Pepin of Heristal (Pepin II) [key], d. 714, mayor of the palace (680–714) of the Frankish territory of Austrasia; grandson of Pepin of Landen and father of Charles Martel. After defeating the nobles of Neustria at the battle of Tertry (687), Pepin made himself mayor, or ruler, of all the Frankish kingdoms except Aquitaine, with the Merovingian dynasty retaining the nominal kingship. He defeated the Frisians, the Alemanni, and the Bavarians and established a strong government, thus laying the foundation for the empire of his descendants, the Carolingian mayors and kings.
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