Pippinid
Encyclopedia
The Pippinids or Arnulfings are the members of a family of Frankish nobles whose select scions served as Mayor of the Palace
, de facto rulers, of the Frankish kingdoms of Neustria
and Austrasia
that were nominally ruled by the Merovingians.
The dynasty is usually considered to have been founded by Saint Arnulf
, bishop of Metz in the early seventh century, who wielded a great deal of power and influence in the Merovingian kingdoms.
His son Ansegisel
married Saint Begga, the daughter of Pepin of Landen, and their son was Pepin of Heristal. It is from Pepin's grandfathers that the dynasty receives its earlier (pre-Martel) names: Arnulfing or Pippinid
.
The mayoralty of the palace of the kingdom of Austrasia
began in the family with Ansegisel and continued with Pepin of Heristal. Pepin conquered Neustria
at the Battle of Tertry
in 687 and spread Arnulfing authority over all the Franks.
The dynasty effectively ended with the death of Pepin, who was succeeded by his illegitimate son, Charles Martel
. Pepin had legitimate grandsons at his death, but they failed to win power, and the line died out.
Charles Martel went on to found a new line of the family, which historians named the Carolingian
dynasty after Martel.
Mayor of the Palace
Mayor of the Palace was an early medieval title and office, also called majordomo, from the Latin title maior domus , used most notably in the Frankish kingdoms in the 7th and 8th centuries....
, de facto rulers, of the Frankish kingdoms of Neustria
Neustria
The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities...
and Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
that were nominally ruled by the Merovingians.
The dynasty is usually considered to have been founded by Saint Arnulf
Arnulf of Metz
Saint Arnulf of Metz was a Frankish bishop of Metz and advisor to the Merovingian court of Austrasia, who retired to the Abbey of Remiremont....
, bishop of Metz in the early seventh century, who wielded a great deal of power and influence in the Merovingian kingdoms.
His son Ansegisel
Ansegisel
Ansegisel was the son of Saint Arnulf, bishop of Metz and his wife Saint Doda. He served King Sigbert III of Austrasia as a duke and domesticus...
married Saint Begga, the daughter of Pepin of Landen, and their son was Pepin of Heristal. It is from Pepin's grandfathers that the dynasty receives its earlier (pre-Martel) names: Arnulfing or Pippinid
Pippinid
The Pippinids or Arnulfings are the members of a family of Frankish nobles whose select scions served as Mayor of the Palace, de facto rulers, of the Frankish kingdoms of Neustria and Austrasia that were nominally ruled by the Merovingians....
.
The mayoralty of the palace of the kingdom of Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
began in the family with Ansegisel and continued with Pepin of Heristal. Pepin conquered Neustria
Neustria
The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities...
at the Battle of Tertry
Battle of Tertry
The Battle of Tertry was an important engagement in Merovingian Gaul between the forces of Austrasia on one side and those of Neustria and Burgundy on the other. It took place in 687 at Tertry, Somme....
in 687 and spread Arnulfing authority over all the Franks.
The dynasty effectively ended with the death of Pepin, who was succeeded by his illegitimate son, Charles Martel
Charles Martel
Charles Martel , also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military and political leader, who served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings and ruled de facto during an interregnum at the end of his life, using the title Duke and Prince of the Franks. In 739 he was offered the...
. Pepin had legitimate grandsons at his death, but they failed to win power, and the line died out.
Charles Martel went on to found a new line of the family, which historians named the Carolingian
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
dynasty after Martel.