Mayor of the Palace

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Mayor of the Palace was an early medieval title and office, also called majordomo, from the Latin title maior domus ("superior of the house"), used most notably in the Frankish kingdoms in the 7th and 8th centuries. The office could be compared with a count palatine.

During the 7th century, the office of Mayor of the Palace developed into the true power behind the throne in Austrasia, the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Franks under the Merovingian dynasty. The Majordomo had the real decision power, while their kings had only a ceremonial function.

The office became hereditary in the family of the Pippinids. After Austrasia and Neustria were reunited in one kingdom, Pippin III — Majordomo since 747 — took the crown of the Merovingians in 751 to establish the line of Carolingian kings. His son Charlemagne assumed even greater power when he was crowned emperor in 800, thus becoming one of the most prominent figures in European history. A very important "Mayor of the Palace" was Charles Martel.

Mayor of the Palace

See also