Pepin I of Landen

Male 580 - 640  (60 years)


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  • Name Pepin I of Landen 
    Born 580  Landen, Brabant Wallon, Belgium Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Reference Number 15848 
    Died 27 Feb 640 
    Person ID I15848  Thompson-Milligan
    Last Modified 12 Apr 2018 

    Father Carloman 
    Relationship natural 
    Family ID F5160  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Itta,   d. 652 
    Children 
     1. Arnulf of Metz,   b. Meurthe-et-Moselle, Lorraine, France Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 640  [natural]
    Last Modified 12 Apr 2018 
    Family ID F5159  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 580 - Landen, Brabant Wallon, Belgium Link to Google Earth
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  • Notes 
    • Pepin (also Peppin, Pipin, or Pippin) of Landen (c. 580 - 27 February 640), also called the Elder or the Old, was the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia under the Merovingian king Dagobert I from 623 to 629. He was also the mayor for Sigebert III from 639 until his own death.

      Pepin's father is named Carloman by the Chronicle of Fredegar, the chief source for his life. His byname comes from his probable birthplace: Landen, modern Belgium. He is sometimes called Pepin I and his other nicknames (Elder and Old) come from his position at the head of the family called the Pippinids after him. Through the marriage of his daughter Begga to Ansegisel, a son of Arnulf of Metz, the clans of the Pippinids and the Arnulfings were united, giving rise to a family which would eventually rule the Franks as the Carolingians.

      In 613, several leading magnates of Austrasia and Burgundy abandoned Brunhilda, the great-grandmother and regent of their king, Sigebert II, and turned to Chlothar II of Neustria for support, promising not to rise in defence of the queen-regent and recognising Chlothar as rightful regent and guardian of the young king. Chief among these leading men were Warnachar II, Rado, Arnulf, and Pepin. The latter two were described by Fredegar as the "two most powerful barons of Austrasia" and they made some agreement with Chlothar at Andernach. However, while Rado was confirmed as mayor in Austrasia and Warnachar in Burgundy, Pepin did not receive his reward until 623, when he was appointed mayor in Austrasia after Chlothar made his young son Dagobert king there. Arnulf, his lifelong friend, was appointed adviser to the new king alongside him.

      Pepin was praised by his contemporaries for his good government and wise counsel. Though some enemies tried to turn the king against him, their plots were foiled and Pepin remained on good terms with the king until 629, when, for reasons unknown, he retired (or was retired) to his estates, where he remained for the next decade, until Dagobert's death.

      On his death, Pepin came out of retirement to take on the mayoralty in Austrasia for the heir Sigebert III and to oversee the distribution of the treasury between Sigebert and his brother, Clovis II, and his stepmother Nanthild, who was ruling on Clovis' behalf in Neustria and Burgundy. Sigebert's share of the inheritance was amicably surrendered, partly because of the friendship between Pepin and the Burgundian mayor of the palace, Aega. Pepin and Arnulf's successor as chief counsellor to the king, Cunibert, Bishop of Cologne, received the treasure at Compiègne and brought it back to Metz. Not long after, both Pepin and Aega died. He was so popular in Austrasia that, though he was never canonised, he was listed as a saint in some martyrologies. His feast day was 21 February.

      He left two daughters and two sons by his equally famous wife, Itta:
      Begga, married the aforementioned Ansegisel and later canonised
      Gertrude, entered the convent of Nivelles founded by her mother, also later canonised
      Grimoald, later mayor of the palace like his father
      Bavo (or Allowin), became a hermit and later canonised

      Sources:

      Oman, Charles. The Dark Ages 476-918. London: Rivingtons, 1914.
      Wallace-Hadrill, J. M., translator. The Fourth Book of the Chronicle of Fredegar with its Continuations. Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1960.