Editing Carolingian dynasty (section)

===== Rise to power =====
Following their victory, the Neustrians joined with [[Redbad, King of the Frisians|Radbod, King of the Frisians]] and invaded Austrasia, aiming towards the Meuse river to take the heartland of the faction's support.<ref name="Nelson-1960c" /> It is at this moment that Charles Martel is first mentioned in historical records, which note him surviving imprisonment by his step-mother, Plectrude. Charles managed to escape and mustered an Austrasian army to face the encroaching Radbod and the Neustrians. In 716, Charles finally met the Frisians as they approached and, although the ''AMP'' attempts equalize the losses, it is confirmed from the descriptions in the ''LHF'' and the ''Continuations'' that Charles was defeated with heavy losses.<ref name="Nelson-1960c" /><ref name="Paul-1996" /> Chilperic, Raganfred and, according to the ''Continuations'', Radbod, then travelled from Neustria through the forest of the [[Ardennes]] and raided around the river [[Rhine]] and [[Cologne]], taking treasure from Plectrude and her supporters. As they returned, Charles ambushed the returning party at the [[Battle of Amblève]] and was victorious, inflicting heavy losses on the Neustrian invaders.

In 717, Charles mustered his army again and marched on Neustria, taking the city of Verdun during his conquest.<ref name="Riché-1993c" /> He met Chilperic and Raganfred again at the [[Battle of Vincy|Battle of Vinchy]] on 21 March 717 and was once again victorious, forcing them back to [[Paris]]. He then swiftly returned to Austrasia and besieged Cologne, defeating Plectrude and reclaiming his father's wealth and treasure. Charles bolstered his position by installing the Merovingian king [[Chlothar IV]] in Austrasia as an opposing Merovingian to Chilperic II.<ref name="Paul-1996" /> Despite not having a Merovingian king for around 40 years in Austrasia, Charles' position was weak at this time and he required the support of the established Merovingians to gather military support.<ref name="Fouracre-1995b">{{Cite book|last=Fouracre|first=Paul|title=The New Cambridge Medieval History|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1995|location=Cambridge|pages=88|chapter=Frankish Gaul of 814}}</ref> Despite his weaknesses, Charles' recent success had made him a greater political entity; as such, Chilperic and Raganfred could not win a decisive victory against him. So, in 718 they too sent embassies and won the support of [[Odo the Great|Duke Eudo of Aquitaine]] who, at their request, mustered 'a Gascon army' to face Charles. In response, Charles brought an army to the eastern Neustrian borders and faced Duke Eudo in battle at Soissons.<ref name="Fouracre-2000b" /> Duke Eudo, realising he was outmatched, retreated to Paris, where he took Chilperic and the royal treasury and left for [[Aquitaine]]. Charles pursued them, according to the ''Continuations'', as far as Orleans, but Eudo and the Neustrians managed to escape.<ref name="Nelson-1960c" /> In 718, King Chlothar IV died and was not replaced; instead, Charles became the primary authority in Francia. He established a peace treaty with Duke Eudo that ensured Chilperic II was returned to Francia; thereafter, until Chilperic's death in 720 at [[Noyon]], the kingship was restored with Carolingian control and Charles became the ''maior palatii'' in both Neustria and Austrasia.<ref name="Fouracre-1995b" /> Following Chilperic II's death, the Merovingian king [[Theuderic IV]], son of Dagobert III, was taken from [[Chelles Abbey]] and appointed by the Neustrians and Charles as the Frankish king.