Mayor of the palace

Under the Merovingian dynasty, the mayor of the palace (maior palatii or maior domus) was the manager of the household of the Frankish king. During the second half of the seventh century, the office evolved into the "power behind the throne". At that time the mayor of the palace held and wielded the real and effective power to make decisions affecting the kingdom, while the kings were increasingly reduced to performing merely ceremonial functions, which made them little more than figureheads (rois fainéants, 'do-nothing kings'). The office may be compared to that of the peshwa, shōgun, sarvadhikari or prime minister, all of which have similarly been the real powers behind some ceremonial monarchs. In 687, after victory over the western kingdom of Neustria, the Austrasian mayor, Pippin of Herstal, took the title Duke of the Franks to signify his augmented rule. His son and successor, Charles Martel, ruled without elevating a new king during the last four years of his reign (737–741). His sons Carloman and Pepin the Younger elevated another Merovingian king, Childeric III, but he was eventually deposed in 751 by Pepin, who was crowned king in his place. See also Royal Administration of Merovingian and Carolingian Dynasties. Mummolin (566) Landric, under Clotaire II Gundoland (613 or 616–639) Aega (639–641), also in Burgundy Erchinoald (641–658) Ebroin (658–673), deposed Wulfoald (673–675), also in Austrasia (662–680) Leudesius (675), chosen but later deposed Ebroin (675–680), again Waratton (680 or 681–682), deposed by his son Gistemar Gistemar (682), usurper his father Waratton Waratton (682–684 or 686), again Berchar (686–688 or 689), murdered in 688 or 689 Nordebert 687-695), under protection of Pippin of Herstal Grimoald II (695–714) Theudoald (714–715), also in Austrasia. Driven out of Neustria by the nobility, surrendered claim in 716.

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Related concepts (11)

Pepin the Short

Pepin the Short (Pépin le Bref; 714 – 24 September 768), was King of the Franks from 751 until his death in 768. He was the first Carolingian to become king. Pepin was the son of the Frankish prince Charles Martel and his wife Rotrude. Pepin's upbringing was distinguished by the ecclesiastical education he had received from the Christian monks of the Abbey Church of St. Denis, near Paris. Succeeding his father as the Mayor of the Palace in 741, Pepin reigned over Francia jointly with his elder brother, Carloman.

Mayor of the palace

Franks

The Franks (Franci or gens Francorum; Francs) were originally a Germanic people who lived near the Lower Rhine, on the northern frontier of the late Roman Empire, but they successfully expanded their power and influence during the Middle Ages, until much of the population of western Europe, particularly in or near France, were commonly described as Franks, for example in the context of their joint efforts during the crusades starting in the 11th century.