 The Carolingian dynasty takes its name from "Carolus", the Latinised name of Charles Martel, "de facto" ruler of Francia from 718 until his death.The name "Carolingian" (Medieval Latin "karolingi", an altered form of an unattested Old High German word "karling" or "kerling", meaning "descendant of Charles" cf.MHG "kerlinc") or "the family of Charles."