This is a timeline of French history, comprising important legal changes and political events in France and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of France. See also the list of Frankish kings, French monarchs, and presidents of France.
5th century Year Date Event 418 Honorius gave land in Gallia Aquitania to his Visigoth federates in which to settle, forming the nucleus of the future Visigothic Kingdom under king Wallia and then his son and heir Theodoric I. 426 Clodio, the earliest recorded king lord of the Salian Franks, began his reign. 448 Clodio died. He was succeeded by Merovech. 451 20 June Battle of Châlons: Romans, Visigoths under Theodoric I and their allies (including the Franks) definitively stop further Hunnic invasion in Gaul. Theodoric I died during the battle, he was succeeded by his son Thorismund who also had a decisive role during the battle. 453 Thorismund was murdered by his younger brother Theodoric II who succeeded him in the throne of the Visigothic Kingdom. 457 Merovech died. His son Childeric I succeeded him as king. The Domain of Soissons, last Roman province of Gaul, was created with Aegidius as magister militum of the rump state. 462 Roman territory of Septimania was ceded to the Visigothic Kingdom. 463 Gothic war against Aegidius: Aegidius and Childeric I defeated the invading Visigoths in Orléans. 464 Aegidius died. His son Syagrius succeeded him as magister militum of the Domain of Soissons. 466 Theodoric II was murdered and succeeded by his younger brother Euric as king of the Visigoths, declaring total independence from Roman influence and extending during his reign the Visigothic kingdom to most of the Iberian Peninsula. 469 Revolt of Euric: Euric takes possession of parts of Spain and conquers the south of Gaul. 481 Childeric I died. His son Clovis I succeeded him. 485 Euric died and was succeeded by his son Alaric II as king of the Visigoths. 486 Franco-Roman War of 486: Battle of Soissons: A Frankish army under Clovis I defeated Syagrius and conquered the Domain of Soissons. Syagrius sought refuge in Alaric II's kingdom, but was later handed back to Clovis and beheaded.
6th century Year Date Event 507 Franco-Gothic War (507–511): Clovis defeated a Visigoth army under Alaric II in the Battle of Vouillé, and conquered Gallia Aquitania, thus forming the basis of modern-day France. 511 27 November Clovis died. His kingdom was divided among his four sons; the territory with its seat at Paris went to Childebert I, the kingdom of Soissons went to Chlothar I, the kingdom of Orléans went to Chlodomer, and the kingdom of Rheims (Austrasia) went to Theuderic I. 524 25 June Battle of Vézeronce: The united armies of Clovis' sons inflicted a serious defeat on the Burgundian king Godomar. Chlodomer, the king of Orléans, was killed in battle. Chlothar I, the king of Neustria, had two of Chlodomer's sons killed and forced the third into hiding thus inheriting his kingdom. 534 Theuderic I died, his son Theudebert I succeeded him as king of Austrasia. 547 Theudebert I died, his son Theudebald succeeded him as king of Austrasia. 555 Theudebald died, his realm passed to his great-uncle Chlothar I. 558 23 December Childebert I died. His brother Chlothar I inherited his territory, thus becoming sole King of the Franks and reuniting Clovis' kingdom. 561 29 November Chlothar I died. The kingdom was divided among his four sons; Paris went to Charibert I, Burgundy to Guntram, Austrasia to Sigebert I, Soissons to Chilperic I. 567 November Charibert I, king of Paris, died. With no heir, his realm was partitioned among his brothers. 575 Sigebert I of Austrasia died, his son, Childebert II, inherited his kingdom. 584 September Chilperic I of Soissons (Neustria) was assassinated. His infant son Chlothar II became king and his wife Fredegund became regent. 592 28 January Guntram of Burgundy died, his realm was passed on to Childebert II who was his adoptive son. 8 December Fredegund died so the 13-year-old Chlothar II started his reign as King of Neustria. 589 17 October Charibert II, Franco-Lombard-Byzantine war over the Po Valley. The war was stopped by breaching dam in Cucca, transferred to the Lombards by the Byzantine emperor Maurice, which caused a severe flood, that blocked the franks' army advance into Italy. 595 Childebert II died, his kingdom was divided between his two sons. The kingdom of Austrasia went to Theudebert II, the kingdom of Burgundy to Theuderic II.
7th century Year Date Event 612 Theudebert II, the king of Austrasia, was assassinated. His realm went to his brother Theuderic II, king of Burgundy. 613 Theuderic II died. His bastard son Sigebert II briefly inherited his kingdom. Sigebert II, the king of Burgundy and Austrasia, was executed by Chlothar II, who inherited his kingdoms thus becoming sole king of the Franks. 623 Chlothar II gave Austrasia its independence under the kingship of his son, Dagobert I. 629 Chlothar II died. Under an agreement forged after his death, Dagobert I succeeded him as king of Neustria but ceded what would become Aquitaine to his brother, Charibert II. 632 8 April Charibert II died, possibly in an assassination ordered by his brother Dagobert I. His infant son Chilperic succeeded him as king of Aquitaine. Chilperic was also killed. Dagobert I reacquired Aquitaine and became sole king of the Franks. 639 19 January Dagobert I died. Austrasia went to his son Sigebert III, and the Kingdom of Neustria and Burgundy to Clovis II. Both of these new kings are considered early rois fainéants. 655 Clovis II died. He was succeeded by his son Chlothar III (roi fainéant). 656 1 February Sigebert III died. He was succeeded by Childebert the Adopted. 661 Childebert the Adopted died. Chlothar III annexed his kingdom, and became sole king of the Franks. Chlothar III died. His kingdom was divided between his two younger brothers; Austrasia to Childeric II, and Neustria to Theuderic III (roi fainéant). 673 Childeric II annexed Theuderic III's kingdom, and became sole king of the Franks. 675 Childeric II died. Theuderic III inherited Neustria, Clovis III (roi fainéant) inherited Austrasia. 676 Clovis III died. Theuderic III inherited his kingdom, becoming sole king of the Franks. 691 Theuderic III died. He was succeeded by his son Clovis IV (roi fainéant). 695 Clovis IV died. He was succeeded by his brother Childebert III.
8th century Year Date Event 711 23 April Childebert died. He was succeeded by his son Dagobert III. 715 Dagobert died. He was succeeded by Chilperic II, the youngest son of Childeric II. 721 13 February Chilperic died. He was succeeded by Theuderic IV, Dagobert III's son. 732 10 October Battle of Tours: Frankish and Burgundian soldiers under the Mayor of the Palace Charles Martel inflicted a significant defeat on the invading armies of the Umayyad Caliphate. 737 Theuderic died. Charles Martel was prevented succession. 741 22 October Charles Martel died and his realm was divided between his two sons, Pepin the Short and Carloman, acting as Mayors of the Palace. 743 Childeric III was finally proclaimed king of the Franks thanks to Pepin the Short's influence, after the throne was vacant for 7 years. 747 15 August Carloman renounced his position as Mayor of the Palace and withdrew to monastic life, his realm was given to his brother, Pepin the Short. 751 Childeric III was dethroned as the last king of the Merovingian dynasty, Pepin the Short was later crowned king of the Franks, thus starting the rule of the Carolingian dynasty. 768 24 September Pepin the Short died. 9 October Charlemagne and Carloman I were proclaimed Kings of the Franks after their father's death. Each brother obtained half of their father's kingdom. 771 4 December Carloman I died, Charlemagne annexed his kingdom. 774 Following successful conquests, Charlemagne became king of the Lombards. 795 The Spanish March was created by Charlemagne as a buffer zone between the Frankish kingdom and Al-Andalus.
9th century Year Date Event 800 25 December Charlemagne is crowned Imperator Augustus by Pope Leo III. 811 The treaty of Heiligen is signed between Charlemagne and the Danish king establishing the boundary between Denmark and the Frankish Empire. 812 Frankish conquests in Spain were recognized by Emir Al-Hakam I. 814 28 January Charlemagne dies and his only legitimate son, Louis the Pious, inherits the Empire. 840 20 June Louis the Pious dies, the Frankish Empire is claimed by his eldest son Lothair I, over his two brothers, Louis the German and Charles the Bald. 843 Treaty of Verdun: An alliance between Louis the German and Charles the Bald, and their victories over Lothair I, compelled the elder brother to negotiate the division of the Frankish Empire. It was divided in three parts; West Francia for Charles the Bald, Middle Francia for Lothair I and East Francia for Louis the German, hence laying the foundations of modern France and Germany. 875 29 December Charles the Bald is crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope John VIII. 876 8 October Battle of Andernach: After Louis the German's death, Charles the Bald is badly defeated at Andernach by Louis' successor, Carloman of Bavaria, in an attempt to conquer his late brother's kingdom. 877 6 October Fleeing Northern Italy from Carloman's army, Charles the Bald falls ill and dies. His son Louis the Stammerer (Louis II) succeeds him as King of West Francia. 879 10 April Louis the Stammerer dies of illness. His two sons Louis III and Carloman II succeed him as joint kings of West Francia. 880 March Louis III and Carloman II sign a treaty in Amiens dividing the kingdom between each other. Louis III obtains Neustria, Carloman II receives Burgundy and Aquitaine. 882 5 August Louis III dies, Carloman II becomes sole king of West Francia. 884 12 December Carloman II dies, his cousin Charles the Fat (Louis the German's youngest son) already king of East Francia, succeeds in the rule of West Francia reviving until his death the entire Carolingian Empire. 888 13 January Charles the Fat dies, with no legitimate or recognized heir, the Empire falls apart never to be reunited again. February Odo of France is crowned King of the Western Franks for his successes in fighting off the Normans. Ranulf II became King of Aquitaine. 898 1 January Odo of France dies leaving no surviving heir. Charles the Simple, son of Louis the Stammerer, is declared king of West Francia, the Carolingian dynasty is thus again ruler of France.
10th century Year Date Event 911 Charles signed the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte with Rollo, the king of the Vikings, allowing their settlement in what would become the Duchy of Normandy. 922 Charles was overthrown by a noble revolt and replaced by Robert I, Odo's brother. 923 15 June Battle of Soissons (923): Robert was killed. Charles was captured by Rudolph, the duke of Burgundy. Rudolph was elected king of France by an assembly of nobles. He left the Duchy of Burgundy to his brother. 936 15 January Rudolph died. He was succeeded by Louis IV, a son of Charles the Simple. 954 10 September Louis IV died. He was succeeded by his son Lothair. 986 1 March Lothair died. He was succeeded by his son Louis V. 987 21 May Louis V died. With no heir, Hugh Capet was chosen as his successor for his noble blood and military successes, thus ending the Carolingian dynasty's reign, and starting the Capetian dynasty. 996 24 October Hugh Capet died. He was succeeded by his son Robert II.
11th century