Who protected the Merovingian? Agent Smith?

> > Finally saw the movie yesterday afternoon.
> >
> > > Funny, the only philosophical speech I liked was the Merovingian's (quick question: is his name "Merovingian" or "the Merovingian?" I thought it required the direct article, as so many other programs did [the Oracle, the Architect, the Keymaker, the Twins] but I could be wrong).
> >
> > Didn't the Oracle refer to him by a first and last name, and wasn't it by that same first and last name that the trio asked for him at the restaurant? I'm pretty sure Merovingian was just his last name, and as such, a proper name to refer to him as.
> >
> > > I don't believe it really meant anything, but, I dunno, I liked the character.
>
> The Merovingians were a dynasty of Frankish kings from the fifth to eighth century. This character has assumed a French personality, accent etc, and therefore I would assume he is correctly referred to as "the" Merovingian.