Carloman "the Elder", Mayor of the Palace

Other Events and Attributes:

• Offices Held: Between 741 and 747
• Retired: 747, Abbey of Monte Cassino, Lazio, Italy

Notes:

Offices Held:
Carloman served between 741 and 747 as Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia.

Retired:
In 747, he retired from political life and became a monk at the Monastery, now Abbey of Monte Casino.

Family/Spouse: daughter of Alard. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Rotrude

Other Events and Attributes:

• Miscellaneous: 714
• Military: 732
• Miscellaneous: say 735

Notes:

Miscellaneous:
When Pépin of Heristal died in 714, Charles Martel had to overcome opposition from the family of Pépin's first wife Pletrude. By 718, Charles had triumphed, gaining not only his father's office of Mayor of the Palace, but also his father's fortune. He then vanquished other Frankish leaders to greatly extend his realm. The Merovingian kings Childperic II (reigned 715-721) and Theuderic IV (reigned 721-737) were mere figureheads, and the Mayor of the Palace possessed supreme authority. Following the death of King Theuderic IV in 737, Charles Martel ruled alone as Mayor of the Palace. Although the throne was vacant, Charles did not attempt to claim it.

Military:
Charles' most spectacular victory came in 732 when he triumphed over an invading Islamic army from Spain at the Battle of Poitiers, also called the Battle of Tours, and is regarded as one of the most decisive battles in the history of the world. The fighting began near Tours, France, and ended near Poitiers. Charles was later called Martel, meaning "the Hammer", because of his victory over the Muslims.

Miscellaneous:
In order to maintain his power, Charles had to engage in continual struggles with various princes, both secular and ecclesiastical. Following his victory at Poitiers in 732, he attacked some unruly bishops including Eucherius of Orléans. Because of this, his memory suffered. During the ninth century, his tomb at the abbey of St. Denis is said to had been opened by the abbot, and a hideous dragon supposedly emerged from a blackened, charred and otherwise barren coffin; thus demonstrating Charles Martel's damnation for despoiling the Church of its property. Later historians at St. Denis said he had taken Church lands only temporarily and had intended eventually to reimburse and further enrich the Church.

Charles married Chrotrude. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to death

Notes:

Name:
She was also known as Swanhilde. She was from Bavaria.

History:
She was also known as Swanhilde. She was from Bavaria.

Pépin married Aupais. Aupais was born about 654. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Name:
Aupais was a concubine. She was also known as Elphide (Chalpaida).

She had a sister named Dodo.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Title(s): 632

Notes:

Title(s):
He became the Mayor of the Palace to King Siegbert, son of King Dagobert.

Died:
He was murdered.

Ansgise married Saint Begga of Landen before 639. Begga (daughter of Pépin "the Old", Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia and Saint Itta) was born about 613 in Landen, Flemish Region, Belgium; died about 698 in Andenne, Walloonia, Belgium. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Death: Moriarty (1944) and Sewell give her death date as 694.

Name:
She was also known as Saint Bègue.