| The defeated former power family fought against both internal Austrasian competitors and against the rulers of Neustria. The nobility were difficult to control and setbacks were significant. As after the death of King Chilperichs II (675) of Austrasia in battle against King Dagobert II, Pepin had not yet become Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia. The Neustrians remained in control. Pepin ventured nevertheless into battle against the Mayor of the Palace of Neustria in an alliance with Austrasian dux Martin. Ebroin delivered a decisive defeat to Pepin at Lucofao near Laon: Martin died, Pepin fled. (According to German Wikipedia, this took place in 678.) Then after the assassinations of King Dagobert II (679) and Mayor of the Palace Ebroin (680), a new Mayor of the Palace of Neustria Waratto (680 to c. 686), who came from a noble family with properties near Rouen, readily acknowledged Pepin’s supremacy in a coup of a reduced Austrasia. Against this political background, Waratto’s son Gislemar first successfully (between 681 and 684) displaced his father from the role of Mayor of the Palace that he himself had sought, and Pepin in Namur triumphed; but he died shortly after that. Bishop Audoin of Rouen restored peace between Pepin and Waratto, allowing him to return as Mayor of the Palace |
