It is difficult to trace the names of some of the mayors of the palace, the post being of almost no significance in the time of Gregory of Tours. When the office increased in importance the mayors of the palace did not, as has been thought, pursue an identical policy. Some--for instance, Otto, the mayor of the palace of Austrasia towards 640--were devoted to the Crown. On the other hand, mayors like Flaochat (in Burgundy) and Erkinoald (in Neustria) stirred up the great nobles, who claimed the right to take part in their nomination, against the king. Others again, sought to exercise the power in their own name both against the king and against the great nobles--such as Ebroïn (in Neustria), and, later, the Carolingians Pippin II., Charles Martel, and Pippin III., who, after making use of the great nobles, kept the authority for themselves. In 751 Pippin III., fortified by his consultation with Pope Zacharias, could quite naturally exchange the title of mayor for that of king; and when he became king, he suppressed the title of mayor of the palace. It must be observed that from 639 there were generally separate mayors of Neustria, Austrasia and Burgundy, even when Austrasia and Burgundy formed a single kingdom; the mayor was a sign of the independence of the region. Each mayor, however, sought to supplant the others; the Pippins and Charles Martel succeeded, and their victory was at the same time the victory of Austrasia over Neustria and Burgundy. See G. H. Pertz, _Geschichte der merowingischen Hausmeier_ (Hanover, 1819); H. Bonnell, _De dignitate majoris domus_ (Berlin, 1858); E. Hermann, _Das Hausmeieramt, ein echt germanisches Amt_, vol. ix. of _Untersuchungen zur deutschen Staats- und Rechtsgeschichte_, ed. by O. Gierke (Breslau, 1878, seq.); G. Waitz, _Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte_, 3rd ed., revised by K. Zeumer; and Fustel de Coulanges, _Histoire des institutions politiques de l'ancienne France: La monarchie franque_ (Paris, 1888). (C. Pf.) MAYORUNA, a tribe of South American Indians of Panoan stock. Their country is between the Ucayali and Javari rivers, north-eastern Peru. They are a fine race, roaming the forests and living by hunting. They cut their hair in a line across the forehead and let it hang down their backs. Many have fair skins and beards, a peculiarity sometimes explained by their alleged descent from Ursua's soldiers, but this theory is improbable. They are famous for the potency of their blow-gun poison.