Editing Childeric III (section)

==Life==

[[File:Beaux-Arts de Carcassonne - Le dernier des Mérovingiens - Evariste-Vital Luminais -Joconde 04400000403.jpg|thumb|left|''The Last of the Merovingians'', a painting by [[Evariste-Vital Luminais]], depicting the cutting of Childeric's hair.]]

Childeric's parentage and his relation to the Merovingian family are uncertain. He may have been either the son of [[Chilperic II]] or [[Theuderic IV]].{{sfn|Rosenwein|2009|p=84}}

According to Einhard, Charlemagne's biographer, Childeric took little part in public business and would, once a year, be brought in an [[Bullock cart|ox cart]] led by a peasant and preside at court on a throne, giving answers prepared by the mayors to visiting ambassadors.{{sfn|Frassetto|2003|p=118}} In this narrative, he had neither political nor economic power, depending on his own small estate and on mayoral support.{{sfn|Frassetto|2003|p=118}}

After Carloman retired to a monastery in 747, Pepin resolved to take the royal crown for himself. Pepin sent letters to [[Pope Zachary]], asking whether the title of king belonged to the one who had exercised the power or the one with the royal lineage. The pope responded that the real power should have the royal title as well. In 751, Childeric was dethroned and [[tonsure]]d.{{sfn|Tierney|1964|p=20}} His long hair was the symbol of his dynasty, and thus of the royal powers he enjoyed; by cutting it, they divested him of all royal prerogatives. Once dethroned, he was confined to the [[Benedictine]] [[Abbey of Saint Bertinus|monastery of Saint-Bertin]]{{sfn|Theuws|de Jong|van Rhijn|2001|p=326}} in [[Saint-Omer]], while his son Theuderic was sent to the monastery of [[Saint-Wandrille]].

There are conflicting accounts of exactly when Childeric died, with some sources claiming as early as 753, while others state that his death occurred as late as 758.