Theudoald

Theudoald was a Frankish nobleman and a figure in the 8th century Merovingian kingdom. He is primarily known for his role as the son of Grimoald the Elder, a powerful Austrasian mayor of the palace. Grimoald had usurped the throne in 673, deposing King Childeric II and attempting to place his own son, Theudoald, on the throne. This usurpation was short-lived, as Grimoald and his father, Pepin of Landen, were eventually overthrown by Neustrian forces.

Following his father's downfall, Theudoald's fate is somewhat obscure. Some accounts suggest he was killed shortly after his father's death, while others imply he survived into adulthood. He is mentioned in some genealogical lists of the Carolingian dynasty, indicating a continued familial connection, though he himself did not attain significant political power. His brief association with the Merovingian throne, however, marks him as a participant in the turbulent political landscape of the Frankish kingdoms during the late 7th and early 8th centuries, a period characterized by the declining authority of the Merovingian kings and the rising power of the mayors of the palace. Theudoald's story highlights the ambitions and struggles for power within the Frankish aristocracy.