GRIMOALD
? - 656

Grimoald was the son of Pepin I the Elder.

Grimoald was mayor, in effect ruler, of Austrasia 643-656.

When King Sigebert III died in 656, Grimoald figured he might as well be king since he already ran the country. Grimoald's son and Grimoald's brother-in-law, Ansegisel, agreed 100%.

No sooner said than done, Grimoald confined the king's son and successor, Dagobert II, to a monastery and declared himself king. The nobles of Austrasia thought that stunk and dragged them to King Clovis II of Neustria, who executed the three.

But the Carolingians weren't quite done just yet. It took another decade for Ansegisel's son, Peppin II of Herstal, to grow up but then he brought back power for the family.