Le meurtre de Galswinthe

This painting depicts the murder of Galswintha, a Visigothic princess and wife of the Frankish king Chilperic I, in the 6th century. Shortly after her marriage, she was assassinated under suspicious circumstances, likely on the orders of Fredegund, the king’s ambitious rival. This act triggered a series of violent conflicts between Frankish kingdoms, particularly involving Queen Brunhilda, Galswintha’s sister. The scene symbolizes the turning point of Merovingian rivalries, marked by intrigue, betrayal, and civil wars.