King pepin the short biography
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Their half-brother Grifo, son of Charles Martel’s second wife Swanahild, demanded a share of the inheritance.
First Carolingian king
Since Pepin had control over the magnates and actually had the power of the king, he decided it was time to do what his father had never bothered to do, make the Carolingian name royal in law as well as fact.
The Kingdom of the Franks: North-West Europe Before Charlemagne.
Expansion of the Frankish realm
Pepin added to his power after Pope Stephen II traveled all the way to Paris to anoint him in a lavish ceremony at Saint Denis Basilica, bestowing upon him the additional title of patricius Romanorum (Patrician of the Romans).
Pepin the Short: The First Carolingian King
In every historical era, there are individuals who leave a significant impact. 696 or 697)
Incidentally, King Pepin was not actually short, despite his famous nickname.
In 753, Pope Stephen II directed Pepin to confront Lombard King Aistulf, who was threatening Rome and would soon pose a challenge to the Frankish state. As a deeply religious ruler, Pepin called several church councils and promoted religious reform throughout his kingdom.
Personal Life and Character
Despite his moniker “the Short,” which alluded to his small stature, Pepin was renowned for his exceptional strength and courage.
While not known as a great general, he went undefeated militarily during his lifetime. While Pepin focused on maintaining Frankish overlordship and extracting tribute, Charlemagne would later escalate the conflict to include forced conversion to Christianity.
Throughout his reign, Pepin’s military actions against the Saxons were part of a larger pattern of expansion and consolidation of Frankish power.
He succeeded in expelling the Saracens from Narbonne in 759. His father was Charles Martel, mayor of the palace and duke of the Franks, and his mother was Chrotrud. The epithet “the Short” is likely a misinterpretation of linguistic and historical nuances. The French term “Pippin le Bref” is more accurately translated as “Pepin the Brief” rather than “the Short”, possibly meaning ‘Young Peppin’, or the ‘Short-tempered’ or ‘Of few words’.
Early Life and Rise to Power
Pepin received a distinguished ecclesiastical education from Christian monks at the Abbey Church of St.
Denis, near Paris. 714)
- Charles Martel (686–741)
- Carloman (d. He successfully transitioned the Frankish realm from the declining Merovingian dynasty to the vibrant and powerful Carolingian line. An exception might occur if someone ascends to the throne at an unusually young age.
Pepin became Mayor of the Palace in Neustria, Burgundy, and Provence, while Carloman ruled Austrasia, Alemannia, and Thuringia.
The brothers faced immediate challenges to their authority. This move was intended to provide a sense of continuity and legitimacy to their governance.
Sole Rule and Path to Kingship
A significant turning point came in 747 when Carloman, after years of contemplation, decided to retire to a monastery in Montecassino, Italy.
Pepin and his older brother, Carloman, were education by the monks of St. Denis.
This prompted Pepin to return and once again subdue the Lombards.