The Merovingian kings of Gaul are most famously known for their distinctive coiffure, earning them the title of the ‘long-haired kings’ in medieval sources. The Frankish kings practiced never cutting their hair, a custom that became a royal prerogative and symbol of their sovereignty. Rival claimants to the throne were often tonsured and sent to monasteries, with the act of tonsure being considered so humiliating that it stripped the individual of their royal aura, at least until their hair grew back. When Queen Chrodegildis was faced with the choice of having her grandsons tonsured or killed, she chose death over the humiliation of having their hair cut. Ultimately, the last Merovingian king was deposed and tonsured by the Carolingians, who replaced him, marking the end of the Merovingian dynasty’s long-haired tradition.
