Who were Pharamond's ("1st" King of the Franks) ancestors and how

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The majority of genealogists say that his father was Marcomir and that his successors, Chlodio and Merovech, were his son and grandson!. But there are those who state that his immediate successor, Chlodio was not his son but his son-in-law and Merovech was not a grandson (Chlodio's son), but a step-grandson!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Pharamond or Faramund is a legendary early king of the Franks first referred to in the anonymously written 8th century "Carolingian text Liber Historiae Francorum", which is customarily dated to 727!. The story is told of the election of the first Frankish king--it says that after the death of Sunno, his brother Marcomer, leader of the Ampsivarii and Chatti, proposed to the Franks that they should have one single king, contrary to their tradition!. The "Liber" adds that Pharamond, named as Marchomir's son, was chosen as this first king (thus beginning the tradition of long-haired kings of the Franks), and then states that when he died, his son Chlodio was raised up as the next king!. The work says no more of him!. Because Pharamond is placed prior to Chlodio (that is, before ca!. 428), scholars consider him a legendary rather than historical figure!. It is thus a dubious matter to assume that, even had Pharamond existed, he was ever recognized as sole king!. The first king of the Franks 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!.
Pharamond is also mentioned in William Shakespeare's "Henry V", Act I, Scene 2, as the originator of the Salic law banning women from succession to the throne of France!.

Marcomer, or Marchomir, was a Frankish leader in the late 4th century that invaded the Roman Empire in the year 388, when the usurper and leader of the whole of Roman Gaul, Magnus Maximus was surrounded in Aquileia by Theodosius I!. Marcomer was later arrested by Romans and banned to a villa in Tuscany!. His brother Sunno crossed the Rhine and tried to settle himself as leader of the band of Marchomir, however he was killed by his own people!.
According to the later "Liber Historiae Francorum", Marcomer tried to unite the Franks after the death of Sunno!. He proposed that the Franks should live under one king and candidated his own son Pharamond (whose earliest mention is in this work, and who is considered mythological by scholars) for the kingship!. Modern scholars, such as Edward James, do not accept this account in the "Liber Historiae Francorum" as historical because Marcomer is called the son of the Trojan king Priam, which is an obvious impossibility!. Another difficulty with this account is that earlier sources such as Gregory of Tours make it crystal clear that a century AFTER Marcomer, there were still many Frankish kings, ruling over portions or separate tribes - indeed, it has been proposed that the word "ruler" may be more appropriate than "king", as there was at that time no one ruler over all the Frankish people!.

Chlodio (395-448) was a king of the Salian Franks from the Merovingian dynasty!. He was known as a Long-Haired King and lived at a place on the Thuringian border called Dispargum!. From there he invaded the Roman Empire in 428 and settled in Northern Gaul, where already other groups of Salians were settled!. Although he was attacked by Romans he was able to maintain his position and 3 years later in 431 he extended his kingdom down south to the Somme River!. In 448, 20 years after his reign began Chlodio was defeated at an unidentified place called Vicus Helena by Flavius Aetius, the commander of the Roman Army in Gaul!.( Flavius is also "the man universally celebrated as the terror of Barbarians and the support of the Republic" for his victory over Attila the Hun at the Battle of the Catalaunian Plains!. Although it is argued that this battle had no clear victor on the field, the Huns retired from Gaul!.)
Like all Merovingian kings Chlodio had long hair as a ritual custom!. His successor may have been Merovech, after whom the dynasty was named 'Merovingian'!. One legend has it that his father was Pharamond!. The sources on Chlodio's history are Gregory of Tours and Sidonius Apollinaris!.

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See: http://en!.wikipedia!.org/wiki/Pharamond
and: http://www!.american-pictures!.com/genealo!.!.!.

This is one of those questions with no definite answer, as various sources will give differing answers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com