Editing Carolingian dynasty (section)

===== Later years =====
As Pippin approached his death in late 714, he was faced with a succession crisis. Drogo, Pippin's oldest son, died in 707 and his second son Grimoald, according to the ''LHF'', was killed whilst praying to [[Lambert of Maastricht|Saint Lambert]] in [[Liège]] in 714 by Rantgar, suspected by Paul Fouracre to be a pagan.<ref name="Wood-1994b" /><ref name="Paul-1996" /><ref name="Fouracre-2000b" /> Pippin, before his death, made his six-year-old grandson [[Theudoald]] (Grimoald's son) his successor in Neustria, a choice that is believed to have been promoted by his wife Plectrude,<ref name="Riché-1993c" />   which was a political choice from within the direct family line, as Pippin had two adult illegitimate children, [[Charles Martel]] and [[Childebrand I]], from a second wife or concubine named [[Alpaida]].<ref name="Gerberding-1987" /> They were ousted so Theudoald (with Plectrude's regency) could take the throne, a choice that would result in disaster.