LAON Martin

Abt 0645 - Abt 0680  (35 years)

• Name	LAON Martin
  Birth	Abt 0645	Austrasia
  Gender	Male
  Death	Abt 0680	Laon, Austrasia
  Notes	Martin appears briefly in two 8th century Frankish sources, the Liber Historiae Francorum (LHF), and the continuation of the Chronicle of Fredegar, which may have been based on the LHF. In both sources Martin and Pepin (Pippin) the younger, son of Ansegisel are the leading rulers in Austrasia and lead an army against Ebroin, the Mayor of the Palace of Neustria and Theuderic III, King of Neustria, who are want to unite all of the Frankish kingdoms. There is a major battle at Lucofao or Locofao, now known as Bois-du-Fas in the Ardennes. Martin and Pepin's army are defeated with major losses but they both manage to escape, Martin taking refuge in Laon. Ebroin after devastating most of the region came to the villa of Ecry (now Asfeld) and with promises of safe conduct asked Martin to come there. Martin did attend but was killed with his followers.[1],[2] Research Notes Dating Both sources indicate that this all happened after the death of Wulfoald,[1] Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia, which occurred probably early in 680 as it was shortly after the assassination of Dagobert II, King of Austrasia dated to 23 December 679.[3] However the LHF states that Martin and Pepin's rebellion started sometime after Wulfoald's death and there is discussion that it might have happened before that traditional date Settipani, for instance setting the initial mention of Martin and Pepin in circa 675 and Martin's death to 679.[4] Title Martin is referred to in the continuation of the Chronicle of Fredegar as 'Dux' (Duke) but not of where and this title is not mentioned in the LHF at all. Settipani names him Duke of Champagne, but doesn't appear to cite a source for this information. Although we might assume that he retreats to Laon because that is his stronghold and where his supporters would be found, he is never named as Martin of Laon or given the title Count of Laon and it could simply be the nearest town with some defences. However the LNAB of Laon has been retained as that is the name which is familiar but the title Count of Laon (comte de Laon) has been removed. Family None of Martin's family are mentioned in these two principle sources but there have been a number of theories or connections made. Wife and son As Charibert, the son of Bertrada, the founder of the Abbey of Prum, and the father of Bertrada, the wife of Pepin the Short and mother of Charlemagne is named as Charibert, Count of Laon, it has been proposed that Bertrada de Prum was the wife of Martin de Laon and Charibert his son.[5] However these wife/son relationships are never mentioned in any sources, and if Martin did die in about 680, then even if they were related in some way, it seems more likely that Bertrada who founded Prum in 721 would be from a generation later than Martin. Sources ↑ 1.0 1.1 Book: Liber Historiae Francorum edited & translated by Bernard Bachrach (Lawrence, Kansas: Coronado Press, 1973). p. 105. Digital image, Internet Archive (borrowed 30 September 2024). ↑ Monumenta Germaniae Historica: Scriptorum Rerum Merovingicarum, vol. 2 (MGH SS rer.Merov.2) https://www.dmgh.de/mgh_ss_rer_merov_2/index.htm#page/320/mode/1up ↑ Settipani, pp. 108-9 ↑ Settipani. p. 154. ↑ Roderick W. Stuart, Royalty for Commoners: The complete known lineage of John of Gaunt, 2nd edition (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1992). Line 214, p. 158.
  Person ID	I58865	Freeman-Smith
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026

  
  

  Father	HERSTAL Hugobert,   b. 0635, Herstal, Liège, Belgium d. Aft 14 Mar 0697, Senechal, Duchy of Bavaria, Holy Roman Empire (Age ~ 62 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	OEREN Irmina,   b. Bef 0635   d. Bef 0710, Senechal, Bayern, Germany (Age < 75 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F26188	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1
  Children	1. LAON Rolande,   b. Abt 0710, Autun, Soane et Loire, Bourgogne, France d. 0750, Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees, France (Age 40 years)  [Father: natural]
  Family ID	F347293	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026

  
  

  Family 2	LAON Rolande,   b. Abt 0710, Autun, Soane et Loire, Bourgogne, France d. 0750, Toulouse, Haute-Garonne, Midi-Pyrenees, France (Age 40 years)
  Family ID	F26187	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026