During the Middle Ages, Paris became the capital of France. As the decades went by, it even served as the capital of Europe. In the 5^th Century, Attila the Hun threatened the city, causing much grievance. It was Genevieve, a Parisian of humble origin, who convinced the city’s inhabitants not to abandon Paris to the Huns, who eventually by-passed it. This is how she wound up being declared the patron saint of the city.

In 508, the Frankish king Clovis took control of the city. The area he conquered later became the kingdom of France. He settled in Paris, and was baptized in order to facilitate assimilation among his subjects. Clovis was the forerunner of the Merovingian dynasty, which ruled Paris until 751. They were succeeded by the Carolingians. As a matter of fact, all the rulers of this dynasty except for Charlemagne were buried at St. Denis from then on. All of the kings of France were buried there.

The Carolingians’ power was weakened, however, after the Viking and Hungarian invasions in the late 9^th Century. Paris lay on the strategic route toward the wealthy abbeys of Burgundy, which made it a very attractive prospect. Hugh Capet became king of France in 987. His lineage, the Capetians, made Paris the royal seat. The Capetians came to power in 987 AD, and ruled until the middle of the 19^th Century. The country was defended by a number of lords at the local level. The city became the centre of royal power, which helped the kings restore their authority over France.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the court moved from estate to estate. Gradually, a central administration began to develop in Paris. One of its elements was the Parisian royal treasury, established in the city by King Louis VII in 1146. Also, the archives of King Philippe-Auguste were stored in Paris. This king established the central tax administration in Paris, and the city began to attract lawyers, students, and officials.