The Long-Haired Kings: Royal Symbolism and Legitimacy

Merovingian kingship developed distinctive symbols and rituals that set these rulers apart from both Roman predecessors and Germanic competitors. The most famous symbol was the royal hair—Merovingian kings wore their hair uncut as a mark of royal status, earning them the epithet "long-haired kings" (reges criniti). This seemingly simple custom carried deep significance, linking kings to ancient Germanic traditions of sacred leadership while visibly distinguishing them from other nobles.

The significance of royal hair appears clearly in political conflicts. When rivals sought to eliminate potential claimants to the throne without committing murder, they forcibly tonsured them, cutting their hair in the clerical style and thereby disqualifying them from kingship. This practice allowed the removal of political threats while avoiding the blood guilt associated with killing royal kinsmen. However, hair could regrow, and several tonsured princes later reclaimed their royal status after their hair returned.

Royal inauguration rituals, though less elaborate than later coronation ceremonies, established the king's special status. The elevation on a shield, following ancient Germanic custom, proclaimed the new king to assembled warriors. Increasingly, Christian elements supplemented these traditional practices. Bishops blessed new kings, and some inauguration ceremonies occurred in churches. Yet Merovingian kings never received the formal anointing that would characterize later Carolingian and Capetian coronations.

Royal authority manifested through various channels. The king's court (palatium) served as the center of government, though it remained itinerant, moving between royal estates and cities. Access to the king's person constituted the essence of political power, making court positions highly coveted. The mayor of the palace (maior domus), originally a household official, gradually emerged as the king's principal minister, foreshadowing the rise of the Carolingians.