Merovech , King of The Salian Franks

   Other names for Merovech were Mérovée, Meroveus, Merovius and Merowig.

  General Notes:

Ruled BET. 448 - 457 King of the Salian Franks 3 MEROVECH, an early king of the Salian Franks, who succeeded to Clodio in the middle of the 5th century, and soon became a legendary figure. At the great battle of Mauriac (the Catalaunian fields), in which Aetius checked the invasion of the Huns (451), there were present in the Roman army a number of Frankish foederati, and a later authority states that Merovech (Merovaeus) was their leader. Merovech was the father of Childeric I (457-481), and grandfather of Clovis.

It is not known whether Merovech was a purely mythical creation or if there is some factual basis for his existence. If he did exist, his precise ancestry is not known. Gregory of Tours writes that "some say that Merovech, the father of Childeric, was descended from Chlodio" but this is the only reference he makes to Merovech in the whole of his work. The early 8th century Liber Historiæ Francorum names "Merovechus de genere eius" as successor to Chlodio, commenting that he gave his name to the dynasty. Fredegar asserts, colourfully, that Merovech was conceived when Chlodio's wife went swimming and encountered a Quinotaur. It is possible that Merovech succeeded Chlodio as leader of the Franks in Roman Gaul. Assuming that he did enjoy some sort of leadership role over some or all of the Frankish tribes in Gaul, it seems inappropriate to attribute the title "king" to Merovech. In the first place, it is likely that his leadership was localised. In addition, Roman domination continued until the overthrow in 476 of the last Roman Emperor in the West, Romulus Augustulus, and no documentary evidence has so far been identified which suggests that there was a sub-level of Frankish administration, despite the fact that imperial authority was in decline during the later years.

  Research Notes:

My information and source can be found at Foundation for Medieval Genealogy

Merovech married Unknown.