Frankish Empire History of Germany
expansion of frankish empire: blue = realm of pippin iii in 758, red = expansion under charlemagne until 814, yellow = marches , dependencies after fall of western roman empire in 5th century, franks, other post-roman western europe, emerged tribal confederacy in rhine-weser region referred austrasia, franconia. absorbed former roman territory spread west gaul beginning in 250, unlike alamanni south in swabia. 500, frankish king clovis i, of merovingian dynasty, had united frankish tribes , ruled of gaul, , proclaimed king time 509 511. clovis also, contrary tradition of germanic rulers of time, baptized directly roman catholicism , not arianism, , successors work closely papal missionaries, among them saint boniface. faith of franks, vast size of francia, , franks control of passes through alps led alliance between merovingian realm, 750 extended gaul , north-western germany include swabia, burgundy (and western switzerland extension), pope in rome against lombards, whom posed grea...