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Clovis III. King XVI.
POPE, SERGIUS, Who S. four years in this Reign.
| CLOVIS III. In Neustria. | PEPIN, Mayre in Neustria, Soveraign in Austrasia. |
IF there had been two Kings, there must have been two Mayres, but Pepin would [Year of our Lord 691] hold that Office alone: besides he could not suffer any King in Austrasia, be∣cause he held that as properly his own: for this reason he gave to Clovis, which was the eldest of Thierry's two Sons, the Title of King in Neustria and Burgundy, but himself kept the whole Administration. * 1.1
Perhaps the French according to their ancient Right, had conferred upon him the Soveraignty of Austrasia: but it is certain, that all those People who were Tributary's to that Kingdom, as the Turingians, the Frisians, the Saxons, the Almains shook off the Yoak and made themselves Independents. On the other hand, the Aquitains, and likewise the Gascons created each a Soveraign Duke of their own, and the Bretons enlarged their little Frontiers
Clovis, according to some, Reigned but two years, others more probably give him [Year of our Lord 694] four compleat. He died about the end of the year 694. or in the beginning of 695. [Year of our Lord 694, or 95.] being Aged Fourteen or fifteen years, and neither had seen nor done any thing that was Memorable in his Reign.