Pepin the Short

Pepin the Short was the King of the Franks from 751 to 768 AD and the father of Charlemagne. He is notable for being the first king of the Carolingian dynasty, which played a crucial role in shaping medieval Europe. Pepin sought to gain legitimacy by allying with the Catholic Church, famously receiving anointment from the Pope, which established a precedent for the close relationship between the Frankish monarchy and the papacy. His reign strengthened the Frankish realm and laid the foundation for Charlemagne’s later empire, making Pepin a significant figure in European history.