The Franks, led by King Clovis, came to dominate Northern Gaul in the 5th century. Clovis converted to Christianity, gaining the support of the Catholic Church. His successors founded the Merovingian dynasty. Over time, real power shifted to the Mayor of the Palace position, held by the Carolingians. Pepin the Short became the first Carolingian king in 751. His son Charlemagne expanded the Frankish kingdom into a vast empire encompassing much of Western Europe through conquest and alliance. After his death, internal divisions and Viking invasions contributed to the decline of his Carolingian Empire.