CAR'OLIN'GIANS (Fr. Carlorinyiens, Med. Lat. Carolingi, from 01-1G. Karling, descendant of Karl, particularly Charles Martel). The sec ond dynasty of Frankish kings. The origin of the family is traced to Saint Arnulf, Bishop of Metz, who died in 641. His son. Ansegisel, mar ried a daughter of Pepin (q.v.). of Lando], in Austrasia. Their son, Pepin of Heristal, the greatest territorial lord in Austrasia, was called to the office of Alayor of the Palace. in that king dom. At the battle of Testry in 687, Pepin compelled the weak Merovingian King, Theu derieh Ill., to invest him with the office of Mayo] of the Palace in all the three Frankish States, Neustria, Austrasia, and Burgundy. Pepin al lowed the Merovingian kings to remain upon the throne, but they were kings only in name. He died in 714. and left as his successor a grandson who was a mere child; but Charles Martel (q.v.), a natural son of Pepin, was made Mayor of the Palace by the Austrasians, and iu this capacity brought the three States under his power. De died in 741. His two sons, Carloman and Pepin the Short, divided the kingdom, al though for a time the nominal Merovingian dynasty still existed. Carloman abdicated after a few years and entered a monastery. Pepin at last formally assumed the royal power, and was crowned King of the Franks in 751. From this is dated the beginning of the Carolingian dynas ty. Pepin was succeeded by his sons, Carloman and Charles the Great (q.v.) or Charlemagne, of whom the latter soon reigned alone, and pro digiously extended his dominions. In SOO Pope Leo. Ill. set upon his head the crown of the Western Roman Empire. He planned to divide his dominions among, his sons, of whom, how ever, only one, Louis the Pious, survived him, who, in the list of the Icings of France, appears as Louis 1., but who was properly Emperor and King of the Franks. With Charlemagne the high abilities of his family disappeared. and his suc
cessors were comparatively weak. Family feuds broke out during the life of Louis the Pious, who lihd divided his dominions among his sons, and be terminated his troubled reign in 840. By a treaty concluded at Verdun, in 84:3, Lothair 1., the eldest son of Louis, obtained the imperial crown and the kingdom of Italy, with Lorraine, Franche Condi., Provence, and Lyonnais; Louis. his brother, called Louis the German, obtained the German part of his father's dominions; and Charles the Bald, the son of a second mar riage, obtained Neustria,Aquitania.and the Span ;\ lark, The Emperor Unlink I. died in S55, and his dominions were again divided—his eldest son, Louis II., hemming Emperor and King of Italy.: nd his Iwo other sons kings of Lorraine Mill of roVpilee, the Id ligduins of the two younger broth ers later reverting to the Emperor. Charles II..
the Fat (q.v.) son of Louis the German. reigned over the re •ted realm of Charles the (;neat from about 884 to 887. when he was deposed. Arnulf (q.v.), King of Germany. obtained the perial dignity later, and Louis 111„ the Child (q.v.) ruled in Germany from 899 to 911. when the Carolingian dynasty there became extinct. The French dynasty. of which Charles the Bald may be deemed the founder, continued a succes sion of weak monarchs and pretenders to the throne for about a centn•y, till it terminated with the reign of Louis V.. on whose death Hugh Ca pet, the most powerful nobleman in France, seized the crown, in 987. The Carolin gian kings had for some time possessed little real power. A subsequent marriage connected their family with that of the Capets, and enabled the kings of the Capetian dynasty (q.v.) to trace their descent from Charlemagne.
See FRANKS; FRANCE ; GERMANY ; HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.