The rise and formation of the Carolingian Empire was the result of many events in history linked together. The beginning of the Carolingian Empire actually covertly formed before the first recognized ruler, Pepin II, Pepin of Herstal.  It was really due to the actions of the Franks that unified a major portion of the Carolingian Empire.  It was Pepin II in 687 AD that reunified the divide Frankish territories and laid the foundation for the empire of his descendants, the Carolingian mayors and kings. From then on to 768 AD the Carolingian Empire was in almost constant shifts and changes in territories and in rulers. It wasn’t till 751 AD when Pepin III, also known as Pepin the Short, was declared king that began what would later be called the Carolingian dynasty; which is credited majorly to his son Charlemagne, meaning “Charles the Great”. After Pepin III death, Charlemagne continued the expansion of the Frankish kingdom and in fact was proven to be an able military leader. But he was also a great supporter of education and the arts. However, unlike the rise of the Carolingian Empire, the fall of it was due to the result of one event, the death of Charlemagne. His death marked the first step towards the fall of the Carolingian Empire. After Charlemagne death his son Louis became king, but eventually Louis himself was killed by his own sons that divided the empire. The Carolingian dynasty eventually ended in 987 AD when Hugh Capet was elected to the throne of France, beginning the Capetian Dynasty. However, the Carolingian Empire had already fallen well before then.