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From: "Peter Stewart" < >
Subject: Death of Pippin the Fat
Date: Wed, 04 May 2005 11:58:14 GMT
The date given by almost every modern historian for the death of
Charlemagne's great-grandfather Pippin (the Fat) of Heristal is 16 December
714.
For instance, this is stated - without a source - by Eduard Hlawitschka in
'Die Vorfahren Karls des Grossen', _Karl der Grosse: Lebenswerk und
Nachleben_, Band I, Persnlichkeit und Geschichte (Dsseldorf, 1965) p. 62
and table. Christian Settipani in _La prhistoire des Captiens 481-987_,
(Villeneuve d'Ascq, 1993), p. 154, describes this date as traditional, also
giving no source. Neither of these authors refers to any other date or
discusses the matter further.
The annals of many monasteries record Pippin's death in 714, and the source
for 16 December is 'Annales Mettenses priores', edited by Bernhard von
Simson, MGH SSrG 10 (Hanover & Leipzig, 1905) p. 19: "Pippinus princeps...in
pace obiit XVII. Kal. Ian.". The same month, without a specific date, is
given in 'Annales Petaviani', edited by Georg Heinrich Pertz, MGH SS I p.
7: "domnus Pippinus mortuus est in mense Decembrio".
Although more definite than "tradition", these apparently derive from a
copied record of his burial rather than his death, as suggested by 'Annales
Sancti Amandi', edited by Georg Heinrich Pertz, MGH SS I p. 6: "depositio
Pippino in mense Decembrio".
Pippin died at Jupille near Heristal & was buried at Saint-Arnoul in Metz,
the church dedicated to his grandfather. In the necrology of Saint-Arnoul,
most likely to be accurate, his death was placed on 15 November: "XVII
kalendas Decembris. Pipinus dux" [see Joseph Depoin, 'Obits mmorables tirs
de ncrologes luxembourgeois, rmois et messins', _Revue Mabillon_ 6
(1910-1911) p. 265.
I don't know why this information should have been overlooked.
Peter Stewart
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