The Coronation of Pippin the Short (751): The Birth of the Carolingian Dynasty

The day the Frankish kingdom changed hands and history.

Introduction: A Dynasty in Transition

In 751 AD, a momentous event occurred that would change the course of European history: Pippin the Short was crowned King of the Franks, marking the end of the Merovingian dynasty and the beginning of the Carolingian dynasty. This transition was not just a change of royal families; it represented a fundamental shift in how kings were made and how power was legitimized in medieval Europe.

Pippin’s coronation was orchestrated by the Pope, setting a precedent for papal involvement in secular politics that would shape the relationship between church and state for centuries to come.

Historical Context: The Decline of the Merovingians

The Merovingian Dynasty (481-751)

The Merovingians were the first royal dynasty of the Franks:

• Founded by Clovis I (466-511), who converted to Christianity
• Ruled Gaul (modern France) and parts of Germany
• Powerful early rulers: Clovis, Childebert I, Dagobert I
• Weak later rulers: Known as the “do-nothing kings” (roi fainéants)

The Rise of the Mayors of the Palace

By the 7th century, the Merovingian kings had become figureheads:

• Real power was held by the Mayors of the Palace (major domus)
• The Mayor was the chief advisor and administrator
• Controlled the army, treasury, and government

The Carolingian family (named after Charles Martel) rose to prominence:

• Arnulf of Metz: Bishop and advisor to the Merovingian kings
• Pippin of Herstal: Son of Arnulf, powerful Mayor of the Palace
• Charles Martel: Son of Pippin of Herstal, “The Hammer” who defeated the Muslims at Tours (732)
• Carloman and Pippin the Short: Sons of Charles Martel, co-Mayors of the Palace

The Power Vacuum

In 741, Charles Martel died, leaving power to his two sons:

• Carloman: Ruled Austrasia (eastern Frankish kingdom)
• Pippin the Short: Ruled Neustria (western Frankish kingdom)

Childebert III (the Merovingian king) died in 743, leaving the throne to his son Childric III.

The question: Who would really rule the Frankish kingdom?

Pippin’s Path to Power

The Mayor Becomes King

Pippin the Short (c. 714-768) was:

• Son of Charles Martel, the savior of Christendom
• Mayor of the Palace of Neustria
• Married to Bertrada of Laon, connecting him to other powerful families

The Religious Question

In 749, Pippin sent Bishop Burghard to Pope Zachary with a question:

“Is it better for the king to have royal power, or for the Mayor of the Palace to have it?”

Pope Zachary’s response (750):

“The one who actually holds the power should be called king, not the one who merely bears the title.”

This papal approval gave Pippin the religious justification he needed to seize the throne.

The Deposition of Childric III

In 751, Pippin took action:

1. Assembled the Frankish nobles at Soissons
2. Asked for their support to become king
3. Childric III was deposed and sent to a monastery
4. Pippin was elected king by the Frankish nobles

The Coronation Ceremony

November 751: Pippin was anointed and crowned King of the Franks:

• Location: Soissons (or possibly Reims) - exact location debated
• Who crowned him: Likely Saint Boniface, the apostle of the Germans
• Symbolism: The anointing with holy oil gave his kingship divine sanction
• Papal approval: Pope Zachary ratified the coronation

The Significance of Pippin’s Coronation

The End of the Merovingians

Pippin’s coronation officially ended the Merovingian dynasty after 270 years of rule:

• Last Merovingian king: Childric III (deposed in 751)
• First Carolingian king: Pippin the Short
• New dynasty: The Carolingians would rule for over 200 years

The Birth of the Carolingian Dynasty

The Carolingian dynasty produced some of Europe’s most important rulers:

• Pippin the Short (751-768): The founder
• Charlemagne (768-814): “Father of Europe”, first Holy Roman Emperor
• Louis the Pious (814-840): Charlemagne’s son
• Charles the Bald (843-877): Last Carolingian emperor

The Precedent for Papal Approval

Pippin’s coronation established three important precedents:

1. Papal Approval of Kings:

   • For the first time, a pope had sanctioned the deposition of one king and the elevation of another
   • This gave the papacy political power in secular affairs
   • Future kings would seek papal approval

2. Anointing as Sacred:

   • The anointing with holy oil made kingship a sacred office
   • Kings were now seen as chosen by God
   • This idea would shape European monarchy for centuries

3. The Donation of Pepin (754-756):

   • In return for papal support, Pippin donated lands to the Pope
   • Created the Papal States (the basis for the Vatican’s temporal power)
   • Strengthened the alliance between the Franks and the papacy

Pippin’s Reign: Consolidating Power

Securing the Frankish Kingdom

Pippin’s reign (751-768) was marked by military campaigns to consolidate power:

1. Against the Lombards (754-756):

   • Invaded Italy twice at the Pope’s request
   • Defeated the Lombards and forced them to return conquered territories
   • Donation of Pepin: Granted the Papal States to Pope Stephen II

2. Against the Saxons:

   • Fought campaigns in Saxony (Germany)
   • Established Frankish control over the region

3. Against the Aquitanians:

   • Subdued the duchy of Aquitaine in southern France
   • Expanded Frankish territory

Religious Reforms

Pippin worked closely with the Church to:

• Strengthen Christianity in the Frankish kingdom
• Support missionary work (especially by Saint Boniface)
• Reform the clergy and monastic life

Administrative Reforms

• Appointed counts (comites) to govern regions
• Held regular assemblies of nobles
• Promoted the use of written records

Pippin’s Legacy

The Foundation for Charlemagne

Pippin’s greatest legacy was his son Charlemagne (742-814):

• Succeeded Pippin in 768 (initially co-ruled with his brother Carloman)
• Expanded the Frankish kingdom into a vast empire
• Crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 by Pope Leo III
• Revived learning and culture (Carolingian Renaissance)

The Carolingian Empire

Pippin’s dynasty would create the largest empire in Western Europe since the fall of Rome:

• At its height under Charlemagne: Covered France, Germany, Italy, and parts of Spain
• Centralized administration
• Cultural revival (Carolingian minuscule, illuminated manuscripts)
• Christianization of pagan regions

The Papal-Frankish Alliance

The alliance between the Franks and the papacy that began with Pippin would:

• Shape European politics for centuries
• Lead to the Holy Roman Empire
• Create a Christian Europe united under papal authority

Why Was Pippin’s Coronation So Important?

Political Importance

1. Legitimized a New Dynasty:

   • Ended the Merovingians and started the Carolingians
   • Prevented civil wars by establishing clear succession

2. Centralized Power:

   • Mayors of the Palace became obsolete
   • Royal authority was strengthened

3. Expanded Frankish Territory:

   • Conquered new lands in Italy, Germany, and France
   • Laid the foundation for Charlemagne’s empire

Religious Importance

1. Papal-Political Alliance:

   • Pope gained secular power (Papal States)
   • Church gained a powerful protector (Frankish kings)

2. Sacral Kingship:

   • Kingship became sacred through anointing
   • Divine right of kings concept emerged

3. Christianization:

   • Spread Christianity to pagan regions
   • Strengthened the Church in Western Europe

Historical Importance

1. Shaped Medieval Europe:

   • Created the model for medieval kingship
   • Established the precedent for papal involvement in politics

2. Preserved Western Civilization:

   • Defended against Muslim expansion
   • Maintained Christian Europe

3. Laid the Foundation for Modern Europe:

   • Carolingian Empire was the predecessor of France and Germany
   • Carolingian Renaissance preserved classical learning

Key Figures

Chronology

Sources and Further Reading

Primary Sources

• Einhard, Vita Karoli Magni (Life of Charlemagne) - Written during Charlemagne’s reign
• Fredegar Continuations - Chronicle of the Frankish kingdoms
• Liber Pontificalis - Book of Popes, records papal actions

Modern Sources

• Pierre Riché, The Carolingians: A Family Who Forged Europe (1983)
• Rosamond McKitterick, The Frankish Kings and Culture in the Early Middle Ages (1983)
• Matthew Innes, Introduction to the Early Middle Ages (2007)
• Timothy Reuter, Germany in the Early Middle Ages, 800-1056 (1991)

Online Resources

• Wikipedia: Pippin the Short
• Wikipedia: Carolingian Dynasty
• Livius.org: Pippin the Short
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Pippin the Short

“Pippin’s coronation was not just the beginning of a new dynasty, but the birth of a new Europe, where church and state would be forever intertwined.” — Historical Analysis