The Merovingians ruled Francia for 250 years. Too often, their reign is seen as a gap in the late antique period, a dark age preceding the Carolingian renaissance. But that is a disservice to the Merovingians, without whom there would have been no Carolingians, and no Charlemagne.

This is the second episode in a series covering the Holy Roman Empire.

Sources & further reading:
History of the Franks (Gregory of Tours)
Chronicle of Fredegar + Continuations
Liber Historiae Francorum
Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman Empire (Peter H. Wilson)
The Merovingian Kingdoms (Ian Wood)
From Roman to Merovingian Gaul: A Reader (Alexander Callander Murray)

Music & footage:
Scenes from Sopranos HBO
Beethoven Symphony 9, Op. 125 - "Choral": 2 Molto vivace
Beethoven Symphony 9 in D Minor "Choral": 1 Allegro ma non troppo
Requiem II, Krie Molto espressivo
Chopin Fantaisie Impromptu
Verdi La forza del destino overture
Verdi Nabucco Act 3
Gyorgy Ligeti Atmospheres -
Gyorgy Ligeti Lux Aeterna
Carnival of the Animals
-March and Canzona for Queen Mary's Funeral
Gabriel Faure Pavane in F-sharp minor
Maurice Ravel Bolero

0:00 - Thugs & Miracles
3:38 - The sons of Clovis
8:16 - The scissors or the sword
10:21 - Attack on the Thuringians
12:47 - Assassination attempt on Chlotaire
14:13 - Childebert's Visigothic adventure
17:13 - Succession of Theudebert
19:52 - The final victory of Chlotaire
24:12 - Start of the great Merovingian feud
28:26 - Assessment of Chilperic's reign
33:13 - The end of the great Merovingian feud
37:05 - Introduction of the palace mayors
44:55 - Introduction of Charles Martel (yes, THAT one)
51:21 - The end of the Merovingians
54:18 - Assessing Merovingian rule
57:53 - Thugs & Miracles