ABSTRACT
The Mayors of the Palace, themselves leaders of the aristo cracy, control it for a long while. The chronicler paints in the most glowing colours the Mayors of the Palace who govern the Regnum under the nominal rule of the sons of Dagobert, Clovis II and Sigebert III. Aega, in Neustria, was prudent, mild, eloquent and god-fearing; he restored to the churches the property taken from them by the “ fiscus” Erkinoald his successor (641) is mild, kindly, full of deference towards the bishops ; he does not amass riches for himself, and is beloved by all. In Austrasia, Pepin is full of prudence and gentleness and governs “ benevolently ” . Such praises from a partisan of the aristocracy show that these Mayors were entirely complaisant.
