Francia
Francia was a kingdom in western Europe.
History
The Franks were a set of allied Germanic tribes that settled along the Rhine.
Clovis, of the Merovingian dynasty, rapidly consolidated power to establish a Kingdom of the Franks. By 486 he conquered the Kingdom of Soissons, a late Roman kingdom that emerged from the diocese of Gaul. He united all Frankish tribes, and expanded into the territory of the neighboring Alemanni (alternatively Alamanni) tribes. He vassalized the Kingdom of the Burgundians (or First Kingdom of Burgundy). He repeatedly warred with the Visigothic Kingdom and seized the northern half of their territory. And he established a capital in Paris.
The kingdom then split into four kingdoms of Aquitaine, Neustria, Austrasia, and Burgundy (a Second Kingdom of Burgundy). These kingdoms were generally administered by mayors of the palace rather than the ceremonial kings. Of these mayors, notably Pippin of Herstal led Austrasia, united all Frankish kingdoms, and established himself as duke.
Pippin's son, Charles Martel, inherited the duchy and briefly reigned without appointing a king. He conquered the Kingdom of Frisia; and vassalized the remaining tribes of Alamannia, the Duchy of Thuringia, and the Duchy of Bavaria. He also repelled the invasion force of the Umayyad Caliphate.
Charles's son, Pépin the Short, negotiated a deal with Pope Zachary. Pépin converted to Christianity. The last Merovingian heir was assassinated and Pépin was crowned king, establishing the Carolingian dynasty. Pépin defended Rome from the rising Lombard Kingdom. And Pépin ceded several realms to the papacy, establishing the Papal States.
Pépin's sone, Charlemagne, conquered Lombardy, the Saxon tribes, and the Kingdom of Brittany. He attempted to expand into the Avar Khaganate and Umayyad Caliphate, without much success. Much of his reign was spent suppressing rebellions across the empire, especially in Aquitaine, Lombardy, Bavaria, and Saxony. He convinced Leo III to crown him as emperor of Rome, on account of Irene (a woman) rising to the imperial throne.
The Frankish Empire divided quickly. While Middle Francia was short-lived, East Francia became the foundation of Germany and West Francia became the foundation of France.