As early as the 5th century, the Merovingian nobles were buried near St. Denis’s tomb. In the 7th century, King Dagobert I was buried in the abbey church, as was Pépin le Bref, the first Carolingian king, a century later. However, it was not until the accession to the throne of the Capetians and especially the reign of Louis IX that Saint-Denis became a royal necropolis. By having the graves of the kings buried in Saint-Denis searched, Louis IX asserted his legitimacy. He had 16 recumbents sculpted, 14 of which have survived. After him, the tradition continued and 70 recumbents and tombs rest in the cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis.