The ancient world, from the earliest times to 800 AD . ntained the early con-quests of Clovis and his imperial capital, and it held a certainprestige over all the rest. The family contests among the rulers of the sub-kingdoms(§ 743) finally became a struggle for supremacy between thesetwo states, Neustria and Austrasia. It was plain that southGaul must fall to the victor. 765. The Mayors of the Palace. — The later Merovingiankings earned the name of Do-nothings.^^ Real power wasexercised in each sub-kingdom by a mayor of the this officer was a chief domestic, the head of ther
The ancient world, from the earliest times to 800 AD . ntained the early con-quests of Clovis and his imperial capital, and it held a certainprestige over all the rest. The family contests among the rulers of the sub-kingdoms(§ 743) finally became a struggle for supremacy between thesetwo states, Neustria and Austrasia. It was plain that southGaul must fall to the victor. 765. The Mayors of the Palace. — The later Merovingiankings earned the name of Do-nothings.^^ Real power wasexercised in each sub-kingdom by a mayor of the this officer was a chief domestic, the head of theroyal household; but, one by one, he had withdrawn all thepowers of government from the indolent kings. At first theoffice of mayor was filled by the kings appointment. As itgrew more important, the nobles sometimes claimed theright to elect the holder; aiid mi Austrasia the position finallybecame hereditary. Once a year, the long-haired king himselfwas carried forth in stately procession on his ox-cart, to be 1 Review § 744. •s o a i ^ o ; <. §767] THE FRANKS TO CHARLES MARTEL 609 shown to the Assembly of the Mayfield. The rest of the timehe lived, on some obscure estate, in indolence and swinishpleasures that brought him to an early grave.^ 766. Pippin of Heristal. — Much of the seventh century wasfilled with anarchy and civil war. The Frankish state seemedabout to fall to pieces. Indeed, Bavaria and Thuringia (purelyGerman) and Aquitaine (the most purely Roman province)did break away into states practically independent, under theirnative dukes. But finally, at the battle of Testry (687 ), the Austrasians,under their mayor, Pippin of Heristal, established their su-premacy over the West Franks. Austrasia at this momenthad no separate king, and Pippin might now have set upan independent kingdom there; but instead he chose wiselyto rule both kingdoms as mayor of Neustria, appointing atrusted friend mayor of Austrasia. In appearance, Austrasia remained the less dig
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecthistoryancient, booky
