Pbepin "The Short" (King Of France ) ⁸⁵

  General Notes:

At the time of Charles' birth, his father, Pepin the Short <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11662b.htm>, Mayor of the Palace, of the line of Arnulf, was, theoretically, only the first subject of Childeric III, the last Merovinigian King of the Franks <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06238a.htm>; but this modest title implied that real power, military, civil, and even ecclesiastical, of which Childeric's crown was only the symbol. It is not certain that Bertrada (or Bertha), the mother of Charlemagne, a daughter of Charibert, Count of Laon, was legally married to Pepin <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11662b.htm> until some years later than either 742 or 745.


Pepin
Martel's son was named Pepin and he succeeded Charles as Mayor of the Palace. Later in his rule, the reigning Merovingian king being an incompetent drunkard, Pepin sent a letter to the Pope asking for his support in deposing the king. The pope gave his approval. Pepin was crowned king of the Franks by St. Boniface.
Pepin united Gaul under his rule, for under the later Merovingians large sections had become largely independent. Pepin had two sons: Carolus and Carloman. When he died in 768, Pepin divided the kingdom between the two, giving the larger portion to Carloman even though Carolus (Charles) was the older.
The two brothers fought repeatedly, for Charles could not abide Carloman receiving the better inheritance. Fortunately for Charles and for the kingdom, Carloman died in 771, leaving Charles the sole claimant to the title of King of the Franks.

Pbepin married Countess Of Laon Bertha (Bertrada). (Countess Of Laon Bertha (Bertrada) was born about 720 in Laon, Austrasia and died on 12 Jul 783 in Choisy, Bourgogne.)