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34-567: It is known for its medieval city. The lower town ("Unterstadt") and upper town ("Oberstadt") are reserved for pedestrians only, and connected by two stairways and a steep street ("Steigstrasse"). The name of the town means "Castle on the Sea", referring to a castle which, according to a tradition from 1548, was built here in 630 by the Merovingian king Dagobert I . The commune obtained the status of free city in 1299, though nominally still under

68-597: A 112 minute long French-Italian comedy, Le bon roi Dagobert ( Good King Dagobert ) was made, based on Dagobert I. The soundtrack was composed by Guido & Maurizio De Angelis , Starring Ugo Tognazzi, Coluche and Michel Serrault. According to the Chronicle of Fredegar Dagobert I had "three queens almost simultaneously, as well as several concubines". The rex Brittanorum Judicael came to Clichy to visit Dagobert I, but opted not to dine with him due to his misgivings about Dagobert's moral choices, instead dining with

102-483: A male heir or two, while real power lay in the hands of the noble families who exercised feudal control over most of the land. In the 830s, a biography of Dagobert, the Gesta Dagoberti , was written, probably by Hincmar . It is mostly unreliable, but does contain some information based on authentic archival documents. Dagobert was immortalized in the song Le bon roi Dagobert ( The Good King Dagobert ),

136-625: A nursery rhyme featuring exchanges between the king and his chief adviser, Saint Eligius ( Eloi in French). The satirical rhymes place Dagobert in various ridiculous positions from which Eligius' good advice manages to extract him. The text, which probably originated in the 18th century, became extremely popular as an expression of the anti-monarchist sentiment of the French Revolution . Other than placing Dagobert and Eligius in their respective roles, it has no historical accuracy. In 1984,

170-538: A precedent for the burial of future French rulers there. The pattern of division and assassination, which characterized king Dagobert's reign, continued for the next century until Pepin the Short finally deposed the last Merovingian king in 751, establishing the Carolingian dynasty. The Merovingian boy-kings remained ineffective rulers who inherited the throne as young children and lived only long enough to produce

204-645: A treaty with the Byzantine emperor Heraclius , which entailed enforcing the compulsory baptism of Jews throughout his kingdom. Besides signing this treaty, Dagobert also took steps to secure trade across his empire by protecting important markets along the mouth of the Rhine at Duurstede and Utrecht , which in part explains his later determination to defend the Austrasian Franks from the Avar menace. Under

238-617: A woman called Ragnetrude bore Dagobert I a son, Sigebert III (b. 630/1) later king of Austrasia. It has been speculated that Regintrud , abbess of Nonnberg Abbey , was also a child of Dagobert I, although this theory does not fit Regintrud's supposed date of birth between 660 and 665. She married into the Bavarian Agilolfing family, either Theodo of Bavaria or his son Theodbert of Bavaria . Pepin of Landen Pepin I (also Peppin , Pipin , or Pippin ) of Landen (c. 580 – 27 February 640), also called

272-433: Is also reachable by pleasure boat services from Lake Constance to Überlingen (to the west), to Lindau, Bregenz (to the east) and to Constance opposite. One of Germany's most celebrated poets, Annette von Droste-Hülshoff , lived her final years at Meersburg Castle , from 1841–1848. She also owned the small vine-covered villa known as Fürstenhäusle . The famous eighteenth-century doctor Franz Anton Mesmer (from whose name

306-519: Is available. German poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff lived there for eight years and purchased the Prince's House . The New Castle was built in the eighteenth century. Originally the residence of the bishop of Constance, it was used for various purposes after the Secularization of 1803. It is now a museum. There is also an expanse of half-timbered houses , and two medieval town gates, which are

340-512: Is considered the last of the great Merovingian kings by most historians, but this does not mean there was a major waning in Frankish power, especially in light of the writings of Paul the Deacon and John of Toledo . J.M. Wallace-Hadrill stated that Dagobert "had the ruthless energy of a Clovis and the cunning of a Charlemagne ." Despite having more or less united the Frankish realms, he likely

374-754: The Bishop of Constance . In 1803 it was annexed to the Electorate of Baden . After World War II , Meersburg was in the French military occupation area in Germany. The town is home to two castles, the Old Castle and the New Castle . The Old Castle, built by Merovingian King Dagobert I in the seventh century, is one of the oldest surviving castles in Germany. It is in private ownership. A self-guided tour

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408-575: The Vosges , and the Ardennes , but shortly thereafter the Austrasian nobility forced him to concede these regions to Dagobert. The rule of a Frank from the Austrasian heartland tied Alsace more closely to the Austrasian court. Dagobert created a new duchy (the later Duchy of Alsace ) in southwest Austrasia to guard the region from Burgundian or Alemannic encroachments and ambitions. The duchy comprised

442-659: The Wogastisburg , his Alemannic and Lombard allies were successful in repelling the Wends. Taking advantage of the situation at the time, the Saxons offered to help Dagobert if he agreed to rescind the 500 cow yearly tribute to the Austrasians. Despite accepting this agreement, Fredegar reports that it was to little avail since the Wends attacked again the following year. Also in 632, the nobles of Austrasia revolted under

476-410: The mayor of the palace , Pepin of Landen . In 634, Dagobert appeased the rebellious nobles by putting his three-year-old son, Sigebert III , on the throne, thereby ceding royal power in the easternmost of his realms, just as his father had done for him eleven years earlier. In historian Ian Wood's view, Dagobert's creation of a sub-kingdom for his son Sigibert had "important long-term implications for

510-698: The Elder or the Old , was the Mayor of the palace of Austrasia under the Merovingian King Dagobert I from 623 to 629. He was also the Mayor for Sigebert III from 639 until his death. Pepin's father was named Carloman by the Chronicle of Fredegar , the chief source for his life. His byname comes from his probable birthplace: Landen , modern Belgium . However, according to Godefroid Kurth , it

544-731: The Vosges, the Burgundian Gate , and the Transjura . Dagobert made his courtier Gundoin —who incidentally established monasteries in Alsace and Burgundy —the first duke of this new polity that was to last until the end of the Merovingian dynasty. While Austrasian rulers such as Chlothar and Dagobert controlled these regions through part of the seventh-century, they eventually became autonomous kingdoms as powerful aristocratic families sought separate paths across their respective realms. Upon

578-590: The death of his father in 629, Dagobert inherited the Neustrian and Burgundian kingdoms. His half-brother Charibert , son of Sichilde , claimed Neustria but Dagobert opposed him. Brodulf, brother of Sichilde, petitioned Dagobert on behalf of his young nephew, but Dagobert assassinated him and became sole king of the Franks. He later gave the Aquitaine to Charibert as a "consolation prize." In 629, Dagobert concluded

612-796: The dynastic coffers, which Dagobert undertook in Spain for example—one raid there earned him 200,000 gold solidi . Historian Ian Wood claims that Dagobert "was probably richer than most Merovingian monarchs" and cites for example his assistance to the Visigoth Sisenand —whom he aided in his rise to the Visigothic throne in Spain—and for which, Sisenand awarded Dagobert a golden dish weighing some 500 pounds (230 kg). When Charibert and his son Chilperic were assassinated in 632, Dagobert had Burgundy and Aquitaine firmly under his rule, becoming

646-695: The general structure of Merovingian Francia." As king, Dagobert made Paris his capital. During his reign, he built the Altes Schloss in Meersburg (in modern Germany ), which today is the oldest inhabited castle in that country. Devoutly religious, Dagobert was also responsible for the construction of the Saint Denis Basilica at the site of a Benedictine monastery in Paris. He also appointed St. Arbogast bishop of Strasbourg . Dagobert

680-620: The grandson of Fredegund . Chlothar had reigned alone over all the Franks since 613. In 622, Chlothar made Dagobert king of Austrasia , almost certainly to bind the Austrasian nobility to the ruling Franks. As a child, Dagobert lived under the care of the Carolingian dynasty forebears and Austrasian magnates, Arnulf of Metz and Pepin of Landen . Chlothar attempted to manage the unstable alliances he had with other noble families throughout much of Dagobert's reign. When Chlothar granted Austrasia to Dagobert, he initially excluded Alsace ,

714-498: The great-grandmother and regent of their king, Sigebert II , and turned to Chlothar II of Neustria for support, promising not to rise in defense of the queen-regent and recognizing Chlothar as rightful regent and guardian of the young king. Chief among these leading men were Warnachar II , Rado , Arnulf , and Pepin. The latter two were described by Fredegar as the "two most powerful barons of Austrasia" and they made some agreement with Chlothar at Andernach . However, while Rado

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748-541: The king against him, their plots were foiled and Pepin remained on good terms with the king until 629, when, for reasons unknown, he retired (or was retired) to his estates, where he remained for the next decade, until Dagobert's death. On Dagobert's death, Pepin came out of retirement to take on the mayoralty in Austrasia for the heir Sigebert III and to oversee the distribution of the treasury between Sigebert and his brother, Clovis II , and his stepmother Nanthild , who

782-515: The king's referendary St. Audoen . The Chronicle of Fredegar names three queens. Nanthild , Wulfegundis, and Berchildis, but none of the concubines. In 625/6 Dagobert married Gormatrude, a sister of his father's wife Sichilde . The marriage was childless. After divorcing Gormatrude in 629/30 he made Nanthild , a Saxon servant ( puella ) from his personal entourage, his new queen. She gave birth to Clovis II (b. 634/5) later king of Neustria and Burgundy. Shortly after his marriage to Nanthild,

816-590: The most powerful Merovingian king in many years and the most respected ruler in the West. In 631, Dagobert led a large army against Samo , the ruler of the Slavic Wends, partly at the request of the Germanic peoples living in the eastern territories and also due to Dagobert's quarrel with him about the Wends having robbed and killed a number of Frankish merchants. While Dagobert's Austrasian forces were defeated at

850-452: The period of their combined rule as the "apogee of Merovingian royal power." Dagobert went down in history as one of the greatest Frankish kings, in spite of his mediocre military record (cf. his defeats by the Saxons and the Wends), having held his lands against the eastern hordes and with noblemen as far away as Bavaria , who sought his overlordship. Only thirty six when he died, Dagobert

884-539: The remains of the fortification . Meersburg is the northern terminus of a car ferry service to Constance . On the opposite side Meersburg is connected to the region by the B 31, a major road that leads from Breisach (on the French border) to Lindau (on the Austrian border), largely bypassing all parts of Meersburg. To exit to Meersburg and to get to the car ferry, one takes B 33 to Meersburg and Constance. Meersburg

918-525: The rule of Dagobert's father and like-minded Merovingians, Frankish society during the seventh-century experienced greater integration—the Catholic faith became predominant for instance—and a generally improved economic situation, but there was no initial impetus for the political unification of Gaul. Clothar II did not seek to force his Neustrian neighbors into submission, choosing instead a policy of cooperation. This did not prohibit plunder-raids to replenish

952-561: The verb "to mesmerize" derives) died in 1815 in Meersburg and is buried near the old wall of the graveyard about 0.5 kilometres (0.3 miles) northeast of the upper town-gate "Obertor" (see picture beneath). The Meersburg vineyards at the northern banks of Lake Constance are famous within Germany. The rosée "Weissherbst" wine is a specialty of the region. Meersburg is twinned with: 4. New Mayor Dagobert I Dagobert I ( Latin : Dagobertus ; c. 603/605 – 19 January 639)

986-563: Was King of the Franks . He ruled Austrasia (623–634) and Neustria and Burgundy (629–639). He has been described as the last king of the Merovingian dynasty to wield real royal power, after which the Mayor of the palace rose as the political and war leader. Dagobert was the first Frankish king to be buried in the royal tombs at the Basilica of Saint-Denis . Dagobert was the eldest son of Chlothar II and Haldetrude (575–604) and

1020-444: Was beloved in many ways according to Fredegar, who wrote that "He rendered justice to rich and poor alike," adding that, "he took little sleep or food, and cared only so to act that all men should leave his presence full of joy and admiration." Such images do not fully convey the power and domination wielded by Frankish kings like Dagobert, who along with his father Chlothar, reigned to such a degree that historian Patrick Geary described

1054-460: Was confirmed as mayor in Austrasia and Warnachar in Burgundy, Pepin did not receive his reward until 623, when he was appointed mayor in Austrasia after Chlothar made his young son Dagobert king there. Arnulf, his lifelong friend, was appointed adviser to the new king alongside him. Pepin was praised by his contemporaries for his good government and wise counsel. Though some enemies tried to turn

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1088-479: Was not expecting unitary rule to continue given the diverging interests of the Austrasian and Neustrian Franks, atop those of the Aquitanians and Burgundians. Upon Dagobert's death in 639, Pepin of Landen was able to recoup his position at Metz. Meanwhile, Dagobert was buried in the abbey of Saint Denis Basilica, Paris , the first Frankish king to be buried there. Dagobert's interment at Saint-Denis established

1122-555: Was only in the twelfth century that the chroniclers of Brabant began to associate him with that locality. He is sometimes called Pepin I and his other nicknames (Elder and Old) come from his position at the head of the family called the Pippinids after him. He was lord of a great part of Brabant, and governor of Austrasia, when their king, Theodebert II, was defeated by Theodoric II, king of Burgundy. In 613, several leading magnates of Austrasia and Burgundy abandoned Brunhilda ,

1156-555: Was ruling on Clovis' behalf in Neustria and Burgundy. Sigebert's share of the inheritance was amicably surrendered, partly because of the friendship between Pepin and the Burgundian mayor of the palace, Aega . Pepin and Arnulf's successor as chief counselor to the king, Cunibert, Bishop of Cologne , received the treasure at Compiègne and brought it back to Metz . Pepin died in 640. He was so popular in Austrasia that, though he

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