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CHAP. VI.: Second Epocha of the Humiliation of our Kings of the first Race.
AFTER the execution of Brunechild, the mayors were administrators of the kingdom under the sovereigns; and though they had the conduct of the war, yet the kings were always at the head of the armies, and the mayor and the nation fought under their command. But the victory†1159 of duke Pepin over Theodoric and his mayor, completed†1160 the degradation of our princes; and that†1161 which Charles Martel obtained over Chilperic and his mayor Rainfroy, confirmed it. Austrasia triumphed twice over Neustria and Burgundy; and the mayoralty of Austrasia being annexed as it were to the family of the Pepins, this mayoralty and family became greatly superior to all the rest, The conquerors were then afraid lest some person of credit should seize the king’s person, in order to excite disturbances. For this reason they kept†1162 them in the royal palace as in a kind of prison, and once a year shewed them to the people. There they made ordinances, but†1163 these were such as were dictated by the mayor; they answered ambassadors,
but the mayor made the answers. This is the time mentioned by†1164 historians of the government of the mayors over the kings whom they held in subjection.The extravagant passion of the nation for Pepin’s family went so far, that they chose one of his grandsons, who was yet†1165 an infant, for mayor; and put him over one Dagobert, that is, one phantom over another.