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The Merovingians: everything you wanted to know

The Merovingians: everything you wanted to know

Professor James Palmer answers listener questions on the long-haired kings who ruled a proto-France in the wake of the western Roman empire's collapse

Kev Lochun

Published: June 22, 2025 at 8:00 AM

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Professor James Palmer guides us through the 300-year reign of the Merovingians, the Frankish dynasty whose legacy helped birth the very idea of France. Speaking to Kev Lochun, he explores how they used violence, myth, and immaculate hair to maintain power – until the pope brought the dynasty to its knees.

Authors

Kev LochunDigital editor (audience and video)

Kev Lochun is digital editor (audience and video) at HistoryExtra

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