Pepin of Herstal

Pepin of Herstal
Duke and Prince of the Franks Mayor of the Palace
Pepin of Heristal (right) being offered the services of Saint Hubert (left)
Duke and Prince of the Franks
Reign	687 – 714
Coronation	687
Predecessor	Position established
Successor	Charles Martel
Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia
Reign	680 – 714
Coronation	680
Predecessor	Wulfoald
Successor	Theudoald
Mayor of the Palace of Neustria
Reign	687 – 695
Coronation	687
Predecessor	Berthar
Successor	Grimoald
Mayor of the Palace of Burgundy
Reign	687 – 695
Coronation	687
Predecessor	Position reestablished
Successor	Drogo
Born	635
Died	714
Spouse	Plectrude, Alpaida
Issue	Grimoald Drogo Charles Childebrand Others
House	Pippinids
Father	Ansegisel
Mother	Begga

Pepin II (c. 635 – 16 December 714), commonly known as Pepin of Herstal, was a Frankish statesman and military leader who de facto ruled Francia as the Mayor of the Palace from 680 until his death. He took the title Duke and Prince of the Franks upon his conquest of all the Frankish realms.

The son of the powerful Frankish statesman, Ansegisel, Pepin worked to establish his family, the Pippinids, as the strongest in Francia. He was able to realise his dreams by becoming Mayor of the Palace in Austrasia in 680. Pepin subsequently embarked on several wars to expand his power. He united all the Frankish realms by the conquests of Neustria and Burgundy in 687. In foreign conflicts, Pepin increased the power of the Franks by his subjugation of the Alemanni, the Frisians, and the Franconians. He also began the process of evangelisation in Germany.

Pepin's statesmanship was notable for the further diminution of Merovingian royal authority, and for the acceptance of the undisputed right to rule for his family. Therefore, Pepin was able to name as heir his grandson Theudoald. But this was not accepted by his powerful son Charles Martel, leading to a civil war after his death in which the latter emerged victorious.

Pepin, sometimes called Pepin II and Pepin the Middle, was the grandson and namesake of Pepin I the Elder through the marriage of Pepin I's daughter Begga to Ansegisel, son of Arnulf of Metz. He was also the grandfather of Pepin the Short and great-grandfather of Charlemagne. That marriage united the two houses of the Pippinids and the Arnulfings which created what would be called the Carolingian dynasty. Pepin II was probably born in Herstal (Héristal), modern Belgium (where his centre of power lay), whence his byname (sometimes "of Heristal").