Childeric III (c. 717 – c. 754) was
King of Francia from 743 until he was deposed by
Pope Zachary in March 751 at the instigation of
Pepin the Short. Although his parentage is uncertain, he is considered the last Frankish king from the
Merovingian dynasty. Once Childeric was deposed, Pepin the Short, who was the father of emperor
Charlemagne, was crowned the first king of the Franks from the
Carolingian dynasty.