What collective name is given to the power that rose among certain Mayors of the Castle/Palace?

• A. Frankish Authority
• B. Merovingian Privilege
• C. Carolingian Restoration
• D. Pippinid Power

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that real political power in the Frankish realm eventually rested with the mayor of the palace, and a specific noble lineage—the Pippinids—gradually consolidated that influence. Over time the Pippinids built control over the palace administration, military leadership, and court networks, so their family effectively ruled from behind the throne even while Merovingian kings remained nominal rulers. This lasting consolidation of authority within that office is what historians refer to as Pippinid Power. It captures both the personal strength of the family and the institutional shift in where power resided, which is different from a generic label like Frankish Authority, or from later notions such as the Merovingian Privilege, the Carolingian Restoration, or any broader period term.