King Dagobert, weak, swayed by whatever influence was nearest, and voluptuous rather than cruel, died in 638, before he had time to do much evil. He was the last of the Merovingian line who exercised any actual power. The dynasty existed for a century longer, but its monarchs were merely puppets in the hands of stronger men. Its history, from the beginning, is well illustrated by a tradition current among the people, concerning the mother of Chlodwig. They relate that soon after her marriage she had a vision, in which she gave birth to a lion (Chlodwig), whose descendants were wolves and bears, and their descendants, in turn, frisky dogs. Before the death of Dagobert--in fact, during the life of Clotar II.--a new power had grown up within the kingdom of the Franks, which gradually pushed the Merovingian dynasty out of its place. The history of this power, after 638, becomes the history of the realm, and we now turn from the bloody kings to trace its origin, rise and final triumph. CHAPTER X. THE DYNASTY OF THE ROYAL STEWARDS. (638--768.) The Steward of the Royal Household. --His Government of the Royal _Lehen_. --His Position and Opportunities. --Pippin of Landen. --His Sway in Germany. --Gradual Transfer of Power. --Grimoald, Steward of France. --Pippin of Heristall. --His Successes. --Coöperation with the Church of Rome. --Quarrels between his Heirs. --Karl defeats his Rivals. --Becomes sole Steward of the Empire. --He favors Christian Missions. --The Labors of Winfried (Bishop Bonifacius). --Invasion of the Saracens. --The Great Battle of Poitiers. --Karl is surnamed Martel, the Hammer. --His Wars and Marches. --His Death and Character. --Pippin the Short. --He subdues the German Dukes. --Assists Pope Zacharias. --Is anointed King. --Death of Bonifacius. --Pippin defeats the Lombards. --Gives the Pope Temporal Power. --His Death. [Sidenote: 638.] We have mentioned Pippin of Landen as the Royal Steward of Clotar II. His office gave birth to the new power which grew up beside the Merovingian rule and finally suppressed it. In the chronicles of the time the officer is called the _Majordomus_ of the King,--a word which is best translated by "Steward of the Royal Household"; but in reality, it embraced much more extended and important powers than the title would imply. In their conquests, the Franks--as we have already stated--usually claimed at least one-third of the territory which fell into their hands. A part of this was portioned out among the chief men and the soldiers; a part was set aside as the king's share, and still another part became the common property of the people. The latter, therefore, fell into the habit of electing a Steward to guard and superintend this property in their interest; and, as the kings became involved in their family feuds, the charge of the royal estates was intrusted to the hands of the same steward.