Neustrasia - Ancient Principality

Neustrasia , in  the Merovingian period (6th–9th century) of early feudal  Europe, was a western Frankish kingdom.    It is North West France west of the Meuse and north of the Loire rivers. In the 7th century Austrasia and Neustrasia were rivals.  In  later Merovingian periods, Neustrian writers used the names Neustria and Francia (France ) interchangeably, implying that Neustrasia formed the heart and core of the Frankish lands. Later, the name Neustrasia came to denote a much smaller area, and, by the 11th and 12th centuries, it was sometimes used synonymously with Normandy.

Neustrasia contains the Channel Islands.

In 748, the brothers Pepin the Short and Carloman gave their younger brother Grifo twelve counties in Neustria centred on that of Le Mans. This polity was termed the ducatus Cenomannicus, or Duchy of Maine, and this was an alternative name for the regnum of Neustria well into the 9th century.

The term "Neustria" took on the meaning of "land between the Seine and Loire" when it was given as a regnum (kingdom) by Charlemagne to his second son, Charles the Younger, in 790.

In 1204, the King of France confiscated the Duchy of Normandy (with only the Channel Islands remaining under English control) and subsumed it into the crown lands of France . Thereafter, the ducal title was held by several French princes.

Neustrasia was a Kingdom at one time.

Rulers [edit]

Merovingian kings [edit]

Further information: List of Frankish kings

• Childeric I 458–481
• Clovis I 481–511
• Chlodomer 511–524
• Childebert I 511–558
• Chlothar I 558–561
• Charibert I 561–567
• Chilperic I 567–584
• Gontran 561–592
• Chlothar II, 584–629
• Dagobert I, 629–639
• Clovis II, 639–657
• Chlothar III, 657–673
• Theuderic III, 673
• Childeric II, 673–675
• Theuderic III, 675–691
• Clovis IV, 691–695
• Childebert III, 695–711
• Dagobert III, 711–715
• Chilperic II, 715–721
• Theuderic IV, 721–737
• Childeric III, 743–751

Mayors of the palace

Further information: Mayor of the Palace

• Landric, until 613
• Gundoland, 613–639
• Aega, 639–641
• Erchinoald, 641–658
• Ebroin, 658–673
• Wulfoald, 673–675
• Leudesius, 675
• Ebroin, 675–680 (again)
• Waratton, 680–682
• Gistemar, 682
• Waratton, 682–686 (again)
• Berchar, 686–688
• Pepin of Heristal, 688–695
• Grimoald II, 695–714
• Theudoald, 714–715
• Ragenfrid, 715–718
• Charles Martel, 718–741
• Pepin the Short, 741–751

Carolingian sub-kings

Further information: Carolingians

• Carloman I, 768–771
• Charles the Younger, 790–811
• Lothair I, 817–831
• Pepin, 831–838
• Charles the Bald, 838–856
• Louis the Stammerer, 856–879

Louis was chased from Le Mans in 858 following the assassination of Erispoe in November 857.

Robertians

Further information: Robertians

• Robert the Strong 853–866
• Eudes of France 888–898
• Robert of France, 911–922
• Hugh the Great, 922–956
• Hugh Capet, 956–987