Thread by @Arby_K

A dynasty will have strong and weak rulers.

But when the ruler is weak, they may get usurped by stronger contenders.

Or see their position strengthen, as a consensus of stronger subordinates.

And then at times, both happen.

Story in the evening ...

Grimoald was born around 615 to Pepin and Itta. Not long before Grimoald was born, Pepin and other Frankish nobles had conspired with King Clothaire of Neustria to remove the child King Sigebert of Austrasia and Burgundy and his regent, Queen Brunhild. 1/10

With the help of Pepin and others, King Clothaire reunited the Kingdom of the Franks. Initially, Pepin's associates obtained prominent roles in the Kingdom as Mayor of the Palace, while he retained influence on the King's son, Dagobert. 2/10

In 623, Dagobert was made the King of Austrasia, with Pepin as the Mayor of the Palace, the most important official in the Kingdom. Accompanying Pepin was Arnoul, the Bishop of Metz, who became the young King's advisor. 3/10

In 629, King Clothaire died and Dagobert became King of the Franks with his brother Charibert inheriting Aquitaine. Both Pepin and Arnoul would lose their roles in court. Pepin would return as Mayor in 639 after Dagobert died, while Arnoul would retire and become a hermit. 4/10

When Pepin died in 640, Grimoald was poised to succeed him. But it wasn't to be, since the position went to Otto. But he would prove vital for the King against rebelling Thuringia, saving his life in a defeated battle. By 643, Grimoald had got Otto killed and displaced him. 5/10

Grimoald became the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia like his father before him. Austrasia was ruled by Dagobert's elder son, Sigebert, while Neustria and Burgundy went to his younger son, Chlodovech. The two brothers were in their teens when they became King. 6/10

By the time Sigebert died in 656, Grimoald had gained a strong footing within Austrasia. He was aided by the support of Ansegisel, husband of his sister Begga and son of Arnoul of Metz. He had Sigebert's son exiled and in his place installed his own son, Childebert, as King. 7/10

But, this interference into royalty proved to be Grimoald's undoing. Neustria intervened and captured Grimoald, Ansegisel and Childebert. The details after this are a bit sketchy but by 661, Grimoald had been executed and Neustria had annexed Austrasia. 8/10

Chlodovech's sons gained control over the entire Frankish Kingdom, bringing to end Grimoald's dynasty but another dynasty would gain prominence in the Frankish Kingdom instead. In 679, Ansegisel's son, Pepin, became the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia. 9/10

In 687, Pepin led Austrasia to victory against Neustria and Burgundy. He became the Mayor of the Palace of Neustria and Burgundy as well as a result. In 751, Pepin's grandson, also named Pepin, became the King of the Franks, bringing to end the Merovingian dynasty. 10/10