Mayor of the Palace

Mayor of the Palace

An early medieval title and office, also known by the Latin name, majordomo. With the weakening of royal power in Austrasia, the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Franks, the office of Mayor of the Palace developed into the real power in the Frankish kingdoms in the 8th century, although the Merovingian dynasty was formally still holding the king's seat.

The office finally became hereditary in the family of the Carolingians. After Austrasia and Neustria were reunited to form a joint Frankish kingdom, it allowed Pippin III, mayor since 747, to take the crown of the German King from the Merovingians in 751, establishing the line of Carolingian kings. His son Charlemagne, to be crowned Emperor in 800, would then become one of the most prominent figures in French and German history.

Franks (main article on Frankish kingdoms)

List of Frankish Kings (includes list of Mayors)

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