Forty-first Generation  

General Notes: Ruler of the Franks. Victor over the Saracens at Tours in 732.

Charles Martel was the Carolingian ruler of the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia (in present northeastern France and southwestern Germany). Charles, whose surname (Martel) means "the hammer", was the grandfather of Charlemagne. When his father, Pepin, died in 714, Charles was imprisoned by his father's widow, but he escaped in 715 and was proclaimed mayor of the palace by the Austrasians. A war between Austrasia and the Frankish kingdom of Neustria (now part of France) followed, and at the end of it Charles became the undisputed ruler of all the Franks. Although he was engaged in wars against the Alamanni, Bavarians, and Saxons, his greatest achievements were against the Muslims from Spain, who invaded France in 732. Charles defeated them near Poitiers in a great battle in which the Muslim leader, Abd-ar-Rahman, the emir of Spain, was killed. The progress of Islam, which had filled all Christendom with alarm, was thus checked for a time*. Charles drove the Muslims out of the Rhone valley in 739, when they had again advanced into France as far as Lyon, leaving them nothing of their possessions north of the Pyrenees beyond the Aude River. When Charles died, he left the kingdom divided between his 2 sons, Carloman and Pepin the Short. (Internet)

*He was the man who fought the Moslems to a standstill at the battle of Tours in 732 and saved France from Arab conquest. (Ancient and Medieval History, by Carlton Hayes and Parker Moon; 1929)

After the death of his father there was a period of anarchy. His nephews, grandchildren of Plectrude, were proclaimed rulers and Charles was thrown into prison. Austrasia (eastern portion of France) and Neustria (western France) were still separate. He escaped and defeated the Neustrians at Ambleve in 716 and at Vincy the following year. He also took the title of mayor of the palace of Austrasia, thus uniting the northern part of the country. In 719 he forced Duke Odo of Aquitaine to recognize his suzerainty. He also became renowned for his victories over the Moors. They had conquered Spain in 711 and later crossed the Pyrenees and advanced on Gaul as far as Tours. His brilliant victory, in Oct 732, over the Moors ended the last of the Arab invasion and led to his being called Martel (the Hammer). He then took the offensive against them in southern France. His victories over the Germans resulted in the annexation of Frisia, the end of the duchy of Bavaria, intervention in Bavaria and the payment of tribute by the Saxons. Pope Gregory III attempted to gain his aid against the Lombards but was unsuccessful. For a few years before his death there was no king of the Merovingian line, and in 741 he divided the kingdom between his two sons as though he were master of the realm.
Alt Birth: 635 Heristal, Austrasia
Alt Birth Notes: 26. Charles Martel, the Hammer, born in 689, Mayor of the Palace, King of France, was still famous, because, in the decisive battle of Tours in 732, he utterly routed the Moors who had conquered Spain and the south of France. He fought King Chilperic II., the Merovingian King. He died in 741. He married (1) Rotrude (Rotrudis), who died in 724.
Alt Death: 16 Dec 714 Junille, France
The illegitimate son of Pepin II, the Younger. Was Mayor of the Palace and
Duke of Austrasia under Clotaire IV. he repeleld invasions of France by
the Frisians and Saxons and defeated the Moors at the Battle of Tours in
732 saving Europe from Islam. He supported St. Boniface and other
missionaries in Germany. At the end of his rule, he confiscated church
lands.

Noted events in his life were:

1. Fact 1: "Savior Of Christiandom". Bastard. Succeded His Father Via Winning A Civil War.

2. Fact 2: Mayor Of The Palace & Chief Minister To The Merovingian King Of The Franks.

3. Fact 3: 732, Halted The Advance Of The Moors At Poitiers/Tours & Drove Them Back To Iberia.

4. Fact 4: Provided Army For Boniface To Convert The Saxons In Germany.

5. Fact 5: Advanced Christiandom Eastward To The Elbe River.

6. Fact 6: Leader Of The Tall Frankish Swordsmen. "Savior Of The West".

7. Fact 7: The Defeat Of The Saracens At Tours In 732 Saved Europe.

8. Fact 8: Buried: Monastery, St Denis, Seine, France.

9. Fact 9: Ruled The Merovingian Franks From A.D. 719 To 741.

10. Fact 10: Used Only The Title Of Mayor Of The Palace, But Had The Power Of A King.

11. Fact 11: For Repeatedly Attacking The Moslems He Recd The Title Of Martel, Meaning Hammer.

12. Fact 12: Built An Army Of Mounted Men By Seizing Church Estates.

13. Fact 13: Supported Saint Boniface In His Reform Of The Frankish Church.

Charles married Chrotrudis (Rotrou/Rotrude) De Alemania Dss Of Austrasia [Duchesaustrasia about 713.

Children from this marriage were:

                i.  Jerome Of The Franks ()
               ii.  Carloman Prince Of Franks Mayor Of The Palace (born in 713 Austrasia, France - died on 4 Dec 755 in Cassini Monastery)
              iii.  Auda Martel ()
               iv.  Bernard Duke Of Franks [Duke] (born about 730 - died about 784)
549755814400       v.  Pepin (Pippin) III "The Short", King Of The Franks King Of Franks Duke Of Austrasia (born in 714 Austrasia - died on 24 Sep 768 in St. Denis, Paris, Seine, France)
               vi.  Childtrude (Hiltrude) , Duchess Of Bavaria (born about 716 Austrasia, France - died about 754)
              vii.  Landree ()
             viii.  Aude/Aldana (died before 805)
               ix.  Childebrand I De Perracy (died in 751)

Charles next married Sonichilde (Sunihilde) (Swanhilde) Of Nanks [Duchess]. Sonichilde was born in 691.

Noted events in her life were:

1. Fact 1: She Was A Bavarian.

Children from this marriage were:

                i.  Grifo Of Austrasia (died)
               ii.  Chiltrud Of Austrasia (died)

Charles next married Galiana Of The Saracens. Galiana was born in 712 in Austrasia and died.

Charles next married Sonichilde Bavaria Of, daughter of Grimaldo II Bavaria and Unknown.

General Notes: Frist married Rotrou of Treves, daughter of Leutwinus, St Lievin, Bishop of Treves, who was the son of Cout Warimus and wife Kunga, sister of Bogin, Bishop of Treves.

Noted events in her life were:

1. Fact 1: Aka Rotrou.

Chrotrudis married Charles "Martel" Of The Franks Martel [Mayor Of The Palace] about 713.

Charibert married Bertrada, Countess Of Laon Princess Of in 719.

Children from this marriage were:

549755814401       i.  Bertrada (Bertha) II "Broadfoot" , Countess De Laon [Queen Of Franks (born about 720 Laon, Aisne, France - died on 12 Jul 783 in Choisy, Haute-Savoie, France)
               ii.  Daughter Of De Laon (born wFT Est 728-757 - died wFT Est 780-843)

Bertrada, married Charibert I (Cambert) , Count Of Laon Count Of Laon in 719.

Gerold married (name unknown).

Children from this marriage were:

549755814402       i.  Gerold I (Childebrand) Duke Of Swabia [Duke Of Swabia] (born in 710 Aachen, Rhineland, Prussia - died after 779)

General Notes: Alt Name: Hnabi Duc De Allemania
Alt Birth: 0709-0724
Alt Birth: Abt 708

Noted events in his life were:

1. Fact 1: Duke Of Allemania And Count In The Linzgau, 709, 720, 724.

Nebi/Hnabi married (name unknown).

Children from this marriage were:

549755814403       i.  Duchess Of Swabia Imma Of (born about 730 Of, Swabia (Germany) - died in 798)

General Notes: Pepin was Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia during the reign of Childeric III (743-752; the last of the Merovingian dynasty), and king of the Franks. In 751, Pepin deposed Childeric and thus became the first King of the Carolingian dynasty. He was crowned by Pope Stephen II (III) in 754. When the pope was threatened by the Lombards of northern Italy, Pepin led an army that defeated them (754-755). He ceded to the pope territory that included Ravenna and other cities. This grant, called the Donation of Pepin, laid the foundation for the Papal States. Pepin enlarged his own kingdom by capturing Aquitaine, or Aquitania, in southwestern France. He was succeeded by his sons Carloman and Charlemagne as joint kings. (Internet)

He succeeded his father in Neustria, the western part of the kingdom, while his brother, Carloman, held the eastern part. They both kept the time of mayor of the palace, and were the actual rulers of the country. They appointed Childeric III, probably a Merovingian, as king, but presided over tribunals, convoked councils of the church, and made war themselves. Carloman abdicated and retired to a monastery in 747. Pepin was thus sole master of both Austrasia and Neustria, and after consulting Pope Zacharias took the title of king. He was crowned by St. Boniface in 751 and later was recrowned by Pope Stephen II, who also made him a Patrician of Rome. In return for these favors Pepin made two expeditions against the Lombards. He took the exarchate of Ravenna from them and conferred it on the Pope. This marked the beginning of the Papal States. After an eight year war he occupied Aquitaine.
Pepin 'The Short', King Of The Franks founded the Carolingian dynasty. Like his father, grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, Pepin served as mayor of the palace in the Merovingian kingdom in France and Germany. In each case, the mayor was the power behind the throne. In 751, an assembly of the Franks deposed Childeric, the last of the weak Merovingian kings, and proclaimed Pepin king. Pope Stephen II, who ruled Rome, asked Pepin for help against the Lombard king, Pepin sent his army to save Rome. The Lombards had captured Ravenna. Pepin recaptured the city and much of the nearby territory, known as 'the Donation of Pepin,' helped build the political power of the pope. Pepin added Aquitaine to his own kingdom, and began many important religious and educational reforms. His son Charlemagne, carried on these reforms.

Source: 'The World Book Encyclopedia', 1968, P245 'Royalty for Commoners', Roderick W. Stuart, 1993, p 129.
'Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists ...', Frederick Lewis Weis, 1993, p cvi.



Pepin the Short (circa 714-68), mayor of the palace of Austrasia and king of the Franks (751-68), the son of the Frankish ruler Charles Martel, and the grandson of Pepin of Herstal. He was mayor of the palace during the reign of Childeric III (reigned about 743-52), the last of the Merovingian dynasty. In 751, Pepin deposed Childeric and thus became the first king of the Carolingian dynasty. He was crowned by Pope Stephen II (III) in 754. When the pope was threatened by the Lombards of northern Italy, Pepin led an army that defeated them (754-55). He ceded to the pope territory that included Ravenna and other cities. This grant, called the Donation of Pepin, laid the foundation for the Papal States. Pepin enlarged his own kingdom by capturing Aquitaine, or Aquitania, in southwestern France. He was succeeded by his sons Carloman (751-71) and Charlemagne as joint kings. He was also mayor of the palace of Austrasia. He was mayor of the palace during the reign of Childeric III (reigned about 743-52), the last of the Merovingian dynasty. In 751, Pepin deposed Childeric and thus became the first king of the Carolingian dynasty. He was crowned by Pope Stephen II (III) in 754. When the pope was threatened by the Lombards of northern Italy, Pepin led an army that defeated them (754-55). He ceded to the pope territory that included Ravenna and other cities. This grant, called the Donation of Pepin, laid the foundation for the Papal States. Pepin enlarged his own kingdom by capturing Aquitaine, or Aquitania, in southwestern France. He was succeeded by his sons Carloman and Charlemagne as joint kings. Merged General Note: He was also mayor of the palace of Austrasia. He was mayor of the palace during the reign of Childeric III (reigned about 743-52), the last of the Merovingian dynasty. In 751, Pepin deposed Childeric and thus became the first king of the Carolingian dynasty. He was crowned by Pope Stephen II (III) in 754. When the pope was threatened by the Lombards of northern Italy, Pepin led an army that defeated them (754-55). He ceded to the pope territory that included Ravenna and other cities. This grant, called the Donation of Pepin, laid the foundation for the Papal States. Pepin enlarged his own kingdom by capturing Aquitaine, or Aquitania, in southwestern France. He was succeeded by his sons Carloman and Charlemagne as joint kings.




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Originally the Mayor of the Palace for King Childeric III. IN 751 an
assembly of nobles in Soissons elected him king of the Franks. In 754 Pope
Stephan II crowned Pepin, King of France at the abbey of St. Denis,
outside of Paris. He supported the Church and rescued the papacy from the
Lombard Kings giving the Pope central Italy in the Donation of Pepin in
756.

27. Pepin (Pippin) II., the Short, King of France from 752 to 768, born in
714, died in 768. He had much to do; the Saxons, Bavarians, and Arabs were
all menacing or revolting, and he had to rush from one part of the kingdom
to the other, defending its frontiers, and getting no help from the
"stupid sluggard king," at Paris. At last, impatient of the farce, he sent
this question to the Pope: "Who is king, he who governs or he who wears
the crown?" "He who governs, of course," answered the Pope. "That is
myself," said the little man with a great will; "so the sluggards shall go
to sleep forever," and he sent the last of them, Childeric III., the last
of the Merovingians, into a monastery. Then the nobles put their shields
together, and the little man was seated on a chair, on their shields, and
with him thus, "shouting and raising their shields as high as they could,
they marched three times, round the parliament, and then, by St. Boniface,
he was anointed Archbishop of Metz, A.D. 752. Pepin did not forget that he
owed a debt of gratitude to the Pope for the answer he had given to his
question, and when, shortly after, the Pope sent to complain of the
trouble occasioned by the Lombards, Pepin crossed the Alps, punished the
Lombards, took from them all the territory about Rome and gave it to the
Pope "to belong to him and to the bishops of Rome forever. That was the
beginning of the Papal sovereignty. The States of the Church, as they were
called, remained under the sovereignty of the Popes until 1871." Pepin le
Bref, King of France, died in 768. He married Bertha (Bertrada) of Laon.
She died in 783. They had two sons as follows:

Noted events in his life were:

1. Fact 1: Mayor Of The Palace. Founded The Carolingian Dynasty.

2. Fact 2: 751-768, Chosen King Of The Franks Over The Last Feeble Merovingian Monarch, Childeric.

3. Fact 3: Boniface, With Papal Blessings, Anointed Him King Of The Franks.

4. Fact 4: This Alliance W/ Pope Conferred Leadership Of Westrn Christiandom On Dynasty.

5. Fact 5: Served As Mayor Of The Palace In The Merovingian Kingdom In France & Germany.

6. Fact 6: Pope Stephen II Asked Him For Help Against The Lombards.

7. Fact 7: Pepin Sent His Army To Save Rome.

8. Fact 8: Lombards Had Captured Ravenna. Pepin Recaptured The City.

9. Fact 9: He Gave Ravenna & Much Of Its Adjacent Territory To The Pope.

10. Fact 10: Known As 'The Donation Of Pepin, ' It Helped Build The Political Power Of Pope.

11. Fact 11: Pepin Added Aquitaine To His Own Kingdom.

12. Fact 12: Began Many Important Religious And Educational Reforms.

13. Fact 13: His Son Charlemagne Carried On These Reforms.

Pepin married Bertrada (Bertha) II "Broadfoot" , Countess De Laon [Queen Of Franks about 740.

Pepin next married Leuthergis Leuthergis (Concubine), not Married. Leuthergis was born in 715 in Austrasia, France.

Noted events in her life were:

1. Fact 1: A Concubine.

General Notes: Sometimes thought to be Mother Goose. It is said that she was called "Gross-mere" because she was the mother of Karl der Grosse -- i.e. Charlemagne. The English turned "Gross" into "Goose" and therefore called her "Mother Goose". She reputedly collected children's stories and rhymes and from that comes the "legend" of "Mother Goose."

Noted events in her life were:

1. Fact 1: Buried: St Denis, Paris, Seine, France.

2. Religion. Sources: O'shea/Charlemagne qvc

Bertrada married Pepin (Pippin) III "The Short", King Of The Franks King Of Franks Duke Of Austrasia about 740.

Noted events in his life were:

1. Fact 1: Mayor Of The Palace In Austrasia, 740-747.

2. Fact 2: Died A Monk.

Carloman married Miss about 735.

Children from this marriage were:

                i.  Rotrou Franks Princess Of (died)
549755816642      ii.  William , Count Of Toulouse (born about 745 Toulouse, France - died)

Carloman next married (name unknown).

Children from this marriage were:

                i.  Rotrou Franks Princess Of (died)

Miss married Carloman Prince Of Franks Mayor Of The Palace about 735.

General Notes: Alt Name: Halfdan "The Old" "The Aged" Sigurdsson
Alt Birth: Abt 762 Oppland, Norway

Halfdan married Mrs-Halfdan Sveidasson about 749 in Of, , Oppland Norway.

Children from this marriage were:

549755817344       i.  Ivar I Oplaendinge Halfdansson Halfdansson [Earl Of The Uplands] (born about 787 Oppland, Norway - died in 824 in Oppland, Norway)

Mrs-Halfdan married Halfdan "The Aged" Sveidasson about 749 in Of, , Oppland Norway.

Eystein married Miss about 759 in Of, Trondheim, Sor Trondelag, Norway.

Children from this marriage were:

549755817345       i.  Miss Eysteinsdatter Eysteinsdatter (born about 785 Of, Trondheim, S2r-Tr2ndelag, Norway - died)

Miss married Eystein "Glumra" Hognasson about 759 in Of, Trondheim, Sor Trondelag, Norway.

General Notes: He ruled 824-840.

Olaf married Miss Unknown in Of, Vestfold Norway.

Marriage Notes: _STAT

Children from this marriage were:

549755817346       i.  Rognvald Olafsson (born about 816 Of, , Vestfold, Norway - died in 850 in Maer, Nord, Trondelag, Norway)
               ii.  Gloitguin Ap Ednyfed [King Of Dyfed] (born about 389)
              iii.  Helgi Olafsson (born of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland - died)
               iv.  Dyfnwal Ap Ednyfed [King Of Gwent] (born about 390)

Miss married Olaf Gudrodsson Gudrodsson [King Of Jutland & Vestfold] in Of, Vestfold Norway.

General Notes: Also known as Sigurd "Sinodoye", King of Denmark, and "The Northern Sea King". Ruled 794-803.

Sigurd married Heluna (Bleja) , Princess Of England about 799 in Of, Jutland, Denmark.

Children from this marriage were:

                i.  Aslaug Sigurdsdottir (born about 800 Jutland, Denmark - died)
               ii.  Ryurik Grand Duke Of Novogrod [Prince Of Kiev] (born about 830 Of, Varangia, Scandinavia - died in 879)
549755817347     iii.  Thora Sigurdsdottir (born about 806 Jutland, Denmark - died)
               iv.  Knud (Harde-Knud Or Horda-Knut) Sigurdsson [King Of Staelland] (born about 814 Of Hord, Jutland, Denmark - died in 850-884)

Heluna married Sigurd "Snake-In-Eye" Ragnarsson II [King Of Denmark] about 799 in Of, Jutland, Denmark.