The Carolingian monarchs rose to power in the courts of their predecessors, the Merovingians. Pepin III, a Merovingian mayor of the court (see below), became king when he deposed and imprisoned his liege Childeric III in AD 751, with the blessing of the Pope. The best known Carolingian is Charles Magnus, or Charlemagne. “Carolingian” is an eponym of Charles Martel, Pepin III’s grandfather (see Charles Martel, Pepin III).