The
Franks were originally led by
dukes (military leaders) and
reguli (petty kings). The
Salian Merovingians rose to dominance among the Franks and conquered most of
Roman Gaul. They also conquered the
Visigoths in 507. The sons of Clovis conquered the
Burgundians and
Alamanni. They acquired
Provence and made the
Bavarii and
Thuringii their clients. The Merovingians were later replaced by a new dynasty called the
Carolingians in the 8th century. By the end of the 9th century, the Carolingians themselves were replaced throughout much of their realm by other dynasties. The idea of a "King of the Franks" or
Rex Francorum gradually disappeared over the 12th and 13th centuries.