Paris under the first Carolingians (751-987 AD): The dynasty which replaced the Merovingians after 751 had their origins in the Rhine area. Paris thus became just one of many towns when the centre of power moved towards the East (Metz or Aix-la-Chapelle). But the Carolingians decided to be buried at St Denis, with the exception of Charlemagne. From then on, kings of France were buried in the same place, in the basilica of St Denis in the North of Paris. The first Capetians (987-1500 AD): At the end of the ninth century a second wave of invaders (Vikings and Hungarians) weakened the power of the Carolingians. Paris could not count on them to battle against the numerous Viking raids. Five times the Vikings attacked the city because of its strategic position. Paris commanded the route towards the rich abbeys of Burgundy. In 885AD seven hundred Drakkars attacked Paris. Eudes, Count of Paris, found renown in defending the city. Tired of the weakness of the last Carolingians (the last is Charles VI le Gros see ALBUM), the nobles of the kingdom of France elected Eudes, who became king of western France (more or less the France of today). In 987 the great grandson of Eudes, Hugh Capet, became King of France. He founded the Capetian dynasty, which went on to reign until Louis-Philippe, last king of France, who abdicated in 1848.