The Death of Pepin of Herstal and…
714 CE
The Death of Pepin of Herstal and the Struggle for Succession
On December 16, 714, Pepin of Herstal—also known as Pepin the Middle or Pepin II—dies at Jupille (in modern Belgium), bringing an end to his long and influential rule as Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia, Neustria, and Burgundy. As the de facto ruler of the Franks, Pepin had successfully restored his family's dominance following their unsuccessful attempt in the mid-7th century to claim the kingship outright.
Before his death, under the influence of his wife, Plectrude, Pepin designates his eight-year-old grandson, Theudoald, as his heir. Theudoald is the son of Grimoald, Pepin’s eldest legitimate son, who had predeceased him. However, this decision immediately provokes opposition from the Frankish nobility, who reject the rule of a child over the vast and fractious Frankish realm.
Pepin’s death thus plunges the kingdom into political instability, as rival factions emerge to challenge Plectrude’s regency and Theudoald’s claim—setting the stage for a power struggle that will ultimately lead to the rise of Charles Martel, the future architect of Carolingian dominance.
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