A general chronological history of France beginning before the reign of King Pharamond, and ending with the reign of King Henry the Fourth, containing both the civil and the ecclesiastical transactions of that kingdom / by the sieur De Mezeray ... ; translated by John Bulteel ...

Childeric III. called the WITLESS.

King XXI. Aged Eighteen years.

POPE.

Zachary Elect in Dec. 741. S. Ten years Three Months, whereof above Nine Months in this Reign.

CARLOMAN in Austrasia.	and	PEPIN in Neustria.
Dukes and Princes of the French.

[Year of our Lord 743] THose Princes that had Revolted in the time of Martel, obeying his Chil∣dren but unwillingly, made a powerful League to break and throw off the Bonds of their subjection. Odillon Duke of Bavaria was the Head, insti∣gated, no doubt, by his Wife Chiltrude, Daughter of Martel, and Soni∣childe, who two years before, having stollen away from her Brothers, went into that Countrey and was Married to him. The Saxons and Almans assisted him with Men, and at the same time, while the two Brothers were on their way thither. Hunoud, Duke of Aquitain falls upon Neustria, and descends as far as Chartres, which he for∣ced, and buried almost under its own Ruines.

Odillon was encamped with his Army on the brink of the River Lecq, which he had Palisadoed with strong Timbers. The two Brothers having staid Fifteen days right over against him, without attempting to pass; one fair night, a kind of impatient Spirit prompting the French, they forced their way over, with the loss of many of their Men, who were drowned, and brought a terror to his whole Camp: All his Men betook themselves to flight, and left their Baggage, and the two Brothers their full and free liberty to range over the whole Countrey of Bavaria for two Months together.

[Year of our Lord 741] From thence Carloman marched against the Saxons, gained the Castle of Hochs∣burgh, upon Composition; and Theoderic Duke of that Countrey, who solemnly gave his Faith to him; and yet he nevertheless broke it again presently, and obliged Car∣loman to return thither the very next year, to the very great damage of his Coun∣trey.

But it was not till after the two Brothers having ravaged Aquitain, had constrained Hunoud to crave their pardon the third time, and redeem his fault with the price of many great Presents made to them.

[Year of our Lord 745] He had the courage of a Woman, quarrelsome and weak, and consequently sus∣picious and cruel. His Brother Hatton being come to see him upon the security of his Word, he put him to death, and a short while afterwards, either upon some Moti∣ons of Repentance, or lightness and giddiness of Brain, he made himself a Monk in a Monastery, in the Isle of Rhe, having left his Dutchy to his Son Gaifre, about the age of 18 or 20 years.

Prince Carloman, after he had struck his last blow against the Almans, whose pride [Year of our Lord 746] he had abated by the blood of a great many of the most mutinous, which was in the year 746. resolved likewise to quit the World, either by a powerful and efficacious inspiration of God, or the terror of those most dismal Stories they spread of his Fa∣thers Damnation.

The Fifth year of his Principality, having given up his Estate, and his Son Dro∣gon, or Dreux into the hands of Pepin; he went to pay his Devotions at St. Peters in Rome; from thence he went to take the Habit of St. Bennet at Mount Sora••ie, or Mount St. Sil; and some while after, because he was too much importuned by Visiters, he retired to Mount Cassin.

Pepin allowed no share of his Dominion to his Nephew Dreux, nor his Brothers other Children: but the same year, and perhaps at his request, he set their youngest [Year of our Lord 747] Brother Griffon at liberty, Treated him Honourably in his Court, and gave him some Counties for his allowance.

The ambition of this young Prince, not being tamed by a Prison, could [Year of our Lord 748] not be so by kindness, he made his escape, and went and stirred up the Saxons in his quarrel. Pepin followed him close, the Sorabe Sclavonians, who were divided from the Turingians by the River of Sal; the Abrodites and other Sclavonians, who were spread all along the Frontiers of France, brought him 10000 Fighting Men. Inso∣much as the Saxons Nordsqaues, overwhelmed with his numbers, submitted to his pleasure, and received Baptisme. Griffon with the other Saxons, was Encamped and Intrenched on the other side of the River Ovacre; fear seized upon them, they de∣serted their Post in the night time, and their Countrey remained exposed to the mercy of the French: so that not finding himself any longer in safety there, he leaves them to make their Peace, and retired to Bavaria; where he seized on that Dutchy, usurping it from the young Tasillon, aged but 6 or 7 years, who was the Son of his Sister Chiltrude and Odillon.

This Countrey no more then that of Saxony, could not protect him from the pur∣suit of Pepin, who joyning Gold and his Favours, with his Sword and Threats, soon unhinged his Party. The Bavarois made their agreement; Landfroy Duke of the Al∣mans, and Suidgard Earl of Hirsberg did the same; and he finding himself alone, was compelled to follow their Dance, and come to his Brother. He receiv'd him most kindly, and assigned him the City of Mans, and Twelve Counties in Neustria: but the very self same year he made a third escape, and cast himself into the Arms of [Year of our Lord 749] Gaifre Duke of Aquitain.

Pepin having gained the better over all his enemies, had no more left him to do, [Year of our Lord 750] but to sit down in the Throne, a thing his Father durst not undertake. He saw all the power in his own hands, with the Treasures of the Kingdom, and the Affecti∣ons of the French, and there was no other Prince of the Merovignian Race remain∣ing, but one young stupid and witless Man. He therefore assembled a Parliament, which being wholly Devoted to him, were very willing to confer the Title of King on him: but he was glad that he might be disengaged from his Oath of Fidelity, to consult with the Pope, who had great authority over the Galican Church, and whose Answers passed for Oracles, though not for Laws.

He who sate then in the Holy Chair was Zachary, a most intimate friend of Pe∣pins, who wanted his assistance against the Lombards, and who could well apprehend, that what was desired of him, was a most favourable prejudgment for the Popes [Year of our Lord 750] against the Emperours. Besides, it seemed reasonable and just that France, after so many Idols and Shadows, should now have a King in reality; and therefore he could not but answer favourably to the point that Pepin propounded, and consulted him about; and his Reply was certainly of great weight. It is in this sence, according to my opinion, that we must understand some Authors of those times, who tells us, that Boniface set him upon the Throne by the Command of Zachary. Otherwise we should say the French did not truly understand their own Right, and that this Pope attributed to himself what did not belong to him.

Upon this Answer, the French having called another Parliament at Soissons, degra∣ded [Year of our Lord 751] Childeric, and elected Pepin. There is some likelyhood that this was done in the general Assembly, which was held in the month of March. The Bishops were there in great numbers, Boniface, Arch-Bishop of Ments being in the head of them, who declared to them the validity of the Popes Answer; and indeed this King and his Successors, as if they had some obligation to the Clergy for their Royalty, gave them a great share in the Government.

By the same Decree Childeric was shaved and made a Monk at Sitieu* 1.1 There are some affirm, that from thence he was removed to the Monastery of St. Himeran at Ratisbonne, and his Wife being vailed to that of Conchiliac. But others believe he was not Married, though he were of an age ripe enough for it.

Thus endeth the First Race of the Kings of France; who if we reckon from the year 418. to the year 751. had Reigned 333 years, and had 21 Kings, only account∣ing those of Paris: but Thirty six, if we take in all those that had the Title, as well in Austrasia, where there was but one that resided at Mets, as in Neustria, while some∣times three of them at the same time had their Seats at Orleans, at Soissons, and at Paris. The first Four of these Kings were Idolaters, and all the rest Christians. But their Baptisme did not quite purge away their Barbarity, they were Savage and Bloo∣dy till Clotaire II. Those that followed were more Benigne, Merciful, and Religious, excepting Childeric II. But all being either shallow-Brain'd, or Minors, they fell ne∣cessarily under the Government of others.

Notes

• * 1.1

  St. Bertin at St. Omers in Artois.