Background
The son of Clovis II and Balthild, he has been described as a puppet — a roi fainéant — of Mayor of the Palace Ebroin, who may have even appointed him without the support of the nobles.
The son of Clovis II and Balthild, he has been described as a puppet — a roi fainéant — of Mayor of the Palace Ebroin, who may have even appointed him without the support of the nobles.
Thus, he was the king of all the Franks from 679. When Dagobert II died in 679, he received Austrasia as well and became king of the whole Frankish realm. He and the Neustrian mayor of the palace, Waratton, made peace with Pepin of Heristal, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, in 681.
However, on Waratton"s death in 686, the new mayor, Berthar, made war with Austrasia and Pepin vanquished the Burgundo-Neustrian army under Berthar and Theuderic (a Neustrian) at the Battle of Tertry in 687, thus paving the way for Austrasian dominance of the Frankish state.