Pepin of Herstal

Pepin of Herstal
Duke and Prince of the Franks
Reign687 – 714
SuccessorCharles Martel
Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia
Reign680 – 714
PredecessorWulfoald
SuccessorTheudoald
Mayor of the Palace of Neustria
Reign687 – 695
PredecessorBerchar
SuccessorGrimoald
Mayor of the Palace of Burgundy
Reign687 – 695
PredecessorPosition reestablished
SuccessorDrogo
Born635
Died16 December 714
Jupille, Austrasia
Burial
Basilique Notre-Dame de Chèvremont, Liège
SpousePlectrude
Alpaida (mistress)
IssueGrimoald the Younger
Drogo of Champagne
Charles Martel
Childebrand
HouseArnulfings
Pippinids (maternal)
FatherAnsegisel
MotherBegga
The painting of St Hubert of Liège as he offers his services to Pepin of Heristal

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 became 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 decrease of Merovingian royal authority, and for the acceptance of his family's undisputed right to rule. 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.