737–743: When the Kingdom Works Without a King

One of the strongest signs of the political shift is simple: from 737, the Frankish kingdom can function without a king for several years. This is not an official abolition of kingship, but a political fact: the man who commands is elsewhere.

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⚖️ Why not appoint a king?

Keeping a Merovingian king could serve as a façade. But Charles Martel, at the height of his power, no longer needs it immediately. Governing without a king allows him to:

• avoid reviving rivalries around a candidate
• concentrate authority in his hands
• prepare a dynastic transmission of real power

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🧠 What it foreshadows

If a kingdom can function without a king, it means monarchy has become an institution of prestige more than a decision centre. The next step becomes almost inevitable: sooner or later, those who govern will want legitimacy to match the reality of power.