Frankish Empire (Saracen Jihad)

The nation of ‘’’Francia’’’ or ‘’’Frankia’’’, also called the ‘’’Kingdom of the Franks’’’ or the ‘’’Frankish Kingdom’’’ (Latin: ‘’Regnum Francorum’’), ‘’’Frankish Empire’’’, ‘’’Frankish Realm’’’ or occasionally ‘’’Frankland’’’, was the territory inhabited and ruled by the Franks, a confederation of Germanic tribes originating from the Lower and Middle Rhine. The Salian Franks formed a kingdom on Roman-held soil that was acknowledged by the Romans after 357. Following the collapse of Rome in the West, the Frankish tribes were united under the Merovingians, who in the sixth century, succeeded in conquering most of Gaul.

The kingdom was founded officially in 496 by Clovis I, who was crowned first King of the Franks. Over the next few centuries under the leadership of such rulers as Pepin of Herstal, Charles, and Pepin the Short, numerous campaigns would unite most of western Europe under the rule of the Franks.

History

 * ’’See: Early History of Frankish Empire’’