D. 751
FRANCOIS P.G. GUIZOT
The Merovingians, the first dynasty of the Frankish kings in Gaul,
was founded by the greatest of their kings, Clovis, who in 486
overthrew the Gallo-Roman sway under Syagrius, near Soissons. After
his death in 511 his kingdom was divided among four sons who were
mere boys ranging from twelve to eighteen years of age. The young
princes extended the conquests of their father until they had
secured from the emperor Justinian title to the whole of Gaul. The
last survivor of the brother-kings was Clotaire I. Under his rule
the whole Frankish empire had been united in one; but on his
decease it was again divided among sons. This division cut the
kingdom into three separate sovereignties.
The reign of these brothers was one of horrible cruelty and
bloodshed. A second Clotaire survived them and brought the monarchy
under one sceptre. But power slipped fast from this royal
representative of the Merovingian race, and the mayor of the palace
(_major-domus)_ began to exercise an authority which in time
resulted in supremacy.
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