Pepin "The Short", King of the Franks, aka. Pippin, finally determined to do away altogether with the old line of kings and put himself in their place. Before taking the decisive step, however, he consulted the pope. To Pepin's question whether it was right that the old line of kings should continue to reign when they no longer had any power, the pope replied: "It seems better that he who has the power in the State should be king, and be called king, rather than he who is falsely called king." With this sanction, then (752), the Frankish counts and dukes, in accordance with the old German ceremony, raised Pepin on their shields, he was then anointed king by St. Boniface, the apostle to the Germans, of whom we have spoken, and received the blessing of the pope. It would hardly be necessary to mention this change of dynasty in so short a history as this, were it not that the calling in of the pope brought about a revolution in the ideas of kingship. The Kings of the German tribes had hitherto usually been successful warriors who held their office with the consent of the people, or at least of the nobles. Their election was not a matter that concerned the Church at all. But when, after asking the pope's opinion, Pepin had the holy oil poured on his head, --- in accordance with an ancient religious custom of the Jews, ---- first by Bishop Boniface and later by the pope himself, he seemed to ask the Church to approve his usurpation. As the historian Gibbon puts it, "A German chieftain was transformed into the Lord's anointed." The pope threatened with God's anger any one who should attempt to supplant the consecrated family of Pepin. Pepin "The Short", founded the Carolingian dynasty. Like his father, grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, Pepin served as mayor of the palace in the Merovingian Kingdom in France and Germany. In each case, the mayor was the power behind the throne. In 751, an assembly of the Franks deposed Childric, the last of the weak Merovingian Kings, and proclaimed Pepin King. Pope Stephen II gave his approval. When Pope Stephen II, who ruled Rome, asked Pepin to help against the Lombard King, Pepin sent his army to save Rome. The Lombards had captured Ravenna. Pepin recaptured the city and much of the nearby territory and gave it all to the pope. The gift of the territory, known as "the Donation of Pepin," helped helped build the political power of the pope. Pepin added Aquitaine to his own kingdom and began many important religious and educational reforms. His son, Charlemagne, carried on these reforms. LDS records show a second spouse, Leuthergis, Concubine of the Franks. (AFN 9GCC-4L.)
More About Pepin Le Bref and Bertrada De Laon: Marriage 1: Abt. 7408929, 8930, 8931, 8932 Marriage 2: Abt. 740, unknown.8933, 8934 Marriage 3: Abt. 7708935
Children of Pepin Le Bref and Bertrada De Laon are:
+Charlemagne, b. April 02, 747, Ingelheim, Rheinhessen, Germany8936, 8937, d. January 28, 813/14, AIX LS CHAPELLE8938.
King Of The Franks Pepin Le Bref (b. 714, d. September 24, 768)
Notes for Pepin Le Bref: