Charles Martel had two sons, Pepin and Carloman. For a time they
ruled together, but Carloman wished to lead a religious life, so he
went to a monastery and became a monk. Then Pepin was sole ruler.
Pepin was quite low in stature, and therefore was called Pepin
the Short. But he had great strength and courage. A story is told
of him, which shows how fearless he was.
One day he went with a few of his nobles to a circus to see a fight
between a lion and a bull. Soon after the fight began, it looked
as though the bull was getting the worst of it. Pepin cried out
to his companions:
"Will one of you separate the beasts?"
But there was no answer. None of them had the courage to make the
attempt. Then Pepin jumped from his seat, rushed into the arena,
and with a thrust of his sword killed the lion.
In the early years of Pepin's rule as mayor of the palace the throne
was occupied by a king named Chil'der-ic III. Like his father and
the other "do-nothing" kings, Childeric cared more for pleasures
and amusements than for affairs of government. Pepin was the real
ruler, and after a while he began to think that he ought to have
the title of king, as he had all the power and did all the work
of governing and defending the kingdom.
So he sent some friends to Rome to consult the Pope. They said to
His Holiness:
"Holy father, who ought to be the king of France--the man who has
the title, or the man who has the power and does all the duties
of king?"
"Certainly," replied the Pope, "the man who has the power and does
the duties."
"Then, surely," said they, "Pepin ought to be the king of the Franks;
for he has all the power."
The Pope gave his consent, and Pepin was crowned king of the Franks;
and thus the reign of Childeric ended and that of Pepin began.
During nearly his whole reign Pepin was engaged in war. Several
times he went to Italy to defend the Pope against the Lombards.
These people occupied certain parts of Italy, including the province
still called Lombardy.
Pepin conquered them and gave as a present to the Pope that part
of their possessions which extended for some distance around Rome.
This was called "Pepin's Donation." It was the beginning of what is
known as the "temporal power" of the Popes, that is, their power
as rulers of part of Italy.
Pepin died in 768.