Grimoald the Elder

Grimoald
Mayor of the palace
Born616
Died657
Noble familyPippinids
IssueChildebert the Adopted[1]
Vulfetrude
FatherPepin of Landen
MotherItta of Metz

Grimoald I (616–657), called the Elder (in French, Grimaud l'Ainé), was the mayor of the palace of Austrasia from 643 to his death. He was the son of Pepin of Landen and Itta.[2][3]

Biography

With the death of Pepin in 640, Grimoald became the head of his household, the most powerful in Austrasia. At this time, Radulf, Duke of Thuringia, rebelled against Sigebert III, king of Austrasia. Grimoald participated in the ensuing expedition against the insurrection, but it was a failure. Nevertheless, Grimoald succeeded in saving the life of the king and became his close friend. Then, by removing his rival, Otto, he took over the position which his father once held.[4]

Grimoald convinced the childless Sigebert III to adopt his son, named Childebert at his baptism.[5] Sigebert eventually had an heir, Dagobert II, but upon his Sigebert's death in 656, Grimoald had the young Dagobert exiled to Ireland[6] and put his son on the throne.[7]

Grimoald was eventually captured and executed by the king of Neustria—either Clovis II or his son and successor, Chlothar III.

References

  1. ^ Richard Gerberding, The Rise of the Carolingians and the Liber Historiae Francorum
  2. ^ Christian Settipani, La Préhistoire des Capétiens (Nouvelle histoire généalogique de l'auguste maison de France, vol. 1), 1993 (ISBN 2-9501509-3-4)
  3. ^ Alban Butler's Lives of the saints, edited, revised and supplemented by Thurston and Attwater. Christian Classics, Westminster, Maryland
  4. ^ Bennett, S.A., "Grimoaldus (1)", A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Murray, 1877
  5. ^ Liber Historiæ Francorum 43, MGH SS rer Merov II, page 316.
  6. ^ R. P. Vincent, Histoire fidelle de st Sigisbert: XII roy d'Austrasie et III du nom; avec un abrégé de la vie du roy Dagobert, son fils: le tout tiré des antiquités austrasiennes
  7. ^ Spiritual Kinship As Social Practice: Godparenthood and Adoption in the Early Middle Ages by Bernhard Jussen
Preceded by
Otto
Mayor of the Palace
643–657
Succeeded by
  • v
  • t
  • e
  • Legend: → ≡ "father of",
  • * ≡ "brother of"
Begga, the daughter of Pepin I, married Ansegisel, the son of Arnulf of Metz, and was the mother of Pepin II.
Pippinids
Arnulfings
Drogo, sons
  • Arnulf
  • Hugh of Champagne
  • Godfrey
  • Pepin
Grimoald I, son
Charles Martel, sons
Childebrand I, son
Early
Carolingians
Sons of Charles Martel
Carloman, son
Pepin III, sons
Charlemagne, sons
Carloman, son
  • Pepin
  • Pepin
Bernard, sons
Carolingian
Empire
Sons of Charlemagne
Pepin, son
Louis the Pious,
sons
Lothair I, sons
Pepin I, son
Louis the German,
sons
Charles the Bald,
sons
West
Francia
West Francia was in the hands of the Robertians from 888 until 898. It was the last Carolingian kingdom.
Charles the Simple, sons
Louis IV, sons
Lothair IV, sons
Charles of Lorraine, sons
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National
  • Germany
People
  • Deutsche Biographie