Pepin the Short

Pepin the Short (714 - 768) was the son of Charles Martel and father of Charlemagne. He was the first Carolingian king of the Franks (France).

Pepin rose to power and became king in 751, after the deposition of Childeric, the last of the weak Merovingian king. He was a brilliant leader who conquered the territory around Rome and gave it to the Pope as a gift and return for Papal recognition of his right to rule. This became known as the Donation of Pepin.