younger brother Grifo, who had been imprisoned for rebelling against Carloman. This was likely done with an eye to destabilizing Drogo's government. In opposition to Pippin III, 751–753 By 751 Pippin's position was strong enough to gain papal support for a takeover of the kingdom. Childeric III was deposed and Pippin crowned in his place. Drogo kept up a "spirited resistance" against his uncle until 753. In that year, Pope Stephen II wrote to the Frankish nobles ordering them to support Pippin. He even came to Francia to lend his support. Carloman followed, although for what purpose is not clear. Historian Matthias Becher argues that Carloman was trying to save Drogo's position. He was detained on Pippin's orders, fell ill and died in France in 755. Drogo was captured along with his unnamed younger brother later in 753. The two were tonsured and put in a monastery. Drogo's capture was sufficiently important to be mentioned in three Carolingian annals: the Petavian Annals, Annals of Lorsch and Moselle Annals. In 754, Stephen II anointed Pippin, his wife Bertrada and their sons, Charles and Carloman, declaring that thenceforth none but Pippin's descendants should reign over the Franks. This was made possibly only by the elimination of Pippin's nephews as rivals. It is possible that Drogo later made peace with his uncle and was released. A Drogo is named as a follower (fidelis) of Pippin in a document of 753 and as a count in another of 762. As Collins notes, "later [Carolingian] historiography attempted with considerable success to obscure" Drogo. Modern reconstructions of his career must "rely on a great deal of conjecture." Notes Explanatory footnotes Citations Sources Mayors of the Palace 8th-century Frankish nobility 730s births Year of death unknown