FranceHistories

741: The Split Between Carloman and Pepin

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Pepin the Short: From Real Power to the Crown (741–768) · EARLY MIDDLE AGES

Charles Martel’s death does not bring Merovingian kings back to power. It opens a new phase: government passes to his sons.

⚖️ Two spheres of authority

The 741 division mainly distributes spheres of action:

  • Carloman dominates Austrasia and eastern regions.
  • Pepin dominates Neustria and more western regions (Burgundy, Provence).

This is not a separation into two independent “kingdoms”, but a distribution of command within the same Frankish world.

🧠 Why this split matters

It shows succession is now played out inside the Pippinid line. The key question becomes: how to turn this domination into royal legitimacy without provoking a political crisis?