| Clovis IV | |
|---|---|
 A written judgement issued by Clovis IV on 28 February 693 | |
| King of the Franks | |
| Reign | 691–694 |
| Predecessor | Theuderic III |
| Successor | Childebert III |
| Mayor of the Palace | Pepin of Herstal |
| Born | c. 677 |
| Died | 694 (aged 16–17) |
| Dynasty | Merovingian |
| Father | Theuderic III |
| Mother | Chrodochild |
Clovis IV (c. 677–694/695) was theking of the Franks from 690 or 691 until his death. If the brief reign ofClovis III (675) is ignored as a usurpation, then Clovis IV may be numberedClovis III.[1]
A member of theMerovingian dynasty, Clovis was the son of KingTheuderic III and QueenChrodochild.[2] He was born around 677[3] or possibly towards 682.[4] He succeeded his father as the sole ruler of the Franks upon the latter's death in 690 or 691.[5] He ruled an undivided kingdom includingAustrasia,Burgundy andNeustria.[6] According to theAnnals of Metz, a pro-Pippinid source, he was appointed byPippin of Herstal, themayor of the palace of Austrasia, and reigned four years.[7]
Clovis was a minor at his accession, and real power was in Pippin's hands.[3][8] His minority, coming as it did on the heels of his father's efforts to strengthen royal power, was an important factor in the decline of the Merovingian dynasty.[9] Clovis resided primarily inCompiègne (the traditional site of theMarchfield) andMontmacq.[10]
Nine of Clovis'scharters have been edited and published. Four of them are records ofplacita (public judicial hearings) held in the king's presence. Despite the rise of Pippin and his family, which is a major theme of theAnnals of Metz, the royal court was still important in Clovis's reign. During aplacitum inValenciennes in 693, Clovis was attended by twelve bishops, twelveviri illustres (includingNordebert, the Neustrian mayor of the palace), nine counts and numerous other officials.[8] The future Neustrian mayor of the palaceRagamfred started out as adomesticus under Clovis. Warno, the Neustriancomes palatii ofChilperic II, also began his career at the court of Clovis.[11]
In 692, Clovis confirmed for theAbbey of Saint-Denis the right to collect certaintolls inMarseille, a right which it had been granted byDagobert I.[12][13] He also granted to theAbbey of Saint-Médard the nearby house that had been the primary residence of the former mayor of the palace,Ebroin, inSoissons.[14]
The anonymous continuator of theChronicle of Fredegar devotes two sentences to Clovis IV: "King Theuderic died ... and his little son Clovis was chosen to succeed him as king. But it was not long before King Clovis fell ill and died, having reigned four years."[15] He died in either 694[2] or 695.[5] He was succeeded by his brother,Childebert III. Clovis does not appear to have made much of an impression on his contemporaries; his brother was more highly regarded.[5]
Media related toClovis IV at Wikimedia CommonsClovis IV Born: 677 Died: 695 | ||
| Preceded by | King of the Franks 691–695 | Succeeded by |
Merovingian dynasty (400–751 AD) | |||
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