The first of the great Carolingian Mayors of the Palace of Austrasia.Pep
in established himself as mayor of the palace in Austrasia after the dea
th of Dagobert II in 679 and offended its autonomy against Theodoric I
II of Neustria and Ebroïn, Theodoric's mayor of the palace. offeated by Eb
roïn in 680 at Lucofao (near Laon), Pepin gained his revenge on the Neustr
ians in 687 at the Battle of Tertry (near Péronne) and became sole effecti
ve ruler of the Franks, uniting Neustria and Austrasia under his own "pupp
et" Merovingian king - retaining Theodoric III on the throne and after h
is death replaced him with three successive Merovingian kings. But the pow
er struggles in northern Gaul seriously weakened the power of the meroving
ians and their mayors. After several years of warfare Pepin offeated the F
risians on his northeastern border (689) and married his son Grimoald to T
heodelind, daughter of the Frisian chief Radbod. He also forced the Aleman
ni to recognize Frankish authority again and encouraged Christian missiona
ries in Alemannia and Bavaria. .
byname PEPIN OF HERSTAL, French PÉPIN D'HÉRISTAL, ruler of the Franks (687
-714), the first of the great Carolingian mayors of the palace.
The son of Begga and Ansegisel, who were, respectively, the daughter of Pe
pin I and the son of Bishop Arnulf of Metz, Pepin established himself as m
ayor of the palace in Austrasia after the death of Dagobert II in 679 a
nd defended its autonomy against Theodoric III of Neustria and Ebron, Theo
doric's mayor of the palace. Defeated by Ebron in 680 at Lucofao (near Lao
n), Pepin gained his revenge on the Neustrians in 687 at Tertry (near Péro
nne) and became sole effective ruler of the Franks. He nevertheless retain
ed Theodoric III on the throne and after his death replaced him with thr
ee successive Merovingian kings. After several years of warfare Pepin defe
ated the Frisians on his northeastern border (689) and married his son Gri
moald to Theodelind, daughter of the Frisian chief Radbod. He also forc
ed the Alemanni to recognize Frankish authority again and encouraged Chris
tian missionaries in Alemannia and Bavaria. Charles Martel was his son.
Event: Election Bet. 687 - 714 Metz
Event: Ruled Unknown Bet. 687 - 714 France
Event: Ruled Unknown Bet. 687 - 714
Event: Descendant of Unknown Frankish Kingdom
Pepin of Heristal became Mayor of the Kingdom of Austrasia and Neustria
between 687-714, succeeding his father Ansegisal l. Pepin II's son was
Charles Martel, known as the Hammer, who succeeded him in 714. Pepil
ll 'Heristal aka Pepin II, was mayor of the palace of the Frankish Kingdom
through four of the do-nothing Meerwing Kings (Theodoric III; Chilperic
II; Clovis III; and Childebert III.) Pepin II was a brave leader of the
Franks, fighting hard with their heathen (unChristian) neighbors on the
other side of the Rhine; and the Saxons and Thuringians. Pepin II died
in 714.
Pepin II aka Pepin L'Heuristal, grandson of Pepin I, ruled the Kingdom of
France as Mayor of the Palace between 687 and 714. He was succeeded by h
is son, Charles Martel.