Misplaced Pages

#513486

65-513: The son of Chilperic I and his third wife, Fredegund , he started his reign as an infant under the regency of his mother, who was in an uneasy alliance with Chlothar's uncle King Guntram of Burgundy, who died in 592. Chlothar took power upon the death of his mother in 597; though rich, his realm was one of the smallest portions of Francia . He continued his mother's feud with Queen Brunhilda with equal viciousness and bloodshed, finally achieving her execution by dismemberment in 613, after winning

130-476: A Merovingian monarch, he practised monogamy , though early deaths meant that he had three wives. He was generally an ally of the church and, perhaps inspired by the example of his uncle Guntram , his reign seems to lack outrageous acts of murder, the execution of Brunhilda excepted. The domain of Clothar II was located in the territorial and political framework derived from the Frankish kingdom present at 561 at

195-667: A first attempt to reconquer his kingdom ended in failure for Clothar. His son Merovech was taken prisoner by Theuderic at the Battle of Étampes and was murdered at the order of Brunhilda by Bertoald. Clothar agreed that he would become the godfather of Theuderic's son in 607, naming him Merovech. Around the same time, Theuderic, seeking a marriage to the Spanish Visigoth princess Ermenberge, daughter of King Witteric , created new political tensions. Witteric then negotiated with Clothar II for an alliance, as well as Agilulf , King of

260-731: A large army Sigebert gathered past the Rhine and he crossed through Burgundy to bypass Chilperic’s strong defenses. Chilperic again lost the war. When Sigebert married Brunhilda , daughter of the Visigothic sovereign in Spain ( Athanagild ), Chilperic also wished to make a brilliant marriage. He had already repudiated his first wife, Audovera , and had taken as his concubine a serving-woman called Fredegund . He accordingly dismissed Fredegund, and married Brunhilda's sister, Galswintha . But he soon tired of his new partner, and one morning Galswintha

325-677: A large battle was done against Mummol, who was serving under Guntram., and fostered discord in the kingdom of the east during the minority of Childebert II . In 578, Chilperic sent an army to fight the Breton ruler Waroch II of the Bro-Wened along the Vilaine . The Frankish army consisted of units from the Poitou , Touraine , Anjou , Maine and Bayeux . The Baiocassenses (men from Bayeux) were Saxons and they in particular were routed by

390-526: A man of culture: he was a musician of some talent, and he wrote verse (modelled on that of Sedulius ); he attempted to reform the Frankish alphabet; and he worked to reduce the worst effects of Salic law upon women. In September 584, while returning from a hunting expedition at his royal villa of Chelles , Chilperic was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant. He was buried in the Saint Vincent Basilica of Paris, later incorporated in

455-451: A man of culture: he was a musician of some talent, and he wrote verse (modelled on that of Sedulius ); he attempted to reform the Frankish alphabet; and he worked to reduce the worst effects of Salic law upon women. In September 584, while returning from a hunting expedition at his royal villa of Chelles , Chilperic was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant. He was buried in the Saint Vincent Basilica of Paris, later incorporated in

520-611: A state of—at the very least—antipathy. This started when Sigebert marched against the Avars and defeated them possibly in Thuringia and possibly pushed them out of the Elbe . Chilperic, seeing that his brother was far from his lands, attacked Reims and took it. Soon Sigebert returned however and took Reims and marched to Soissons, where he defeated, seized the city, and imprisoned Chilperic's eldest son, Theudebert . The war flared in 567, at

585-418: A sum of money to end the feud, but not soon after decided to embark on a series of military operations against Sigebert. This was the beginning of what is called the "royal feud " which did not end until Brunhilda died in 613. The main episodes until the assassination of Chilperic in 584 were as follows: the assassination of Sigebert (575), the imprisonment of Brunhilde and her marriage to a son of Chilperic, and

650-457: A treaty that reduced his kingdom to the regions of Beauvais , Amiens and Rouen , with the remainder split between the two brothers. At this point, however, the two brothers took up arms against each other. In 605, he invaded Theuderic's kingdom, but did not subdue it. He remained often at war with Theuderic until the latter died in Metz in late 613 while preparing a campaign against him. In 604,

715-485: Is favorable to Queen Brunhild, Sigebert, and Chilperic but extremely hostile to Fredegund. The Chronicle of Fredegar, beginning in 584, on the other hand is extremely hostile to Brunhild. That chronicle includes: Under Frankish customs, newborns did not receive names initially, in order not to spread concern related to the symbolic name of the Merovingian. Wanting to choose a name based on the development of unrest in

SECTION 10

#1732765312514

780-703: The Edict of Paris , which reserved many rights to the Frankish nobles while it excluded Jews from all civil employment for the Crown. The ban effectively placed all literacy in the Merovingian monarchy squarely under ecclesiastical control and also greatly pleased the nobles, from whose ranks the bishops were ordinarily exclusively drawn. Article 11 of the Edict states that it is to restore "peace and discipline in [the] kingdom" and "suppress rebellion and insolence". The edict

845-490: The Elbe . Chilperic, seeing that his brother was far from his lands, attacked Reims and took it. Soon Sigebert returned however and took Reims and marched to Soissons, where he defeated, seized the city, and imprisoned Chilperic's eldest son, Theudebert . The war flared in 567, at the death of Charibert. Chilperic immediately invaded Sigebert's new lands, but Sigebert defeated him. Chilperic later allied with Guntram against Sigebert (573), but Guntram changed sides due to fear of

910-471: The Visigothic sovereign in Spain ( Athanagild ), Chilperic also wished to make a brilliant marriage. He had already repudiated his first wife, Audovera , and had taken as his concubine a serving-woman called Fredegund . He accordingly dismissed Fredegund, and married Brunhilda's sister, Galswintha . But he soon tired of his new partner, and one morning Galswintha was found strangled in her bed. A few days afterwards Chilperic married Fredegund. This murder

975-804: The Bretons. The armies fought for three days before Waroch submitted, did homage for Vannes , sent his son as a hostage, and agreed to pay an annual tribute. He subsequently broke his oath but Chilperic's dominion over the Bretons was relatively secure, as evidenced by Venantius Fortunatus 's celebration of it in a poem. Most of what is known of Chilperic comes from The History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours . Gregory detested Chilperic, calling him "the Nero and Herod of his time" (VI.46): he had provoked Gregory's wrath by wresting Tours from Austrasia, seizing ecclesiastical property, and appointing as bishops counts of

1040-646: The Bretons. The armies fought for three days before Waroch submitted, did homage for Vannes , sent his son as a hostage, and agreed to pay an annual tribute. He subsequently broke his oath but Chilperic's dominion over the Bretons was relatively secure, as evidenced by Venantius Fortunatus 's celebration of it in a poem. Most of what is known of Chilperic comes from The History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours . Gregory detested Chilperic, calling him "the Nero and Herod of his time" (VI.46): he had provoked Gregory's wrath by wresting Tours from Austrasia, seizing ecclesiastical property, and appointing as bishops counts of

1105-746: The Lombards. The coalition against Theuderic does not appear to have been followed by significant effects. In 610 Theudebert and Theuderic entered into a war. Theudebert won initial victories in 610, which led Theuderic to approach Clothar, promising to return northern Neustria to him for his aid. Theudebert was crushed in 612, at the battles of Toul and Tolbiac, near Cologne. As agreed, Theuderic ceded northern Neustria to Clothar, but then turned around and organized an invasion of Neustria. However he died of dysentery in Metz in 613. His troops dispersed immediately, and Brunhilda placed her great-grandson Sigebert II on

1170-517: The Neustrian aristocracy to his side, and keep Neustrian lands he held between the Loire and Seine by rallying Duke Beppolène. In 587, he managed to capture the towns of Angers, Saintes, and Nantes. Fredegund then offered to negotiate peace and sent ambassadors to Guntram. But they were arrested and Guntram severed relations with Neustria, approaching Brunhilda and Childebert II, with whom he concluded

1235-452: The Neustrian royal family, as well as other Frankish royalty, and was tried and convicted. She underwent a very severe torture and execution by being dragged on the back of a horse and drawn-and-quartered. After this victory, Clothar was left as the sole royal ruler of the Frankish peoples and consolidated his power. Upon his unification of all Franks, Clothar took up residence in Paris and in

1300-468: The Saint Vincent Basilica of Paris, later incorporated into the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. His rule lasted longer than any other Merovingian king save for his grandfather, Chlothar I. Clothar's son Dagobert, who had been king of Austrasia, succeeded his father in Neustria and Burgundy. Dagobert's half-brother, Charibert, however became king of Aquitaine. He first married Haldetrude, with whom he had

1365-535: The Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Chilperic I's first marriage was to Audovera . They had five children: His short second marriage to Galswintha produced no children. His concubinage and subsequent marriage to Fredegund in about 568 produced six more legitimate offspring: Chilperic's name in Frankish meant "powerful supporter", akin to German hilfreich "auxiliary" (cf. German Hilfe "help, aid" and reich "rich, orig. powerful") An operetta on

SECTION 20

#1732765312514

1430-460: The Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Chilperic I's first marriage was to Audovera . They had five children: His short second marriage to Galswintha produced no children. His concubinage and subsequent marriage to Fredegund in about 568 produced six more legitimate offspring: Chilperic's name in Frankish meant "powerful supporter", akin to German hilfreich "auxiliary" (cf. German Hilfe "help, aid" and reich "rich, orig. powerful") An operetta on

1495-565: The administration of the kingdom, has been interpreted in different ways by modern historians. In 617 he made the mayor of the Palace a role held for life, an important step in the progress of this office from being first the manager of the royal household to the effective head of government, and eventually the monarch, under Pepin the Short in 751. Chlothar was forced to cede rule over Austrasia to his young son Dagobert I in 623. Unusually for

1560-552: The battle that enabled Chlothar to unite Francia under his rule. Like his father, he built up his territories by seizing lands after the deaths of other kings. His reign was long by contemporary standards, but saw the continuing erosion of royal power to the French nobility and the church against a backdrop of feuding among the Merovingians . The Edict of Paris in 614, concerned with several aspects of appointments to offices and

1625-469: The child and offer his protection to him in return for exercising his authority over Neustria until the boy came of age. Childebert II, who was at Meaux when Chilperic was murdered, considered an attack on Paris, but Guntram was ahead of him. Childebert II began negotiations with Brunhilda on one hand, Guntram on the other; Guntram, however, refused many of his requests, including allowing him into Paris. He refused to deliver Fredegund, whom Brunhilda claimed

1690-434: The death of Clothar , son of Clovis and grandfather of Clothar II. On the death of Clovis in 511, four kingdoms were established with capitals at Reims , Soissons , Paris , and Orléans , Aquitaine being distributed separately. In the year 550, Clothar I, the last survivor of four brothers reunited the Frankish kingdom, and added Burgundian territory (Burgundia) by conquest. In 561, the four sons of Clothar I followed

1755-454: The death of Charibert in 567, Chilperic's estates were augmented when the brothers divided Charibert's kingdom among themselves and agreed to share Paris and the territory around it. Not long after his accession, however, he was at war with Sigebert, with whom he would long remain in a state of—at the very least—antipathy. This started when Sigebert marched against the Avars and defeated them possibly in Thuringia and possibly pushed them out of

1820-401: The death of Charibert. Chilperic immediately invaded Sigebert's new lands, but Sigebert defeated him. Chilperic later allied with Guntram against Sigebert (573), but Guntram changed sides due to fear of a large army Sigebert gathered past the Rhine and he crossed through Burgundy to bypass Chilperic’s strong defenses. Chilperic again lost the war. When Sigebert married Brunhilda , daughter of

1885-634: The events of 511 similarly and split the kingdom again: Sigebert I in Reims, Chilperic I in Soissons, Charibert I in Paris, and Guntram in Orleans, which then included the Burgundian kingdom territory (Burgundia). They divided Aquitaine separately again. Very quickly, Sigebert moved his capital from Reims to Metz , while Guntram moved his from Orléans to Chalon . On the death of Charibert in 567,

1950-516: The following children: His second wife, Bertrude , was likely the daughter of Richomer, patrician of the Burgundians, and Gertrude. This marriage produced: In 618, he married Sichilde , sister of Gomatrude, who later married Dagobert I, and probably sister of Brodulfe, who would later support Charibert II. From this marriage there was: General Works On Clothar II Chilperic I Chilperic I ( c.  539 – September 584)

2015-492: The future successor of Chilperic I , if he had lived long enough. The main sources from the time are the chronicles of Gregory of Tours and the Chronicle of Fredegar . It is possible, however, that the authors contain a degree of bias in their works; for instance Gregory was a key figure in some of the conflicts of the time. The History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours in the late sixth century only recounts up to 591. It

Chlothar II - Misplaced Pages Continue

2080-466: The grand old woman and her king had to flee. They got as far as the Orbe , but Chlothar's soldiers caught up with them by the lake Neuchâtel . Both of them and Sigebert's younger brother Corbo were executed by Chlothar's orders, then proceeded to execute many of the family members of this house except Merovech, his godson, and perhaps Childebert who had fled. Brunhilde was accused of murdering ten members of

2145-468: The holiness of his uncle Guntram who had protected him and allowed him the throne. In 617, he renewed the treaty of friendship that bound the Frankish kings with the kings of the Lombards. He likely had the policy of maintaining good relations with Christianized-barbarian peoples so long as they kept good relations themselves with the Church. Clothar died in 629 at age 45 and was buried, like his father, in

2210-455: The king could and was placed in the hands of aristocracy. One of the most notable figures in this role was Warnachaire, mayor of the palace of Burgundy in 613, who was one of the leaders responsible for capturing Brunhild, and held the position until his death in 626. Warnachaire's wife, Berthe, was likely a daughter of Clothar. In 614, Chlothar II convoked the Council of Paris and promulgated

2275-463: The kingdom of Austrasia to his young son Dagobert I . This was a political move as repayment for the support of Bishop Arnulf of Metz and Pepin I , mayor of the palace of Austrasia, the two leading Austrasian nobles, who were effectively granted semi-autonomy. At the same time, Clothar made territorial changes by assigning the region of Reims to Neustria. But Dagobert, now the semi-autonomous king of Austrasia, negotiated its return in 626. Clothar

2340-601: The kingdom of Burgundy. The two brothers then campaigned united against their cousin Chlothar II of Neustria, but their alliance lasted only until 599, when they took up arms against each other. In 593, although only as a symbolic presence since he was only nine years old, Clothar II appeared at the head of his army, which routed the Austrasian Duke Wintrio who was invading Neustria, in the Battle of Droizy . In 596, Clotaire and Fredegund took Paris, which

2405-483: The kingdom of the Franks, his father did not baptize him immediately. Chilperic and Fredegund desired to protect their child, since their four older sons may have been victims of murder, and there was much political intrigue at the time. He was raised in secret in the royal villa in Vitry-en-Artois to avoid detection. In September 584, Chilperic I was murdered after a hunt near his villa of Chelles, perhaps on

2470-564: The land was again split between the three survivors, of greatest importance Sigebert (Metz) received Paris and Chilperic (Soissons) received Rouen. The names Austrasia and Neustria seem to have appeared as the names of these kingdoms for the first time at this point. In 560, Sigebert and Chilperic married two sisters, daughters of the Visigoth king of Spain Athanagild ; princesses Brunhilda , and Galswintha respectively. However Chilperic

2535-476: The lost cities that promptly returned their loyalties to Guntram and Clothar. Fredegund was sent to the Villa de Vaudreuil, in the diocese of Rouen , where she was put under the supervision of the bishop Pretextatus . During the summer of 585, Guntram returned to Paris to act as godfather of Clothar, as he swore to Fredegund, along with three bishops and three hundred nobles of Neustria who recognized Clothar II as

2600-414: The order of Queen Brunhilda . This event produced general disorder and unrest. In this time Austrasians plundered parts of Neustria, seizing valuable treasures and goods, as well as important documents. Princess Rigunth , on the way to Spain to marry Prince Reccared , was captured by Duke Didier of Toulouse and was linked in conspiracy with Gondovald , who stole all that remained of her dowry, so that she

2665-403: The pact of Andelot: agreeing that upon the death of one of the two kings, the other would inherit his kingdom. In 592 Guntram died and Childebert became king of Austrasia and Burgundy. The Austrasia-Burgundy union lasted only until 595, when the death of Childebert II brought it to an end. His realm was then split between his two sons: Theudebert II inherited Austrasia, while Theuderic II received

Chlothar II - Misplaced Pages Continue

2730-515: The palace who were not clerics. Gregory also objected to Chilperic's attempts to teach a new doctrine of the Trinity , although some scholars dispute the extent to which Gregory disliked Chilperic. According to Gregory of Tours, Chilperic also engaged in forced conversion of Jews. Chilperic's reign in Neustria saw the introduction of the Byzantine punishment of eye-gouging. Yet, he was also

2795-404: The palace who were not clerics. Gregory also objected to Chilperic's attempts to teach a new doctrine of the Trinity , although some scholars dispute the extent to which Gregory disliked Chilperic. According to Gregory of Tours, Chilperic also engaged in forced conversion of Jews. Chilperic's reign in Neustria saw the introduction of the Byzantine punishment of eye-gouging. Yet, he was also

2860-407: The return of Brunhilda to her son Childebert II, successor of Sigebert. Moreover, Fredegund strove to ensure her position, since she was from lower origins, by eliminating the sons that Chilperic had with his previous wife Audovera: Merovech and Clovis. Her own children, however, died at a very young age and appeared to be by foul play. When Fredegund had a son in the spring of 584, he would have been

2925-414: The second-eldest brother Guntram received Burgundy with its capital at Orléans , and Sigebert received Austrasia . On the death of Charibert in 567, Chilperic's estates were augmented when the brothers divided Charibert's kingdom among themselves and agreed to share Paris and the territory around it. Not long after his accession, however, he was at war with Sigebert, with whom he would long remain in

2990-436: The son of Chilperic I. However, the baptism at this time was postponed. It was expected to reconvene at the council of Troyes , but Austrasia refused to participate if Guntram would not disinherit Clothar. The council was moved to Burgundy and Clothar was baptized on 23 October 585. While Guntram campaigned to capture Visigothic Septimania , Fredegund escaped custody of the bishop and fled Rouen. During Sunday Mass, Pretextatus

3055-463: The subject, Chilpéric , was created by Hervé , first performed in 1864. Chilperic I Chilperic I ( c.  539 – September 584) was the king of Neustria (or Soissons ) from 561 to his death. He was one of the sons of the Frankish king Clotaire I and Queen Aregund . Immediately after the death of his father in 561, he endeavoured to take possession of the whole kingdom, seized

3120-553: The territory in Auvergene which a large battle was done against Mummol, who was serving under Guntram., and fostered discord in the kingdom of the east during the minority of Childebert II . In 578, Chilperic sent an army to fight the Breton ruler Waroch II of the Bro-Wened along the Vilaine . The Frankish army consisted of units from the Poitou , Touraine , Anjou , Maine and Bayeux . The Baiocassenses (men from Bayeux) were Saxons and they in particular were routed by

3185-522: The throne of Austrasia. At that time, Warnachar , mayor of the palace of Austrasia, and Rado , mayor of the palace of Burgundy, abandoned the cause of Brunhilda and her great-grandson, Sigebert II , and the entire realm was delivered into Chlothar's hands. Brunhilda and Sigebert met Chlothar's army on the Aisne , but the Patrician Aletheus, Duke Rocco, and Duke Sigvald deserted the host and

3250-441: The treasure amassed in the royal town of Berny and entered Paris . His brothers, however, compelled him to divide the kingdom with them, and Soissons, together with Amiens , Arras , Cambrai , Thérouanne , Tournai and Boulogne fell to Chilperic's share. His eldest brother Charibert received Paris , the second-eldest brother Guntram received Burgundy with its capital at Orléans , and Sigebert received Austrasia . On

3315-462: The villas of Alentours. An important key aspect that was maintained in all three administrations of the kingdoms even after unification was the presence of the Mayors of the Palace. The mayor of the palace was originally the king's servant in charge of administrative events of the palace. During the royal feud, however, the role grew in importance as more of a steward of lands to care more directly than

SECTION 50

#1732765312514

3380-437: Was behind the regicide of Sigebert I, Clovis, and even Chilperic I. Guntram convened a meeting of Greater Neustria, in which the court recognized Clothar as the son of Chilperic, although there were some doubts about his paternal identity. It was at this time that they gave him the name Clothar, naming him after his grandfather. Guntram then took legal responsibility of the child, adopting him and becoming his godfather. Ansoald

3445-526: Was besieged in Tournai and Rouen and Thibert, a son of Chilperic was killed near Paris while Sigebert illegally entered and seized the city. Chilperic then made war with the protector of Sigebert's wife and son, Guntram. Chilperic got the loyalty from the nobles who’ve sided with Sigebert, took from Austrasia Tours and Poitiers and some places in Aquitaine like Saintes and the territory in Auvergene which

3510-527: Was demoted after the parish council of Paris in 573, saw this as a violation of canon law; after the death of Sigebert I, he demanded to return from exile, and was thus restored much of his personal property. Two envoys from Brunhilde, Duke Gararic and chamberlain Eberon, succeeded in swaying Limoges , Tours , and Poitiers towards Austrasian influence, with the help of bishops Gregory of Tours and Venantius Fortunat. Guntram responded by sending troops to recover

3575-483: Was forced to abandon the marriage. Wars broke out between rival cities, and Orléans , Blois and Chartres stood against Châteaudun . Fredegund managed to keep most of the treasury of the state as well as key political figures, such as the generals Ansoald and Audon, although many, such as chamberlain Eberul, abandoned her. She took her son to Vitry and sent a message to Guntram, King of Burgundy, asking him to adopt

3640-476: Was found strangled in her bed. A few days afterwards Chilperic married Fredegund. This murder was the cause of more long and bloody wars, interspersed with truces, between Chilperic and Sigebert, usually ending in a status quo in Tours and Poitiers. In early December 575, Sigebert was struck down by two assassins working for Fredegund, who were clerks promised that their parents would be very wealthy as she knew this

3705-468: Was move was very risky. At the very moment when he had Chilperic at his mercy, as he was besieged in Tournai and Rouen and Thibert, a son of Chilperic was killed near Paris while Sigebert illegally entered and seized the city. Chilperic then made war with the protector of Sigebert's wife and son, Guntram. Chilperic got the loyalty from the nobles who’ve sided with Sigebert, took from Austrasia Tours and Poitiers and some places in Aquitaine like Saintes and

3770-412: Was no exception in the line of Merovingians of its history of family feuding. This was considered to be a very 'barbarian' custom. However, he was one of the few Merovingians that did not practice polygamy, instead remaining faithful to a single wife until her death. He remained respectful of the Church and its doctrines, keeping it as an ally. He likely tried to maintain himself as a pious king, inspired by

3835-421: Was ratified for all three kingdoms. Owing to several abuses of powers by officials, many of whom had been appointed by Chilperic, several mandates were made, among them the requirement that officials must have come from the region they officiate over. Chlothar was induced by Warnachar and Rado to make the mayoralty of the palace a lifetime appointment at Bonneuil-sur-Marne , near Paris , in 617. In 623, he gave

3900-432: Was responsible for regaining control of cities Neustria had lost since the death of Chilperic. They then swore allegiance to Guntram and Clothar after their capture. Guntram, attempting to restore order in the affairs of Neustria, likely against the advice of Fredegund and, perhaps, to show his authority, replaced key figures in the episcopal see of the church and moved its location. Bishop Promotus of Châteaudun, whose diocese

3965-506: Was stabbed, although he did not die immediately. Fredegund attempted to fetch doctors and gain his favor. However, he openly accused her of being behind this attack and the murder of the various kings. He publicly cursed and denounced her before dying soon after. The queen then used her new freedom to rally as many nobles and bishops as could be found to her son. She was reinstalled into power despite Guntram's exile of her. Guntram then attempted to weaken Fredegund's influence by swaying some of

SECTION 60

#1732765312514

4030-493: Was still very much attached to his lover and consort, Fredegund , causing Galswintha to wish to return to her homeland in Toledo . In 568 she was murdered and within days, after a brief period of grieving, Chilperic officially married Fredegund and elevated her to a queen of a Frankish kingdom. "After this action his brothers thought that the queen mentioned above had been killed at his command..." Chilperic agreed, at first, to pay

4095-507: Was supposed to be held in common. Fredegund, then her son's regent, sent a force to Laffaux , and the armies of Theudebert and Theuderic were defeated. Fredegund died in 597, leaving Clothar to rule over Neustria alone, although the boy king didn't do anything significant for 2 more years. In 599, he made war with his nephews, Theuderic II of Burgundy and Theudebert II of Austrasia, who were old enough to be his cousins. They defeated him at Dormelles (near Montereau ), forcing him to sign

4160-412: Was the cause of more long and bloody wars, interspersed with truces, between Chilperic and Sigebert, usually ending in a status quo in Tours and Poitiers. In early December 575, Sigebert was struck down by two assassins working for Fredegund, who were clerks promised that their parents would be very wealthy as she knew this was move was very risky. At the very moment when he had Chilperic at his mercy, as he

4225-575: Was the king of Neustria (or Soissons ) from 561 to his death. He was one of the sons of the Frankish king Clotaire I and Queen Aregund . Immediately after the death of his father in 561, he endeavoured to take possession of the whole kingdom, seized the treasure amassed in the royal town of Berny and entered Paris . His brothers, however, compelled him to divide the kingdom with them, and Soissons, together with Amiens , Arras , Cambrai , Thérouanne , Tournai and Boulogne fell to Chilperic's share. His eldest brother Charibert received Paris ,

#513486