< Back

Chilperic II and Theuderic IV

Character

Kings of All the Franks (715–737 AD)

Historical Accuracy

The Chronicle of Fredegar's continuations are the main source for both reigns; modern historian Ian Wood treats the 737–741 kingless interregnum under Theuderic IV as one of the clearest possible markers of Pippinid dominance before the final 751 deposition. Chilperic II's monastic origin as the monk 'Daniel,' un-tonsured to become king, is a distinctive, well-documented inversion of the usual Merovingian hair-and-kingship logic this Atlas tracks throughout the dynasty's history.

Historical Significance

Sources: - Chronicle of Fredegar continuations. Modern: Ian Wood — on the 737–741 kingless interregnum as the clearest possible marker of Pippinid dominance before the final 751 deposition.

The reigns of Chilperic II (a monk pulled from monastic life to be installed as a rebel king) and Theuderic IV (an entirely compliant figurehead installed by Charles Martel) — followed by four full years in which Martel ruled with no king on the throne at all — represent the last gasp of the Merovingian monarchy as a functioning institution, directly foreshadowing Childeric III's purely symbolic installation and the dynasty's final end in 751.

Historical Era

715–721 AD / 721–737 AD · Kings of All the Franks · The Last Kings Before Charles Martel Ruled Alone

Not yet featured in the novels

Novel Relevance: - Not yet directly dramatized in the manuscript chapters reviewed to date. The 737–741 kingless interregnum is a striking, under-used piece of real history that directly foreshadows Childeric III's purely symbolic installation two years later and the dynasty's final end in 751. Timeline: - 715 Chilperic II installed by rebelling Neustrian nobles; 716–717 defeated by Martel at Amblève and Vinchy; 717–720 rival puppet Clotaire IV installed; 721 Chilperic II dies, Theuderic IV installed; 737 Theuderic IV dies, Martel rules without any king for four years. Witch's Rebirth Canon: - Falls within the Pippinid-mayor-dominated final stretch between Book VI and Book VII, in the years directly preceding Charles Martel's Battle of Tours and Childeric III's eventual installation.

715–721 AD / 721–737 AD · Kings of All the Franks · The Last Kings Before Charles Martel Ruled Alone

Chilperic II — Birth: c. 671 AD. Death: 721 AD. Originally a monk named Daniel, pulled from the monastery and installed as king in 715 by Neustrian nobles rebelling against Pippinid control. Allied with the Neustrians against Charles Martel, defeated at Amblève (716) and Vinchy (717). Martel installed a rival puppet king, Clotaire IV (717–720), before Chilperic II and Martel reconciled; recognized as sole king (720–721) under Martel's control until his death. Theuderic IV — Birth: c. 713 AD. Death: 737 AD. Installed by Charles Martel after Chilperic II's death (721) as an entirely compliant figurehead; almost nothing is recorded of him as an individual. When he died in 737, Martel did not appoint a replacement king at all, ruling for the next four years (737–741) with no king on the throne whatsoever.

chilperic-ii-and-theuderic-iv