France
- a very brief history of the place, the people and their rulers.
Celts
The region now known as France was inhabited by people as far back as 30,000 years. Cave paintings of Lascaux in the Dordogne was the evidence left by them. Very little else is known about them. Around 2000-1000 BCE, groups of people what we call now as Celts moved into the region called Gaul (present day France and Belgium). Celts' origins might be from bronze age (c.2000 BCE) population of Urnfield culture of northern Alps and iron age (1200-450 BCE) peoples of Hallstatt culture. Celts spread out of central Europe in two waves. First wave (c.1000-700 BCE) spread them across western europe to present day Spain. Second wave of migration spread the Hallstatt culture across present day France and Germany
Around 450 BCE, a new culture ( called by the modern archaeologists as La Tène ) emerged out of Celts of western Europe. It had distinctive style of art with abstract geometric designs and stylized bird and animal forms. It spread through trade contacts and migrations of celts across the european continent from Spain in the west to Danube river delta in the east and Po valley of Italy in south to British Isles in the north.
Celts were exposed to Greek coins when Greek city states of Italy and Kingdom of Macedon employed celtic warriors as mercenaries in the fifth century BCE. These Celtic tribes of Gaul started issuing their own coins by the third century BCE. The early celtic coins were imitations of gold coins of King Philip II of Macedon or Greek city states of Tarentum and Syracuse. Abstract designs of celtic art were used on the later coins.
See Celtic Coins.
In the second century BCE, Romans came to assist Massilians against Celtic incursions and occupied southern Gaul. All of the Gaul was brought under Roman control by Julius Caesar by 50 BCE. And, it became a provence of Roman empire for next 400 years. Production of celtic coins gradually ceased and roman coins were minted in Gaul and circulated.
See Roman Coins
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of ancient germanic tribes who occupied the right shore of the Rhine. In the third century CE, Romans fought against Frankish tribes' expansion into the Belgic Gaul which was the territory of Roman Empire. However, Frankish tribes settled in Belgic Gaul and later submitted to the control of Roman Empire.
In 375 CE, the Huns from Mongolia invaded area of Goths (present day Ukraine) under their leader Attila. Many Germanic tribes ( Franks, Goths and Burgundians) moved south and west to found Germanic Kingdoms on territory of Western Roman Empire. Western Roman Empire collapsed in 476 CE from the upheaval and freeing the Frankish Kingdoms from the hold of Rome.
Merovingian Dynasty
There were several Frankish tribes living in the northern and central regions of Gaul in the fifth century CE. Clodion was the king of Salian Franks living in the Belgic Gaul (present day Belgium). He gradually conquered all of northern Gaul starting in 430 CE. He was the first king of Merovingian dynasty named after Merovaeus, son of Clodion. Merovingian Kings were distinguished by their long hair that flowed over their shoulders. Clovis (481-511CE), the first of the Merovingian kings to conquer all of the Gaul. Clovis converted to Christianity influenced by his wife Clotilda, a Burgundian princess. Even though power waned after Clovis' reign, Merovingian dynasty lasted for next 300 years.
Earliest Merovingian coins were imitations of Roman (Byzantine) gold tremisses. These were succeeded by coins with legends citing name of the city and the moneyer. There was a gradual debasement of coins which led to the production of silver denarii near the end of the dynasty.
(Click on this hyperlink to see the coins of the Merovingian Kings)
Chronological List of Merovingian Kings
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Alphabetical List of Merovingian Kings
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Carolingian Dynasty
As the power of the Merovingian Kings waned, the Carolingians rose to power gradually in the shadow of the Merovingians as Mayors of the Palace. Mayor Pepin III, the Short (752-68 CE) wrote to the Pope Zachary in Rome asking who should be King of the Franks. Pope replied "illum regem vocari, qui potestatem haberes, quam illum qui sine regali potestate maneret" (he who held the power should be called the King than the one who remains King in name without the regal power). Then, Pepin had himself proclaimed the King of Franks at Soissons in 751CE and returned the favor by assisting Pope Stephen II against the Lombards. He won the Exarchate of Ravenna and the Pentapolis from the Lambards in a war and donated to the Pope. Charles (son of Pipin III) and better known as Charlemagne (742-814 CE) was the true founder of the Carolingian Empire. He became King of the Franks, King of the Lombards, then crowned as the Holy Roman Emperor of the West. Thus, Caroligian Frankish dynasty succeeded the Merovingians to rule the Gaul. The Frankish Kingdom expanded to include present day western Germany & northern Italy to form an Empire during the mid-eighth century. Charlemagne issued a few rare gold tremisses and silver deniers.
(Click on the hyper links below to see the coin images)
Chronological List of Carolingian Kings
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Alphabetical List of Carolingian Kings
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Capetian Dynasty
Carolingian decline started during the period of Louis the Pious (814 - 40 CE). In 855 CE, Count of Paris Odo of Capet family was elected as the King of Franks by the council of Nobles to defend Paris from Viking siege. Next hundred years resulted in a fight for the Kingship by Carolingians and Capetians. Finally, Hugh Capet was elected as King of France in 987 CE by the powerful Nobles. Hugh Capet was elected as King because he was politically weak with little territory and Nobles can control him. Later, Capet Kings extended their rule to other regions. Even though different lines of Capets ruled France, it was uninterrupted for next eight hundred years. Capetian Dynasty rule came to an end with the French Revolution and establishment of Republic in 1793 CE.
(Click on the hyper links below to see the coin images)
Chronological List of Capetian Kings
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Alphabetical List of Capetian Kings
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(Click on the hyper links below to see coin images of the time)
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