The unification of today's France occurred under the [L3 203 / Merovingian kings]. Clovis, the first of the Merovingian kings was responsible for initiating the unification.
In AD461 Clovis became leader of the tribe of the [G 15 / Franks] and began the process of unifying the Frankish Empire, establishing the capital of his kingdom in Paris. By AD507 he ruled a large Gallo-Roman Empire including most of today's France and western Germany. Recognition by the Roman Emperor as ruler of these lands (which were formerly part of the Roman Empire) made him all the more powerful.
Clovis' conversion to Christianity took place in either AD496 or AD506, thus gaining the support of the papacy and enabling him to begin unifying the Frankish Empire under one religion. His conversion was central to the development of Christianity in France, as the Merovingian Dynasty lasted until the early eighth century AD, by which time the Roman Catholic religion was firmly established in the kingdom.
