The Franks were a Germanic people that invaded the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD.

The Franks advanced into Germany and Gaul (France), and they established the most powerful Christian kingdom of early medieval western Europe.

Clovis (ruled 481-511) extended his authority over the other Franks and conquered all of Gaul. His successors of the Merovingian dynasty (named after Clovis' grandfather Merovich) ruled until displaced by the Carlongian family in the 8th century.