In the Merovingian dynasty which had ruled the Franks was overthrown with the consent of the Papacy and the aristocracy, and Pepin the Short , son of Martel, was crowned King of the Franks.
The Carolingian dynasty reached its peak in with the crowning of Charlemagne as the first Emperor of the Romans in the West in over three centuries. His death in began an extended period of fragmentation of the Carolingian Empire and decline that would eventually lead to the evolution of the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire.
The Carolingian dynasty takes its name from Carolus , the Latinised name of multiple Frankish kings including Charlemagne and Charles Martel. The Carolingian line first began with two important rival Frankish families, the Pippinids and Arnulfings , whose destinies became intermingled in the early 7th century.
The first two figures, Pippin I of Landen and Arnulf of Metz , from whom historians have taken the family names, [ 8 ] both first appeared in the fourth book of the Continuations of Fredegar as advisers to Chlotar II of Neustria , who 'incited' revolt against King Theuderic II and Brunhild of Austrasia in As repayment for their help during the Austrasian conquest, Chlotar rewarded both men with important positions of power in Austrasia. However, Arnulf was the first to gain.
He was bestowed the bishopric of Metz in , entrusting him with the management of the Austrasian capital and the education of Chlotar's young son, the future Dagobert I. Pippin was not immediately rewarded, but eventually was given the position of maior palatti or ' mayor of the palace ' of Austrasia in This reward secured Pippin a position of prime importance with the Merovingian royal court.
