The story of the middle ages; an elementary history for sixth and seventh grades . gdom, butagain the Mayors of the Palace won. Then, when quietwas restored once more, the elder of the two sons ofCharles gave over his power to his brother Pepin, andentered a monastery, in order that he might spend therest of his years in the holy life of a monk. This left Pepin (who was called Pepin the Short)as tlie sole IMayor of the Palace. There was still a^lerovingian prince who sat on the throne, but he wasa do-nothing King, as so many had been before him;and he only said the words that he was told, and
The story of the middle ages; an elementary history for sixth and seventh grades . gdom, butagain the Mayors of the Palace won. Then, when quietwas restored once more, the elder of the two sons ofCharles gave over his power to his brother Pepin, andentered a monastery, in order that he might spend therest of his years in the holy life of a monk. This left Pepin (who was called Pepin the Short)as tlie sole IMayor of the Palace. There was still a^lerovingian prince who sat on the throne, but he wasa do-nothing King, as so many had been before him;and he only said the words that he was told, and didthe things that were given him to do. Of course, this could not go on forever. Every one THE MAYORS OF THE PALACE 87 was getting tired of it; and at last Pepin felt that tlie-time had come when he might safely take the titleof King. First, messengers were sent to Pepin becomes the Pope to ask his opinion. The Pope King of the ^ ^ Franks (751). was now eager to get the aid of the Franks against the Lombards in Italy; so he answered in the way that he knew Avould please Till: MKR(»VIN(;i.\N KINC DKrOSEl) It is better, he said, to give the title King to theperson who actually has the power. Then the weak ^Merovingian King was deposed. Hislong hair was cut, he was forced to become a monk,and was shut out of sight in a monastery. Pepin theShort was then anointed with the sacred oil, and wascrowned King in his place. As long as Pepin lived, he ruled as a strong and justKing. AVhen he died, the crown went to his children, gg THE STORY OF TEE MIDDLE AGES and after them to his childrens children. In this waythe crown of the Franks continued in the family ofPepin for more than two hundred years. Review and Study Topics 1. Why did tho Merovingian kings lose power, and the Mayors of the Palace gain it? 2. What difference might it have made to history if the Mohammedan Moors had been victorions at Tours, insteadof the Ciiristian Franks? 3. Was it right that the Merovingian King
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1, booksubjectmiddleages, bookyear1912
