The history of the law courts, located on the Île de la Cité, is often intertwined with the city's history. It is also closely linked to the history of the royal family, since the building was the home of the ruling families for a long time. A monarch by divine rights, the king's authority encompassed legislative and executive power but also judiciary authority. Little is known about the history of the law courts building until the Xth century. This is easily explained by the fact that the Merovingian and Carolingian kings and their court did not have a fixed residence. They may have on occasion resided on the Île de la Cité.