Mayor Pepin II of Herstal Carolingian

  General Notes:

Born: 640
Unmarried: Elphide (Chalpaida)
Died: 16 Dec 714, Jüpille at age 74
General Notes:
Pepin of Herstal (635?-714), Carolingian mayor of the palace, who reunited the Frankish realms in the late Merovingian period. A grandson of Pepin the Elder, he succeeded to his position in the kingdom of Austrasia around 680. In 687 he extended Carolingian rule to the other Frankish kingdoms, Neustria and Bourgogne, but retained members of the Merovingian dynasty as figurehead monarchs in all three. Two years later he extended his control over the Frisians, a pagan people living on the North Sea coast. Pepin's death was followed by a civil war and the succession of his illegitimate son Charles Martel.
Noted events in his life were:
• Acceded: Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia, 680.
Pepin had a relationship with Elphide (Chalpaida).


Biography*: Pepin II, byname PEPIN OF HERSTAL, French PÉPIN D'HÉRISTAL (d. Dec. 16, 714, Jupille, near Liège [now in Belgium]), 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 Pepin I and the son of Bishop Arnulf of Metz, Pepin established himself as mayor of the palace in Austrasia after the death of Dagobert II in 679 and defended its autonomy against Theodoric III of Neustria and Ebroïn, Theodoric's mayor of the palace. Defeated by Ebroïn in 680 at Lucofao (near Laon), Pepin gained his revenge on the Neustrians in 687 at Tertry (near Péronne) and became sole effective ruler of the Franks. He nevertheless retained Theodoric III on the throne and after his death replaced him with three successive Merovingian kings. After several years of warfare Pepin defeated the Frisians on his northeastern border (689) and married his son Grimoald to Theodelind, daughter of the Frisian chief Radbod. He also forced the Alemanni to recognize Frankish authority again and encouraged Christian missionaries in Alemannia and Bavaria. Charles Martel was his son. Source: "Pepin II" Britannica Online. [Accessed 10 February 1998].

Pepin married Elphide (Chalpaida). (Elphide (Chalpaida) was born about 654 in Heristal, Leige, Belgium and died in Orplegrandmonast, Brabant, Vosges, France.)