Editing Childeric III (section)

==Background==

{{One source section|date=October 2022}}
Following the reign of [[Dagobert I]] (629–634), the power of the [[Merovingian]] kings gradually declined into a ceremonial role, while the real power in the [[Francia|Frankish kingdom]] was increasingly wielded by the [[mayor of the palace|mayors of the palace]]. In 718, [[Charles Martel]] combined the roles of [[mayor of the palace]] of [[Neustria]] and [[mayor of the palace]] of [[Austrasia]], consolidating his position as the most powerful man in Francia. After the death of king [[Theuderic IV]] in 737, Charles Martel ruled without a king on the throne.

After Charles Martel's death in 741, [[Carloman, son of Charles Martel|Carloman]] and [[Pepin the Short]], his sons by his first wife Rotrude, became co-mayors of the palace. However, they soon faced revolts from their younger half-brother [[Grifo (noble)|Grifo]] and their brother-in-law [[Odilo, Duke of Bavaria]]. These revolts may have played a part in their decision to fill the throne with a Merovingian king after a six-year vacancy to add legitimacy to their reigns.{{sfn|McKitterick|1999|p=34}}