Better known as the Carolingian dynasty of the Frankish kingdom, founded by Pippin I of Austrasia, who had de facto power as "Mayor of the Palace" to the decaying Merovingian line. This power passed through his grandson Pippin II of Heristal, who under the Merovingian figurehead, took control of not just Austrasia but the whole Frankish kingdom. His son Charles Martel stopped Muslim expansion into Europe at the Battle of Poitiers, and extended Frankish control into Frisia and Saxony. Charles' son Pippin the Short officially ended the Merovingian dynasty and was anointed King of the Franks by the Pope.

Pippin was succeeded by his son Charles, who was crowned on Christmas Day, A.D. 800, not just King of the Franks, but Holy Roman Emperor. He was a great promotor of culture and learning, as well as a fearsome general. He consistently put down revolts of Saxons chafing under Frankish control. His dedication to the language of learning and of the Church was so great, and so widely shared, that even in his own day the Franks were in the bilingual stage of a wholesale switch from a Germanic language as their native tongue, to a form of late Latin that would become Old French. History would call Charles "the Great" ("Carolus Magnus", "Charlemagne"). The Scandinavian name Magnus comes from Charles' title of "Great".

The Carolingian dynasty was succeeded by the Capetians in France and by the Ottonians (Liudolfings) in Germany.

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