this is ongoing research..and ever growing orchard of family branches

[jeredgardner.ged]

King of the Salian Franks 447-456
Semi-legendary early Frankish king for whom the Merovingian Dynasty isnamed (Meroveus in Latin).

See Europäisch Stammtafeln Bund I tafel 1.

Subject: Ancestory of Merovech?
From: jheikkil@highlander.cbnet.ns.ca (saint_bubba)
Date: Thu, 07 Nov 1996 06:44:08 GMT
Message-ID: <55rt7v$m81@news.nstn.ca>

As part of research looking into the merovingian dynasty, I haven't
been able to locate any information that would point to the parents
and other descendents of Merovech, King of Franks from c.e.
447-458.  He is also often called Merovee.  I know the rumours that he
was descended from the tribe of Benjamin when they became the
Sicambrian Franks, but I can't find anything to substantiate this.
Any help would be appreciated.
[FAVthomas.FTW]

     Also spelled Merovich, Meroveus, Merwich, or Merowig,  FrenchMérovée,  German Merowech king of the Salian Franks, from whom Frankishtradition held the Merovingian dynasty to have taken its name. He was thefather of Childeric I (d. 481/482) and grandfather of Clovis I (c.466/511).
     Nothing definite is known of Merovech's life. He is mentioned inGregory of Tours's History of the Franks and, according to later sources,fought against Attila the Hun at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains(451).

To cite this page: "Merovech" Encyclopædia Britannica
<http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?idxref=291941>

[2715387.FBK]

[JamesLinage.FTW]

[1725539.ged]

WHWC "Merovius founds the Merovingian Dynasty."  This includes "Germania,Saxony, etc." in addition to France (beg 447)."
ema p 307 "The first line of kings who ruled the Franks was given thename Merovingian, a term in common use by the fourteenth century.  Thename is derived from the mythical ruler MaineROVEUS, who (according tothe seventh-century chronicler Fredegar) was conceived when the wife ofthe semi-legendary King Clodio encountered a montrous Quinotaur.   . .."[JamesLinage.GED]

[1725539.ged]

WHWC "Merovius founds the Merovingian Dynasty."  This includes "Germania,Saxony, etc." in addition to France (beg 447)."
ema p 307 "The first line of kings who ruled the Franks was given thename Merovingian, a term in common use by the fourteenth century.  Thename is derived from the mythical ruler MaineROVEUS, who (according tothe seventh-century chronicler Fredegar) was conceived when the wife ofthe semi-legendary King Clodio encountered a montrous Quinotaur.   . .."[1150191.ged]

[SUSANNA KEENE.FTW]

King of the Salian Franks at the River Yssel.
Origin was of the Sicambrian Franks.
Known as "the Young".
Hengist's supplies for his 1st British campaign may have come
from Merovich.
Extended domain as far as Mentz on the one side.
Expelled Attila the Hun.
Conquered Picardy, Normandy, & most of the Isle De France.

[

[

[

Also known as:  Merovech \ Meroveus \ Merovee II

King of the Salian Franks at the River Yssel.
Origin was of the Sicambrian Franks.
Known as "the Young".
Hengist's supplies for his 1st British campaign may have come
from Merovich.
Extended domain as far as Mentz on the one side.
Expelled Attila the Hun.
Conquered Picardy, Normandy, & most of the Isle De France.[lanastl.ged]

1.  Merovech acceded 447.

Note:
His origin was of the Sicambrian Franks. He was King of the Salian Frankson the River Yssel 448 - 458. He followed the pagan cult of "Diana of theArdennes (the nine fires)". He expelled Attila the Hun and conqueredPicardy, Normandy, and most of the Isle De France.

Note:
1. Sources vary for this person's name - Merovech, as we prefer, andMerovaues as recorded in "The Franks". (See Europäisch Stammtafeln Band Itafel 1)

2. Merovech or Merovaues acceded 447 and fought with the Romans againstAttila on the Mauriac plains.

3. CONTINUATION from Clodion's notes ( "The Franks" by Godefroi Kurth,Transcribed by Michael C. Tinkler, from "The Catholic Encyclopedia",Volume VI, Copyright  1909 by Robert Appleton Company, Online EditionCopyright  1999 by Kevin Knight, Nihil Obstat, September 1, 1909. RemyLafort, Censor Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York):

When the task common to both brothers was nearly accomplished, Carloman,yielding to the inclination he had always felt for the religious life,relinquished all his states in favour of Pepin and retired to a cloisteron Mt. Soracte near Rome (747). Pepin, who thus remained alone at thehead of the vast Frankish monarchy, reaped all the fruit of theircombined labours. It was easy for him to subdue a last revolt by Grifon,who perished in Italy. Afterwards he enjoyed a few years of peace, a rareprivilege in those stormy times. Having now become the undisputed masterof the greatest nation of Europe, and confident of being able to transmitintact to his sons the power he had received from his father, Pepinconsidered the question whether the time had not come to assume the nameto which his sovereign authority entitled him. Such a step could hardlybe objected to when he was virtually king. Since the Merovingian whooccupied the throne was there only at Pepin's will, it was surely Pepin'sprivilege to remove him. Einhard describes the character of the royaltyof the last Merovingians whom the princes of Pepin's family tolerated orreplaced upon the throne.

This king to whom nothing royal had been left save the title of king, saton the throne and, with long hair and unkempt beard, played the part ofmaster. He gave audience the ambassadors who came from various countriesand issued replies that had been dictated to him, as if coming fromhimself. In reality outside of a hollow name and a doubtful pension paidhim at the will of the mayor of the palace, he had nothing for his ownsave a small farm where he lived with a small number of serfs. When hewent out, he rode in an ox-cart driven by a rustic driver. In thisvehicle he annually attended the Champs De Mai. The mayor of the palacealone controlled public affairs.

This description, it is true, is somewhat of a caricature, and there isevidence in public charters that the position of the Merovingian kingswas not as insecure as Einhard says. Nevertheless, it expresses well themarked contrast between the humiliating position of the king and theexalted, powerful standing of the mayor of the palace. It can beunderstood, therefore, that in 751, Pepin and the Frankish nobles mightwell discuss the question as to whether he should assume the kinglycrown. The question had a moral side, namely, whether it was lawful toassume a title which seemed to belong to another. It was decided toappeal for a solution to the sovereign pontiff, recognized by all as thecustodian and interpreter of the moral law. A Frankish embassy left forRome and submitted the question to Pope Zachary. The latter's reply wasgiven in the form of a declaration of principles admirably embodyingCatholic doctrine on this important point: "ut melius esset", said thepope, "illum regem vocari, qui potestatem haberes, quam illum qui sineregali potestate maneret" [it were better for him to be called the kingwho holds the power than the one who remains (king in name) without theregal power]. Reassured by this decision, Pepin hesitated no longer, andhad himself proclaimed king at Soissons in 751. Childeric III was sent toend his days in a cloister. The nature of the authority with which Pepinwas invested was emphasized for the first time among the Franks, by thecoronation ceremony, which imparted a religious nature to his power andimprinted upon him a sacred character. It has been said, but withoutproof, that St. Boniface attended the coronation. In this way, afterhaving exercised the royal power almost uninterruptedly for over acentury, the descendants of Arnulf and Pepin finally assumed the title ofsovereign and the Carolingian dynasty replaced that of the Merovingianson the Frankish throne.[jweber.ged]

Governed the Salic Franks
Defeated "Attila the Hun" in 451
Was son or son-in-law of Clodion

Before 430, the Salic Francs traverse the Escaut, and settle north ofGand [Gant] and also into Courtrai. Their chief, Clodion, takes Cambraiin 430. When Clodion died in 448, Merovee would succeed him as chief.Merovee was a Frankish Prince who ruled over the Saliennes [thus, thisMerovee is King of the Salic Francs] from 452-458. He was the commanderof the Francs in the great Battle of the Catalonic Fields, where hedefeated Attila the Hun in 451. It is from his name that the kings of theFirst Race derived their name. The Huns had steadily increased theirdomination from humble beginnings off the Caspian sea from Caucase to theElbe, from Muldavia to Hungary in the later part of the Fourth Century.

SOURCES:
Merovee=Merovech, Prince des Francs (Rosamond McKitterick, The Frankishkingdom under the Carolingians: 751-987 (Singapore: Longman SingaporePublishers Pte Ltd, (c) 1983).)
(Paul, Nouveau Larousse Universel.)

(Roderick W. Stuart, Royalty for Commoners in ISBN:   -8063-1344-7 (1001North Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202: Genealogical PublishingCompany, Inc., 1992), Page 216, Line 303-53.)

(Andre Castelot, Histoire De La France, Pages, 176, 200). Born: before390, son of Arcadios Claudius Claudianus and Eudoxie, Merovee is presumedto have been at least 15 years of age by the time his son Childeric I wasborn. Married before 405: She was a concubine. Note - between 451 and458:

Before 430, the Salic Francs traverse the Escaut, and settle north ofGand [Gant] and also into Courtrai. Their chief, Clodion, takes Cambraiin 430. When Clodion died in 448, Merovee would succeed him as chief.Merovee was a Frankish Prince who ruled over the Saliennes [thus, thisMerovee is King of the Salic Francs] from 452-458. He was the commanderof the Francs in the great Battle of the Catalonic Fields, where hedefeated Attila the Hun in 451. It is from his name that the kings of theFirst Race derived their name. The Huns had steadily increased theirdomination from humble beginnings off the Caspian sea from Caucase to theElbe, from Muldavia to Hungary in the later part of the Fourth Century.

During his reign the Empress of the Roman Empire, Galla Placidia, in 423governed in the name of her 4-year old son, Valentinius III. She put theGallo-Roman Aetius [who really came from Bulgaria [originally Silistria]in charge of maintaining the Roman authority over Gaule.

Although he was unsuccessful against the Wisigoths, he pushed theRiparian Francs beyond the Rhine. In 440, the Riparians would return andtake over Cologne and Treves. In the meantime, the Burgundians settle inwhat would become Bourgogne and in Savoie. In 443, they are camped aroundWorms and Mayence under the command of their King, Gonthier.  Died: in458.