Merovingian and Carolingian Burials

The Abbey of St. Denis was chosen by King Clovis I, somewhere between 481 AD - 511 AD, to be the official burial ground of the Frankish aristocracy. The church that stood there since roman times was a popular pilgramage site and being buried with St. Denis, St. Rusticus, and St. Eletherius brought the Merovingians prestige as well as some divine backing. 

The tombs would be filled with lavish goods befitted the rank of the person entombed. Most our knowledge of early Middle-ages burials in St. Denis comes from the tomb of Queen Arnegunde. Her tomb was relatively hidden within the basilica and thus escaped any looting or destruction. Inside the coffin a ring with seal denotes that she was ranking among the nobilty along with several other ornaments as well as a dagger.

The purpose of placing their wealthy dead at a pilgramage site was a simple case of proto-propaganda to tie their dynasty with the legacy of the martyrs. When a pilgram would come to venerate the saints, they would see the wealthy tombs of past kings right there with them. Word of the Merovingians wealth and power would spread all on its own by word of mouth from returning pilgrams.