The Merovingians governed under the remnants of the old Roman administration (the early rulers overlapped the declining years of the [[Roman Empire]]) and established [[Catholic]] Christianity.<ref>The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989</ref> | The Merovingians governed under the remnants of the old Roman administration (the early rulers overlapped the declining years of the [[Roman Empire]]) and established [[Catholic]] Christianity.<ref>The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989</ref> |