Editing Carolingian dynasty (section)

==== Grimoald and Childebert (656–657) ====
The final moment of Grimoald's life is an area that is disputed in both date and event, titled: 'Grimoald's coup'.<ref name="Fouracre-2000b" /> It involves Grimoald and his son [[Childebert the Adopted]] taking the Austrasian throne from the true Merovingian King [[Dagobert II]], son of the late Sigibert who died young at 26 years old. Historians like [[Pierre Riché]] are certain that Sigibert died in 656, having adopted Childebert due to his lack of an adult male heir. Following this, young Dagobert II was then exiled and tonsured by Grimoald and [[Dido of Poitiers]], who then installed Childebert as King of Austrasia. Clovis II in Neustria, uncle to Dagobert, then reacted to the revolt and lured Grimoald and Childebert into Neustria, where they were executed.<ref name="Riché-1993c" />

This story is only confirmed by the pro-Neustrian source,<ref name="Fouracre-2005">{{Cite book|last=Fouracre|first=Paul|title=Charlemagne: Empire & Society|publisher=Manchester University Press|year=2005|editor-last=Story|editor-first=Joanna|location=Manchester|pages=6, 10–11|chapter=The Long Shadow of the Merovingians}}</ref> the ''[[Liber Historiae Francorum|Liber Historia Francorum]]'' (''LHF'') and selected charter evidence. Other contemporary sources like the ''Continuations'' fail to mention the event and Carolingian sources like [[Annales Mettenses priores|''Annales Mettenses Priores'']] (''AMP'') ignore the event and even deny Grimoald's existence.<ref name="Gerberding-1987" /> As such, historian [[Richard Gerberding]] has suggested a different chronology and reading of the ''LHF'', which places Sigibert's death on 1 February 651. According to a Gerberding narrative, Grimoald and Dido organised Dagobert's exile around 16 January 651 to Ireland at Nivelles and then, when Sigibert died a month later, they acted out the plan and tonsured Dagobert, replacing him with Childebert, who ruled until 657. Clovis II then immediately acted and invaded Austrasia, executing Grimoald and his son.<ref name="Gerberding-1987" />

Then, either in 657 or 662, the Neustrians (either Clovis II who died in 657 or his son [[Chlothar III]]) installed infant King [[Childeric II]] to the throne of Austrasia, marrying him to [[Bilichild (wife of Childeric II)|Bilichild]], the daughter of Sigibert's widow [[Chimnechild of Burgundy]].<ref name="Fouracre-2000b" /> Grimoald and Childebert's deaths brought an end to the direct Pippinid line of the family, leaving the Arnulfing descendants from Begga and Ansegisel to continue the faction.<ref name="Collins-2010a">{{Cite book|last=Collins|first=Roger|title=Early Medieval Europe 300–1000|publisher=Palgrave MacMillan|year=2010|edition=3rd|series=Palgrave History of Europe|location=London|pages=264, 266}}</ref>