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Why Did the Carolingians Rewrite Merovingian History? - The Myth of the Do-Nothing Kings | Sleepy Facts About History
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The Merovingian kings are widely remembered as the rois fainéants, the do-nothing kings of early medieval Francia. According to the familiar narrative, these rulers sat idle while their mayors of the palace gradually took over the kingdom, eventually leading to the rise of the Carolingian dynasty. But the historical record tells a much more complex story. This episode examines how the Merovingian court actually functioned, exploring a system of government that relied on constant movement…
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