Chlothar I, sometime called "the Old", also anglicised as Clotaire, was a king of the Franks of the Merovingian dynasty and one of the four sons of Clovis I.
Silver coin of Chlothar I, marked: d·n· chlothaharivi rex
Radegund is brought before Chlothar
Radegonde's wedding, depiction of her praying, and prostrate in the marital bed
Assassination of Thibaut and Gunthar
The Merovingian dynasty was the ruling family of the Franks from around the middle of the 5th century until 751. They first appear as "Kings of the Franks" in the Roman army of northern Gaul. By 509 they had united all the Franks and northern Gallo-Romans under their rule. They conquered most of Gaul, defeating the Visigoths (507) and the Burgundians (534), and also extended their rule into Raetia (537). In Germania, the Alemanni, Bavarii and Saxons accepted their lordship. The Merovingian realm was the largest and most powerful of the states of western Europe following the breaking up of the empire of Theodoric the Great.
Merovingian dynasty
Signet ring of Childeric I. Monnaie de Paris.
Frankish gold Tremissis, imitation of Byzantine Tremissis, mid-6th century.
Coin of Clotaire II, 584–628. British Museum.
