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OF HERISTAL Pepin
Birth: ABT 635
Death: 16 Dec 714 Jupile on the Meuse
Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepin_of_Herstal
Pepin II (c. 635 – 16 December 714), commonly known as Pepin of Herstal, was a
Frankish statesman and military leader who de facto ruled Francia as the Mayor of the
Palace from 680 until his death. He took the title Duke and Prince of the Franks upon
his conquest of all the Frankish realms.
The son of the powerful Frankish statesman, Ansegisel, Pepin worked to establish his
family, the Pippinids, as the strongest in Francia. He was able to realise his dreams by
becoming Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia in 680. Pepin subsequently embarked on
several wars to expand his power. He united all the Frankish realms by the conquests
of Neustria and Burgundy in 687. In foreign conflicts, Pepin increased the power of
the Franks by his subjugation of the Alemanni, the Frisians, and the Franconians. He
also began the process of evangelisation in Germany.
Pepin's statesmanship was notable for the further diminution of Merovingian royal
authority, and for the acceptance of the undisputed right to rule for his family.
Therefore, Pepin was able to name as heir his grandson Theudoald. But this was not
accepted by his powerful son Charles Martel, leading to a civil war after his death in
which the latter emerged victorious.
Pepin, sometimes called Pepin II and Pepin the Middle, was the grandson and
namesake of Pepin I the Elder through the marriage of Pepin I's daughter Begga to
Ansegisel, son of Arnulf of Metz. He was also the grandfather of Pepin the Short and
great-grandfather of Charlemagne. That marriage united the two houses of the
Pippinids and the Arnulfings which created what would be called the Carolingian
dynasty. Pepin II was probably born in Herstal (Héristal), modern Belgium (where his
centre of power lay), whence his byname (sometimes "of Heristal").
Just before Pepin's death, Plectrude convinced him to disinherit the sons he had with
his second wife Alpaida in favour of his grandson, Theudoald (the son of Pepin and
Plectrude's son Grimoald), who was still a young child (and amenable to Plectrude's
control). Pepin died suddenly at an old age on 16 December 714, at Jupille (in modern
Belgium). His grandchildren through Plectrude claimed themselves to be Pepin's true
successors and, with the help of Plectrude, tried to maintain the position of mayor of
the palace after Pepin's death. However, Charles (son of Pepin and Alpaida) had
gained favour among the Austrasians, primarily for his military prowess and ability to
keep them well supplied with booty from his conquests. Despite the efforts of
Plectrude to silence her child's rival by imprisoning him, he became the sole mayor of
the palace—and de facto ruler of Francia—after a civil war which lasted for more than
three years after Pepin's death.
Parents
____ Ansguise (Ansegisel) ( 602 - 685)
____ Begga (Begue) "Saint" ( 615 - 17 Dec 693)
Siblings
OF HERISTAL Pepin (ABT 635 - 16 Dec 714)
OF LAON Martin (ABT 645 - )
____ Chlotilde (ABT 650 - )
Marriage To ____ Alpaide (Aupais) (ABT 654 - ABT 715)
m. concubine
Notes
Children by ____ Alpaide (Aupais) ABT 654 - ABT 715
MARTEL Charles (Karl) "the Hammer" ( 689 - 22 Nov 741)
____ Childebrande I ( 691 - 751)
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