
Emmanuel Herman Joseph Wallet · Domaine public
This painting depicts Fredegund, Queen of the Franks in the 6th century, preparing the assassination of King Sigebert I. In the context of dynastic rivalries between Frankish kingdoms, she is said to have orchestrated this murder to strengthen the power of her husband, Chilperic I. The scene illustrates the violence of political struggles within the Merovingian dynasty, marked by intrigue, conspiracies, and assassinations. Fredegund appears here as a formidable figure, embodying the instability and brutality of power during this period.