Pepin the Hunchback

Who was Pepin the Hunchback?

Pepin, or Pippin, the Hunchback was the eldest son of Charlemagne. Born to the Frankish noblewoman Himiltrude, Pepin probably developed kyphosis after birth, leading early medieval historians to give him the epithet “hunchback.” He lived with his father’s court even after Charlemagne dismissed his mother and took another wife, Hildegard. Around 781, Pepin’s half brother Carloman was rechristened as “Pepin of Italy” - a step that may have signaled Charlemagne’s decision to disinherit the elder Pepin, for a variety of possible reasons. In 792, Pepin the Hunchback revolted against his father with a group of leading Frankish nobles, but the plot was discovered and put down before the conspirators could put it into action. Charlemagne commuted Pepin’s death sentence, having him tonsured and exiled to the monastery of Prüm instead. Since his death in 811, Pepin has been the subject of numerous works of historical fiction.