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Charlemagne Trilogy #3
Quest For The Crown: The Story Of Pepin The Short
Charlemagne’s father, Pepin the Short, yearns to become King of All Franks, a title the Merovingians have claimed for hundreds of years. That crown and more were long ago secretly prophesied for one of their family. But, even should he succeed, how can Pepin fight his beloved older brother, Carloman, for the crown? No such scruples hold Pepin from warring with his despised younger half-siblings.
He gains the crown through the power of the pope in Rome. Then, to protect his mentor, Pepin must leave his kingdom in the able hands of his wife, Bertrada Big Foot, and scale the formidable Alps to battle the Lombards threatening the pope and Rome.
He gains the crown through the power of the pope in Rome. Then, to protect his mentor, Pepin must leave his kingdom in the able hands of his wife, Bertrada Big Foot, and scale the formidable Alps to battle the Lombards threatening the pope and Rome.
378 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
17 people want to read
About the author
Diana M. Johnson
7 books4 followersI grew up knowing I was a direct descendant of the great Medieval king, Charlemagne. Since completing the proofs necessary, I have become a member of the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States of America, for which I was the 2002 Keynote Speaker at their annual meeting in Washington D.C. I am also a member of First California Company, Jamestowne Society, which I served as Secretary and Newsletter Editor, and the Conejo Valley Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for which I was recently Recording Secretary.
A Life Member of the California Writers Club, I have served the San Fernando Valley Branch, as president and treasurer, as well as a delegate to the State Board of Directors, and State Treasurer. In 1995 I received CWC’s prestigious Jack London Award for service to the writing community. In 2006 I became the founding president of the West Valley Branch of CWC.
A fourth-generation Californian, I was born in Los Angeles, attended Occidental College, graduated from UCLA, and earned my master’s degree from California State University, Northridge. I taught music in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills Unified School Districts. My husband Bill and I live in the San Fernando Valley. Both of us hold private pilot’s licenses. We are avid travelers having seen most of the United States by private plane as well as more conventional means. We have also, over the years, traveled Europe from France to Poland, Germany to Italy, and all the countries in between, as well as Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, China, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Baltic States, and a bit of Russia. I am a frequent flute soloist, and also enjoy singing in the church choir and playing bridge. Writing is my second career.
A Life Member of the California Writers Club, I have served the San Fernando Valley Branch, as president and treasurer, as well as a delegate to the State Board of Directors, and State Treasurer. In 1995 I received CWC’s prestigious Jack London Award for service to the writing community. In 2006 I became the founding president of the West Valley Branch of CWC.
A fourth-generation Californian, I was born in Los Angeles, attended Occidental College, graduated from UCLA, and earned my master’s degree from California State University, Northridge. I taught music in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills Unified School Districts. My husband Bill and I live in the San Fernando Valley. Both of us hold private pilot’s licenses. We are avid travelers having seen most of the United States by private plane as well as more conventional means. We have also, over the years, traveled Europe from France to Poland, Germany to Italy, and all the countries in between, as well as Great Britain, Ireland, Scandinavia, China, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Baltic States, and a bit of Russia. I am a frequent flute soloist, and also enjoy singing in the church choir and playing bridge. Writing is my second career.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 16, 2011
Fun - left me wanting more of Charleslemagne.
August 3, 2007
Quest for the Crown, Diana M. Johnson, Superior Book Publishing Co., 2002
Set approximately 1300 years ago, this novel is the story of Pepin the Short, one of the heirs of Charles Martel. After Martel’s death, his kingdom (present-day France and Germany) is split between Pepin and Carloman, his older brother. A huge secret in the family is the very old prophecy that someone of this bloodline will become King of All Franks, a prophecy that Pepin would very much like to fulfill. Since the Merovingians have held the throne for the past several hundred years, public knowledge of the prophecy would upset many people.
Pepin can’t exactly fight Carloman for the crown (Carloman is next in line), but he has no such problem dealing with anyone else who gets in his way, including a treasonous, younger, half-brother named Grifo. Years later, Carloman is racked with guilt over a cold-blooded murder he committed in the heat of battle. He is convinced that the only way to atone for his sin is to "give" Pepin the crown, and join a monastery.
Pepin is constantly on the move, consolidating and expanding his territory. With help from the Pope, he establishes the Divine Right of Kings. He takes an army over the Alps, and almost does not make it, to help out the Pope in Italy. The conquered Italian cities are donated to the Pope, and become the Vatican.
This novel is a first-rate piece of writing. As much as possible, it’s based on historical fact, so it feels very plausible. It’s well done, and is a fitting end to a really good trilogy.
Set approximately 1300 years ago, this novel is the story of Pepin the Short, one of the heirs of Charles Martel. After Martel’s death, his kingdom (present-day France and Germany) is split between Pepin and Carloman, his older brother. A huge secret in the family is the very old prophecy that someone of this bloodline will become King of All Franks, a prophecy that Pepin would very much like to fulfill. Since the Merovingians have held the throne for the past several hundred years, public knowledge of the prophecy would upset many people.
Pepin can’t exactly fight Carloman for the crown (Carloman is next in line), but he has no such problem dealing with anyone else who gets in his way, including a treasonous, younger, half-brother named Grifo. Years later, Carloman is racked with guilt over a cold-blooded murder he committed in the heat of battle. He is convinced that the only way to atone for his sin is to "give" Pepin the crown, and join a monastery.
Pepin is constantly on the move, consolidating and expanding his territory. With help from the Pope, he establishes the Divine Right of Kings. He takes an army over the Alps, and almost does not make it, to help out the Pope in Italy. The conquered Italian cities are donated to the Pope, and become the Vatican.
This novel is a first-rate piece of writing. As much as possible, it’s based on historical fact, so it feels very plausible. It’s well done, and is a fitting end to a really good trilogy.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews