Pepin the Short

Reign: 751 – 768
Life: 715–768

He was the first Carolingian to become king. Pepin's upbringing was distinguished by the ecclesiastical education he had received from the Christian monks of the Abbey Church of St. Pepin ruled in Neustria, Burgundy, and Provence, while his older brother Carloman established himself in Austrasia, Alemannia, and Thuringia. The brothers were active in suppressing revolts led by the Bavarians, Aquitanians, Saxons, and the Alemanni in the early years of their reign. In 743, they ended the Frankish Interregnum by choosing Childeric III, who was to be the last Merovingian monarch, as figurehead King of the Franks. Being well disposed towards the Christian Church and Papacy on account of their ecclesiastical upbringing, Pepin and Carloman continued their father's work in supporting Saint Boniface in reforming the Frankish church and evangelizing the Saxons.

During Pepin the Short's reign, Constantine V ruled Rome, Pope Paul I ruled Papacy, and Emperor Daizong of Tang ruled China.

Further reading: The Carolingians by Rosamond McKitterick

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Pepin the Short

The World During Their Reign

Meanwhile in history

Further Reading

The Carolingians