The Neustrie is the frank kingdom which covered the North-West of current France, and had as a capital Soissons. Nevertheless, it seems that the term of Neustrie (derivative of “most recent” Niuster ) appeared only one century after the creation of the kingdom.

Neustrie had been created at the time of the division which followed the death of Clovis Ier, in 511, and returned to Clotaire Ier, which, at the end of its long fifty years reign, had succeeded in reconstituting the kingdom of his/her father. It was the second large kingdom frankly born at the time of the successional divisions Mérovingiens. Its geographical surface was limited by the the Loire to the south, the Atlantic Ocean and the Brittany in the west, and the Champagne in the east. It extended until in Flanders in north.

With died of Clotaire Ier, in 561, the kingdom is again divided - by drawing lot - between its four sons (Caribert Ier, Gontran Ier, Sigebert Ier and Chilpéric Ier). It is the latter which inherits the Neustrie.

Old only a few months, Clotaire II, wire of Chilpéric Ier, inherits Neustrie to dead of his/her father in 584. With died of Thierry II of Burgundy, in 613, Clotaire II recovers the Austrasie and becomes thus king of the Francs who recovers also the Aquitaine.

After the death of Clotaire III in 674, Neustrie is seen imposing a king - Thierry III - by the Austrasiens, Aquitaine having found its independence before.

Berchaire, Maire of the palate of the king Thierry III is overcome in 687 with the Bataille of Tertry, small village of Picardy near to Péronne, by Pépin of Herstal, mayor of the Palate of Austrasie. This defeat definitively ruins the hegemonic claims of Neustrie, which is as from this moment only one vassal State of the Austrasie that the Arnulfiens direct. However the distinction between Neustrie, Austrasie and Burgundy will still remain, although being erased gradually. After the Treated of Verdun in 843, the name of Neustrie indicates nothing any more but the western part of the kingdom. Finally this one definitively loses its name to take that of Northmannie or Normandy , when it is yielded to the Viking Rollon according to the Traité Saint-Clearly-on-Epte in 911.

See too

Internal bonds

• Pépin the Brief was mayor of the palate of Neustrie.
• Frank | frank Kingdoms
• Ripuaires - List of the dukes and kings of the Rhenish Francs | Austrasie
• Saliens - List of the dukes and kings of the Francs saliens | Neustrie - Genealogy of Mérovingiens