PHARAMOND

A figure mentioned for the first time in late Gallo-Roman sources, where he is said to be an early Frankish king. After the death of Sunno, his brother Marcomer, who was leader of the Ampsivarii and Chatti, proposed to the Franks that they should have one single king, contrary to their tradition. Marcomer candidated his own son 'Pharamond' for this occupation. This story can be read in the Liber Historiae Francorum and is generally believed to be a myth by modern scholars. Nothing else is known about Pharamond. Pharamond is not attested by contemporary historians. No relation of him with the Salian Franks or Merovingian dynasty is accepted as historical. Ian Wood, for example, calls all Merovingians before Childeric I "legendary".
As a matter of fact in several sources, for example Gregory of Tours, multiple kings are attested to rule simultaneously in later times. So it is doubtful to assume that Pharamond (if he existed at all) ever got recognized as sole king. The first king who may have been close to this position was Clovis I, but after his death his empire was divided again amongst his sons who ruled again simultaneously.
The myth of Pharamond has led to new legends and romances in later times. Especially pseudo-historians are even today active in making up new stories about Pharamond. In past times this has led to attempts to falsely write Pharamond into Prosper Tiro and for example Martin Bouquet at a much later date made up a whole history of Pharamond.
A Pharamond appears as the king of France in the Prose ''Tristan'' and later Arthurian works.

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Sources

Sources

★ ''Liber Historiae Francorum'', translated by Bernard S. Bachrach. Coronado Press, 1973.

★ Gregory of Tours. ''Historia Francorum''.

★ Wood, Ian. ''The Merovingian Kingdoms''. Pearson Education, 1994.