Born on August 23, 686, Charles Martel was the son of Pippin the Middle and his mistress Alpaida. The mayor of the palace to the king of the Franks, Pippin essentially ruled the country in his place. Shortly before his death in 714, Pippin's wife, Plectrude convinced him to disinherit his bastard children in favor of his eight-year old grandson Theudoald. This move angered the Frankish nobility and following Pippin's death, Plectrude had Charles imprisoned to prevent him from becoming a rallying point for their discontent.