Pippinids, Arnulfings and Agilolfings: the creation of a dynasty
Rosamond McKitterick
Charlemagne's forebears, the Pippinids, rather than Merovingian kings, dominate court-associated history, family histories and local annals alike in later seventh eighth centuries. great grandfather grandfather, Pippin II Charles Martel, served as mayors of royal palace were descended from union between Ansegisel, son Arnulf, bishop Metz, Begga, daughter I (hence Pippinids) (see Table 1). Thus courtassociated narrative Annales regni francorum, discussed preceding chapter, begins 741 with death grandfather. Einhard, we have seen, opened his Vita Karoli taking kingship by III, notorious portrait last king who merely sat on throne played at being a ruler. In this way, Einhard heightened contrast strong Pippinids feeble dynasty kings that III replaced. Even Liber historiae completed c. 727 usually classified non-Carolingian source, concedes much its space chapters work to Pippinid mayors, concludes initial triumph Martel over Ragamfred, Neustrian mayor palace, King Chilperic. Carolingian scribes, moreover, such person responsible for Frankish history book now Paris, BnF lat. 10911, contrived clever juxtapositioning present francorum perspective. This codex also incorporated sections Continuations Fredegar's Chronicle, is, partial (in both senses) record triumphant careers II, sons written under auspices Martel's half-brother Childebrand Childebrand's Nibelung.
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