711 Dagobert III succeeds his father as nominal king.
714 Death of Pepin of Heristal. He leaves the kingdom to his grandson under guardianship of Plectrudis his widow. Plectrudis imprisons Pepin’s natural son Charles. A state of confusion at once arises. Neustria shakes off the yoke and Austrasia is assailed on all sides. The Austrasians release Charles Martel from prison and make him the ruler of the Franks.
715 Death of Dagobert. Chilperic II, son of Childeric II, succeeds.
717 Charles defeats the Neustrians at Vincy, and drives back the invading Saxons from the Rhine. Chilperic is deposed by Charles, and Clotaire IV, of obscure origin, is made king.
720 Death of Clotaire, and recall of Chilperic who dies shortly after. Charles now invests Theodoric or Thierry IV, a son of Dagobert III, with the title of royalty.
732 Battle of Tours (or Poitiers). Charles goes to the aid of Duke Eudes of Aquitania, who has been invaded by the Saracens, and drives them back to Spain.
737 On death of Thierry IV, Charles makes no attempt to appoint a new king. He continues warfare upon his foes.
741 Death of Charles Martel, leaving the power to his two sons Pepin le Bref and Carloman.
742 Childeric (III) the Stupid, son of Chilperic II, is allowed to assume the name and form of royalty. War with the Alamanni and other hostile peoples continued.
747 Carloman renounces his principality, the Germanic part of the kingdom (Austrasia, Swabia, and Thuringia), and becomes a Benedictine monk. Pepin le Bref sole ruler.