I
After the death of Mohammed the Saracens, as Mohammedans are also
called, became great warriors. They conquered many countries and
established the Mohammedan religion in them. In 711 the Saracens
invaded and conquered a great part of Spain and founded a powerful
kingdom there, which lasted about seven hundred years.
They intended to conquer the land of the Franks next, and then all
Europe.
They thought it would be easy to conquer the Franks, because the
Frankish king at that time was a very weak man. He was one of a
number of kings who were called the "Do-nothings." They reigned
from about 638 to 751. They spent all their time in amusements
and pleasures, leaving the affairs of the government to be managed
by persons called _mayors of the palace_.
The mayors of the palace were officers who at first managed the
king's household. Afterwards they were made guardians of kings
who came to the throne when very young. So long as the king was
under age the mayor of the palace acted as chief officer of the
government in his name. And as several of the young kings, even
when they were old enough to rule, gave less attention to business
than to pleasure, the mayors continued to do all the business,
until at last they did everything that the king ought to have done.
They made war, led armies in battle, raised money and spent it,
and carried on the government as they pleased, without consulting
the king.
The "Do-nothings" had the title of king, but nothing more. In fact,
they did not desire to have any business to do. The things they
cared for were dogs, horses and sport.
One of the most famous of the mayors was a man named Pep'in. Once
a year, it is said, Pepin had the king dressed in his finest clothes
and paraded through the city of Paris, where the court was held.
A splendid throng of nobles and courtiers accompanied the king,
and did him honor as he went along the streets in a gilded chariot
drawn by a long line of beautiful horses. The king was cheered by
the people, and he acknowledged their greetings most graciously.
After the parade the king was escorted to the great hall of the
palace, which was filled with nobles. Seated on a magnificent throne,
he saluted the assemblage and made a short speech. The speech was
prepared beforehand by Pepin, and committed to memory by the king.
At the close of the ceremony the royal "nobody" retired to his
country house and was not heard of again for a year.