Page:General History of Europe 1921.djvu/286

CHAPTER XVI AGE OF DISORDER: FEUDALISM I. CONQUESTS OF CHARLEMAGNE 324. How Pippin became King of the Franks (752). We have seen how the kings of the Franks conquered a large territory, including western Germany and what is called France today. As time went on, the king's chief minister, who was called the Mayor of the Palace, got almost all the power into his hands and really ruled in the place of the king. Charles the Hammer, who de- feated the Mohammedans at Tours in 732 (306), was the Mayor of the Palace of the western Prankish king. His son, Pippin the Short, finally determined to do away altogether with the old line of kings and put himself in their place. Before tak- ing the decisive step, however, he consulted the Pope, who gave his approval. Pippin was then anointed king by St. Boniface, the apostle to the Germans, of whom we have spoken, and received the blessing of the Pope. 1 325. Beginnings of Kingship by Divine Right. The kings of the German tribes had hitherto usually been successful warriors who held their office with the consent of the people, or at least of 1 The old line of kings which was displaced by Pippin is known as the Merovingian line. Pippin and his successors are called the Carolingian line. 204