Merovingian amulet (Pendant in antiqued silver)

Ancient Germanic symbol, 35 x 35 mm, 925 old silver finish, two-faced design

The Merovingian (or Merovingian) were the oldest known royal family of the Franks from the early 5th century to the middle of the 8th century. They were ousted from the family of the Carolingian. According to them, the historical period of transition from late antiquity is called the early Middle Ages in the Gallic-Germanic area Merovingian period. The Merovingian might emerged from the Germanic tribe of Sugambrer. Part is presumed that some of the small Franconian kings who were fighting the Great early 4th century by Emperor Constantine, Merovingian were, but those based only on name similarities assumption is not provable. Signet ring with the effigy and inscription Childerich CHILDERICI REGISIn Tournai was in 1653 the tomb of Childeric I, a king of the Salian Franks found. From Childeric, a son of King Merowech originate from any subsequent Merovingian. He had been laid in the grave numerous precious grave goods. So he had the clothes of a Roman officer, by the mantle a golden onion button fibula was obtained. Childeric had actually fought as Föderat for West Rome and later for the Roman Heermeister Aegidius, who after 461 built up its own sphere of influence in northern Gaul. Childeric's son Clovis I ruled from 482 to 511. He eliminated 486 the last Roman authorities Syagrius, the son of Aegidius, and raised the Frankish Empire by victories over the neighboring small Franconian kingdoms (Sigibert of Cologne, Ragnachar, Chara Rich), Alemanni and the Visigoths and by the adoption of Catholic Christianity to world history. The Merovingian preserved the Gallo-Roman culture, made use of the knowledge of the ancient Gallo-Roman aristocracy and leaned against the late Roman administrative practice. Clovis divided the empire among his four sons, but died three lines so that Clotaire was I. reunite 558-561 the meantime to Thuringia and Burgundy extended kingdom. At that time listened to the Merovingian, continue to recognize the nominal suzerainty of the (Eastern) Roman Emperor (see also Migration Period).