Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. THE MAYORS OF THE PALACE, AND DUKES OF THE FRANKS. A new aristocracy arises ; the power of the Kings lessened (l)—the Mayors of the Palace the real rulers of the Prankish kingdoms (2)—Pippin of Herstall rules the East Franks; defeats the West Franks at Testri (3)—Charles Martel; victory aver the Arabs (4)—Pippin the Short becomes King (5)—conversion of German tribes through the preaching of English missionaries ; Winfrith ; the See of Mainz the head Church of Germany (6). i. The rise of a new aristocracy.—The holders of benefices tried from the beginning to make their lands hereditary ; and many of them soon succeeded in doing so. Thus a great new aristocracy arose which took the place among the Franks of the old noble class. This aristocracy soon lessened the kingly power. Its leading members often met, and not only shared the government with the King, but sometimes forced him to confirm them in rights which they had seized. Such gatherings took the place, to some extent, of the old national Meetings. The various Kings had given away so many lands as benefices that they were soon too poor to defend themselves. They were also weakened by carrying on many cruel wars with each other. Thus it came about that by the middle of the seventh century the Merowingian Kings, who had for a time been so great, had lost nearly all their power. The chapter{Section 4Dukes, Counts, and other rich men, acted as if they were independent princes. The great German Duchies, although still nominally subject to the Franks, were practically free. 2. Mayors of the Palace.—During this time of confusion the Mayors of the Palace rose to great power. They had long ceased to be mere household officers. They had at first been appointed by...