[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":217},["ShallowReactive",2],{"chapter:p4ch5:en":3,"chapters:p4:en":38},{"period":4,"chapter":14},{"id":5,"title":6,"titleEn":6,"titleEs":7,"range":8,"rangeEn":8,"rangeEs":8,"cover":9},"p4","Early Middle Ages","Alta Edad Media","476 → 987",{"fileName":10,"filePageUrl":11,"imageUrl":12,"sourceLabel":13},"François Louis Dejuinne 08265 baptême de CLovis.JPG","https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fran%C3%A7ois%20Louis%20Dejuinne%2008265%20bapt%C3%AAme%20de%20CLovis.JPG","/assets/p4-haut-moyen-age-cover.png","Wikimedia Commons",{"id":15,"title":16,"periodId":5,"html":17,"zooms":18,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":34,"realm":35,"seoDescription":36,"thumbnailUrl":37},"p4ch5","Chilperic I: Ambition and the Royal Feud","\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Le_royaume_des_Francs_en_561.svg\" alt=\"Division of the Frankish kingdom in 561\">\n\u003Cem>Division of the Frankish kingdom in 561 — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>When \u003Cstrong>Chlothar I\u003C/strong> died in \u003Cstrong>561\u003C/strong>, the Frankish kingdom once again found itself without a single ruler. In Merovingian tradition, the territory was divided among his four sons: \u003Cstrong>Charibert\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Guntram\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Sigebert\u003C/strong>, and \u003Cstrong>Chilperic\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But among them, \u003Cstrong>Chilperic I\u003C/strong> quickly stood out for his ambition and violent temperament. From the moment his father died, he attempted a coup: he seized the \u003Cstrong>royal treasury at Berny\u003C/strong> and occupied \u003Cstrong>Paris\u003C/strong>, hoping to impose himself as the main heir.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>His brothers forced him to accept the traditional division. Chilperic ultimately received a kingdom centred on \u003Cstrong>Soissons\u003C/strong>, but he spent his entire reign trying to expand his power.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🗺️ Neustria: the western kingdom\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/C._714_Austrasie.jpg\" alt=\"Austrasia and Neustria\">\n\u003Cem>The kingdoms of Austrasia and Neustria — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic’s kingdom corresponds to what historians later call \u003Cstrong>Neustria\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>This territory included:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Soissons\u003C/strong>, the first royal capital\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>the valleys of the \u003Cstrong>Somme\u003C/strong> and the \u003Cstrong>Oise\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>several major cities such as \u003Cstrong>Rouen\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Amiens\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Tours\u003C/strong>, and \u003Cstrong>Paris\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>Facing him stood \u003Cstrong>Austrasia\u003C/strong>, ruled by \u003Cstrong>Sigebert I\u003C/strong>, whose political centres were \u003Cstrong>Metz\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Reims\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Over time, these two kingdoms developed distinct political identities. The rivalry between \u003Cstrong>Neustria and Austrasia\u003C/strong> became one of the main axes of Merovingian history.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⏳ Timeline of chaos (561–584)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>561\u003C/strong>: death of Chlothar I. Chilperic tries to seize the treasury and Paris, but fails and receives the kingdom of Soissons.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>567\u003C/strong>: death of \u003Cstrong>Charibert I\u003C/strong>. His kingdom (Paris and Aquitaine) is divided among the three surviving brothers.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>568\u003C/strong>: assassination of Queen \u003Cstrong>Galswintha\u003C/strong>. Chilperic has her strangled to marry \u003Cstrong>Fredegund\u003C/strong>.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>575\u003C/strong>: assassination of \u003Cstrong>Sigebert I\u003C/strong>, stabbed by hitmen sent by Fredegund.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>579\u003C/strong>: tax revolt in Limoges against Chilperic’s reforms.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>584\u003C/strong>: assassination of \u003Cstrong>Chilperic I\u003C/strong> at Chelles.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🧩 561: the division of the kingdom\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>The Frankish kingdom was ultimately divided into four parts according to a “regular division”.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>By lot, \u003Cstrong>Chilperic\u003C/strong> received the ancestral Merovingian territory, sometimes called the \u003Cstrong>kingdom of Chlothar\u003C/strong>, with \u003Cstrong>Soissons\u003C/strong> as capital.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>His kingdom probably included the cities of:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Thérouanne\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Tournai\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Arras\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Cambrai\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Amiens\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Noyon\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>This territory corresponded to the historic region of the early Salian Franks.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>However, despite its symbolic value, this kingdom was \u003Cstrong>the poorest in resources\u003C/strong>:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>few royal fiscal estates\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>few mines or royal forests\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>few frontiers suitable for conquest\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>Some historians think the division was equal \u003Cstrong>not in area but in number of cities\u003C/strong>, each king also holding enclaves within his brothers’ realms.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In any case, \u003Cstrong>Charibert’s\u003C/strong> kingdom, centred on Paris, was by far the largest and richest.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic therefore appeared as \u003Cstrong>the least favoured by the division\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Some chroniclers suggest this may have been an \u003Cstrong>implicit sanction\u003C/strong> against Chilperic, who had tried to seize the royal treasury before the division was negotiated.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch5z1\">Zoom – The division of 561: a political powder keg\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>567: the division of Charibert’s kingdom\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>567\u003C/strong>, the death of King \u003Cstrong>Charibert I\u003C/strong>, Chilperic’s brother, once again upset the balance. Charibert died on \u003Cstrong>5 March 567\u003C/strong> without a male heir.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>According to Merovingian custom, his territories had to be redistributed among his surviving brothers: \u003Cstrong>Chilperic\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Sigebert\u003C/strong>, and \u003Cstrong>Guntram\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Negotiations produced a solemn agreement: the three kings swore to respect the terms of the partition on the relics of Saints \u003Cstrong>Polyeuctus\u003C/strong>, \u003Cstrong>Hilary\u003C/strong>, and \u003Cstrong>Martin\u003C/strong>, a gesture meant to guarantee peace between dynasties.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/Le_royaume_des_Francs_en_567.svg\" alt=\"Division of the Frankish kingdom in 567\">\n\u003Cem>Division of the Frankish kingdom in 567 — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>Paris: an indivisible city\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>The city of \u003Cstrong>Paris\u003C/strong>, Charibert’s capital, was given to none of the three kings.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>It remained \u003Cstrong>indivisible\u003C/strong>:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>fiscal revenues were shared among the three sovereigns\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>each swore not to enter the city without the agreement of the other two\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>This exceptional status shows Paris’s symbolic importance in the Frankish kingdom.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The city of \u003Cstrong>Senlis\u003C/strong> was also kept in this indivision.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>The expansion of Chilperic’s kingdom\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic received a large share of the territories in the west and north.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He notably obtained:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>a large part of the \u003Cstrong>province of Rouen\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>the dioceses of \u003Cstrong>Coutances, Bayeux, Lisieux, and Évreux\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>the cities of \u003Cstrong>Vannes, Nantes, Le Mans, Angers, and Rennes\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>several territories in \u003Cstrong>Aquitaine\u003C/strong>, including \u003Cstrong>Limoges\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Cahors\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>the region of \u003Cstrong>Bordeaux\u003C/strong> and neighbouring territories\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>Some Breton territories may also have fallen under his influence, although Frankish power there remained fragile.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In the north, Chilperic also obtained territories around \u003Cstrong>Paris\u003C/strong>, notably \u003Cstrong>Chelles\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Nogent-sur-Marne\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>A widened Neustria\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>After this division, Chilperic’s kingdom corresponded to what 7th-century chroniclers would call \u003Cstrong>Neustria\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>This “new western kingdom” extended:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>from \u003Cstrong>Normandy\u003C/strong> to \u003Cstrong>Aquitaine\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>from \u003Cstrong>Brittany\u003C/strong> to the frontiers of the Visigothic kingdom\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>However, the attribution of some important cities to Sigebert, such as \u003Cstrong>Tours\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Poitiers\u003C/strong>, prevented complete unification between Neustria’s northern and southern territories.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>This territorial division remained a constant source of tensions between Merovingian kingdoms.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch5z3\">Zoom – Neustria: the emergence of a new power pole\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>⚖️ The murder of Galswintha: the spark of the feud\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>568\u003C/strong>, a dramatic event turned political rivalry between the Frankish kingdoms into \u003Cstrong>personal and dynastic hatred\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Some years earlier, around \u003Cstrong>565\u003C/strong>, the king of Austrasia, \u003Cstrong>Sigebert I\u003C/strong>, married \u003Cstrong>Brunhilda\u003C/strong>, daughter of the Visigothic king \u003Cstrong>Athanagild\u003C/strong>. This prestigious marriage brought Austrasia closer to the powerful Visigothic kingdom of Toledo.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>For \u003Cstrong>Chilperic\u003C/strong>, this alliance represented a strategic threat. Neustria held several territories in \u003Cstrong>Aquitaine\u003C/strong>, close to the Visigothic kingdom and to Austrasian possessions in Auvergne. To avoid political encirclement, Chilperic decided to seal an alliance with Toledo as well.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He chose to marry \u003Cstrong>Galswintha\u003C/strong>, Brunhilda’s elder sister.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>According to \u003Cstrong>Gregory of Tours\u003C/strong>, this decision was also driven by jealousy: Chilperic envied his brother’s marital prestige and wanted to compete with him on the European political stage.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>The diplomatic marriage\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>568\u003C/strong>, Chilperic sent an embassy to Athanagild to request Galswintha’s hand.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The Visigothic king hesitated. His wife \u003Cstrong>Goswintha\u003C/strong> mistrusted the Frankish king, whose reputation for debauchery and brutality was well known. After weeks of negotiations, Athanagild finally accepted the alliance.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The marriage offered several advantages to the Visigothic kingdom:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>secure the northern frontier\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>gain a potential ally against Basque revolts in the Pyrenees\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>strengthen the Visigothic position in the war against the Byzantine Empire\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Ch3>Repudiation of Audovera\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>To marry Galswintha, Chilperic repudiated his former wife \u003Cstrong>Audovera\u003C/strong>, whom he had married between 542 and 552.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Albert_Maignan-Audov%C3%A8re_Repudi%C3%A9e.jpg\" alt=\"Repudiation of Audovera\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Repudiation of Audovera — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The princess was likely sent to a royal villa or a monastery. A later tradition says she lost her status by mistakenly becoming godmother to her own daughter, creating a religious impediment. Historians generally consider this anecdote a later invention.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>An exceptional morning-gift\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>By Frankish custom, the husband offered a \u003Cstrong>morgengabe\u003C/strong> (“morning-gift”) after the wedding night. In this case it was exceptional: Chilperic granted Galswintha several Aquitanian cities among the richest in his kingdom:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Bordeaux\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Limoges\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Cahors\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Béarn\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Bigorre\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>These territories represented nearly a third of Neustria’s wealth.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>If Chilperic died before her, Galswintha could keep these lands and pass them to her family. Athanagild also provided an important dowry in precious metals.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>A disastrous union\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>The marriage quickly became a failure.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Galswintha could not establish herself at the Neustrian court, where Chilperic’s favourite, \u003Cstrong>Fredegund\u003C/strong>, retained major influence.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic continued relationships with former concubines, humiliating the Visigothic princess. The tensions became public and Galswintha threatened to return to Hispania, preferring to abandon her dowry rather than endure these humiliations.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>The queen’s assassination\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>The situation changed abruptly at the end of \u003Cstrong>568\u003C/strong>, when King Athanagild died. The political alliance then lost much of its value.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, \u003Cstrong>Galswintha was found dead, strangled in her bed\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Chilp%C3%A9ric_%C3%A9tranglant_Galswinthe%2C_Fol_36_Ms_Sainte_Genevi%C3%A8ve_792%2C_GCF.png\" alt=\"Assassination of Galswintha\">\n\u003Cem>Assassination of Galswintha — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>According to Gregory of Tours, the murder was committed by a servant acting on Chilperic’s orders.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic tried to conceal responsibility: he first pretended grief and organised solemn funerals. But a few days later, he married \u003Cstrong>Fredegund\u003C/strong>, confirming suspicions.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ The royal feud begins (568–575)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Galswintha’s death immediately placed Chilperic in a delicate position.\u003Cbr>\nHe faced the anger of \u003Cstrong>Sigebert\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Brunhilda\u003C/strong>, as well as diplomatic tension with the Visigothic kingdom, now ruled by \u003Cstrong>Leovigild\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>To avoid open war, a peaceful settlement was attempted.\u003Cbr>\nA tribunal was convened under \u003Cstrong>Guntram\u003C/strong>, assisted by Burgundian and Austrasian aristocrats.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Sigebert sued on Brunhilda’s behalf.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The judgement morally condemned Chilperic: he had to pay compensation under Germanic law (\u003Cem>wergeld\u003C/em>, “blood price”). The cities given to Galswintha as morgengabe were to be transferred to Brunhilda, then inherited by \u003Cstrong>Childebert\u003C/strong>, Sigebert’s son.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic’s brothers did not truly seek to depose him: their main aim was to \u003Cstrong>push him out of Aquitaine\u003C/strong>, a rich and strategic region.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But Chilperic refused to comply.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ The Aquitanian war\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>572\u003C/strong>, Chilperic took the initiative again.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He sent his son \u003Cstrong>Clovis\u003C/strong> to seize \u003Cstrong>Tours\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Poitiers\u003C/strong> in order to create territorial continuity between his northern possessions and Aquitaine.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>At \u003Cstrong>Tours\u003C/strong>, Clovis had support from Count \u003Cstrong>Leudaste\u003C/strong>, as well as part of the population and clergy.\u003Cbr>\nHe also occupied \u003Cstrong>Poitiers\u003C/strong>, then settled in \u003Cstrong>Bordeaux\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Austrasia reacted quickly.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Sigebert sent an army reinforced by Burgundian troops led by the patrician \u003Cstrong>Mummolus\u003C/strong>. The Austrasians retook \u003Cstrong>Limoges\u003C/strong> and the \u003Cstrong>Quercy\u003C/strong>. In Bordeaux, a revolt supported by Duke \u003Cstrong>Sigulf\u003C/strong> drove Clovis out of the city.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The prince fled back to his father.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⛪ The Council of Paris (573)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>To contain the escalation, King \u003Cstrong>Guntram\u003C/strong> tried mediation.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>On \u003Cstrong>11 September 573\u003C/strong>, a council met in \u003Cstrong>Paris\u003C/strong>, the city still held indivisibly by the Frankish kings.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The assembly was presided over by \u003Cstrong>Sapaudus\u003C/strong>, archbishop of Arles, and included mainly Burgundian bishops.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>They tried to restore peace, but the meeting was also marked by political rivalries:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Bishop \u003Cstrong>Promotus\u003C/strong>, appointed by Sigebert at Châteaudun, was accused of usurpation and deposed\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>Bishop \u003Cstrong>Egidius of Reims\u003C/strong> was criticised for an ordination considered irregular\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>The council proposed peace, but it remained \u003Cstrong>without effect\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ Renewed war and devastation (574)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>574\u003C/strong>, hostilities resumed.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic sent his son \u003Cstrong>Theudebert\u003C/strong> to recover Aquitanian cities. The prince retook \u003Cstrong>Tours\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Poitiers\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>An Austrasian army led by Duke \u003Cstrong>Gondovald\u003C/strong> tried to reconquer them but was defeated.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Neustrian troops pushed south and ravaged \u003Cstrong>Limoges\u003C/strong> and the \u003Cstrong>Quercy\u003C/strong>. Towns, countryside, and even religious institutions were destroyed to prevent Austrasia from retaking the region.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Sigebert responded by mobilising warriors from beyond the Rhine, still largely pagan. These forces inflicted defeats on Neustrian troops.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Guntram had to defend Burgundy against the \u003Cstrong>Lombards\u003C/strong> on his eastern frontier.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Fearing Austrasia might become too powerful, he briefly allied with Chilperic and promised not to let Austrasian armies cross his land.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Under Sigebert’s pressure, Guntram ultimately adopted a \u003Cstrong>cautious neutrality\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>A compromise was reached in \u003Cstrong>574\u003C/strong>: Chilperic returned the Aquitanian cities.\u003Cbr>\nSigebert recovered the lands promised to Brunhilda, while Guntram kept his kingdom intact.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ 575: Chilperic’s fall… and the reversal\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>War resumed in \u003Cstrong>575\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic concluded a new alliance with Guntram and attacked Austrasia, reaching \u003Cstrong>Reims\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But Sigebert counter-attacked quickly.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Austrasian dukes \u003Cstrong>Godegisil\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Guntram Boso\u003C/strong> marched toward \u003Cstrong>Paris\u003C/strong>. Neustrian troops were few and commanded by \u003Cstrong>Theudebert\u003C/strong>, Chilperic’s son.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The prince tried to resist but was \u003Cstrong>killed in battle\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Sigebert granted him honourable funerals.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The situation became critical for Chilperic.\u003Cbr>\nHe withdrew to \u003Cstrong>Tournai\u003C/strong>, while Sigebert took control of Paris and received the allegiance of many Neustrian cities.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Guillaume_Cr%C3%A9tin_-_Si%C3%A8ge_de_Tournai_%28575%29_-_Assassinat_de_Sigebert_Ier.jpg\" alt=\"Siege of Tournai\">\n\u003Cem>Siege of Tournai — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>👑 Sigebert proclaimed king of the Franks\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>While Chilperic was besieged at \u003Cstrong>Tournai\u003C/strong>, the Austrasian army and the great men of the realm proclaimed \u003Cstrong>Sigebert king of the Franks\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The ceremony took place at \u003Cstrong>Vitry\u003C/strong>, near Arras, where he was lifted on a \u003Cstrong>shield\u003C/strong> (\u003Cem>pavois\u003C/em>), according to Frankish tradition.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But Austrasia’s victory lasted only moments.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Two slaves sent by \u003Cstrong>Fredegund\u003C/strong> approached Sigebert and \u003Cstrong>stabbed him with scramasaxes\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He died almost immediately.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Roman_de_Renart_le_contrefait-Assassinat_de_Sigebert_Ier.jpg\" alt=\"Assassination of Sigebert I\">\n\u003Cem>Assassination of Sigebert I — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🔄 The political reversal\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Sigebert’s death triggered a spectacular reversal.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Neustrian aristocrats immediately abandoned the Austrasian camp and rallied again to \u003Cstrong>Chilperic\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The king left Tournai, regained control, and had his brother’s body transferred to the abbey of \u003Cstrong>Saint-Médard of Soissons\u003C/strong>, where their father Chlothar I lay.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Queen \u003Cstrong>Brunhilda\u003C/strong> was captured and sent to \u003Cstrong>Rouen\u003C/strong>, entrusted to Bishop \u003Cstrong>Praetextatus\u003C/strong>. Her daughters were taken to \u003Cstrong>Meaux\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The young prince \u003Cstrong>Childebert\u003C/strong>, Sigebert’s son, escaped thanks to Duke \u003Cstrong>Gondovald\u003C/strong>, who took him to Austrasia.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He was proclaimed king at \u003Cstrong>Metz\u003C/strong> on \u003Cstrong>Christmas Day 575\u003C/strong>, at the age of five.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>His survival prevented Chilperic from reuniting the Frankish kingdom and ensured the continuation of war between \u003Cstrong>Neustria and Austrasia\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ The revolt of Merovech (576–577)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Sigebert’s death did not end tensions. On the contrary, Chilperic’s kingdom was soon shaken by an internal crisis: the rebellion of his own son \u003Cstrong>Merovech\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>A scandalous marriage\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>In spring \u003Cstrong>576\u003C/strong>, Chilperic tried to consolidate his power in the Loire valley.\u003Cbr>\nHe sent Count \u003Cstrong>Roccolenus\u003C/strong> to retake \u003Cstrong>Tours\u003C/strong>, where Austrasian Duke \u003Cstrong>Guntram Boso\u003C/strong> had taken refuge, protected by the basilica of \u003Cstrong>Saint Martin of Tours\u003C/strong> and the right of sanctuary.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, Merovech was sent to \u003Cstrong>Poitou\u003C/strong>, a region still loyal to Austrasia.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But the prince abruptly changed strategy.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Passing through \u003Cstrong>Tours\u003C/strong> and then \u003Cstrong>Rouen\u003C/strong>, he met \u003Cstrong>Brunhilda\u003C/strong>, Sigebert’s widow. With Bishop \u003Cstrong>Praetextatus’s\u003C/strong> blessing, Merovech married her.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The marriage immediately scandalised the Frankish court.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Brunhilda was his aunt by marriage, making the union \u003Cstrong>incestuous under canon law\u003C/strong>. Praetextatus was accused of violating Church rules and supporting an attempt at usurpation.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>For Merovech, the marriage had political logic:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>ally with the Austrasian dynasty\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>protect himself from his stepmother \u003Cstrong>Fredegund\u003C/strong>, who wanted to secure the future of her own son\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>Brunhilda accepted the union to avoid being locked in a monastery.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch3>The prince’s arrest\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>Informed of the marriage, \u003Cstrong>Chilperic\u003C/strong> personally went to \u003Cstrong>Rouen\u003C/strong>, where the couple had taken refuge in a church dedicated to Saint Martin.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The king first swore he would not separate them and offered traditional reconciliation gestures:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>a kiss of peace\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>a shared meal\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>But once Merovech left the church, Chilperic \u003Cstrong>betrayed his promise\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The prince was disarmed and stripped of rank. His weapons, symbol of his freedom and dynastic rights, were taken away.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In summer \u003Cstrong>576\u003C/strong>, Merovech was \u003Cstrong>tonsured and ordained a priest\u003C/strong>, then confined to the monastery of \u003Cstrong>Saint-Calais\u003C/strong>, near Le Mans.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Brunhilda was sent back to Austrasia.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch3>Escape and rebellion\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>Merovech soon \u003Cstrong>escaped the monastery\u003C/strong> with the help of companions.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He joined Duke \u003Cstrong>Guntram Boso\u003C/strong> at the basilica of Saint Martin of Tours, hoping for the support of Bishop \u003Cstrong>Gregory of Tours\u003C/strong>. Gregory refused to compromise himself in a rebellion against the king.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>A small group gathered around the prince. Some even plundered the estates of Count \u003Cstrong>Leudaste\u003C/strong>, loyal to Chilperic.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Merovech tried to join \u003Cstrong>Brunhilda in Austrasia\u003C/strong> with around five hundred men.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But the attempt failed.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In Austrasia, he was \u003Cstrong>rejected by Brunhilda\u003C/strong> and by the great men of the realm, who did not want to provoke a new war with Chilperic.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He took refuge near \u003Cstrong>Reims\u003C/strong>, protected by Duke \u003Cstrong>Lupus of Champagne\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch3>The judicial council of Paris (577)\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Concile_de_Paris_%28577%29.jpg\" alt=\"Judicial council of Paris\">\n\u003Cem>Judicial council of Paris — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>To crush the rebellion, Chilperic organised a judicial council in \u003Cstrong>577\u003C/strong> in \u003Cstrong>Paris\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Forty-five bishops participated.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Bishop \u003Cstrong>Praetextatus\u003C/strong>, accused of supporting Merovech and authorising his marriage to Brunhilda, was found guilty. He was deposed and exiled to \u003Cstrong>Jersey\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Bishop \u003Cstrong>Gregory of Tours\u003C/strong> was also accused of treason. After denying complicity, he was pardoned by the king.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch3>The death of Merovech\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>Merovech tried to continue the struggle.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>At the end of \u003Cstrong>577\u003C/strong>, he heard that the city of \u003Cstrong>Thérouanne\u003C/strong> might rally to him. He gathered a small troop and marched toward the city.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But he fell into a \u003Cstrong>trap\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Royal troops were waiting.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>According to the official version reported by Gregory of Tours, Merovech asked a companion named \u003Cstrong>Gailen\u003C/strong> to kill him to avoid the torture reserved for usurpers.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>However, several chroniclers suspected this death was \u003Cstrong>ordered by Fredegund\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch3>Reprisals\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>When Chilperic arrived, he brutally executed the prince’s companions.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Punishments were severe:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Gailen\u003C/strong> was mutilated before being put to death\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Cuicilo\u003C/strong> was beheaded\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>other supporters were executed\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>The revolt was definitively crushed.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>That same year, Fredegund’s son \u003Cstrong>Samson\u003C/strong> died of illness at the age of two.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Despite this family tragedy, Chilperic emerged victorious:\u003Cbr>\nno direct rival now threatened his throne.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Le_royaume_des_Francs_en_577.png\" alt=\"The kingdom of the Franks in 577\">\n\u003Cem>The kingdom of the Franks in 577 — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But the war with Austrasia and Brunhilda was far from over.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🛡️ Strengthening royal authority (577–580)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>After crushing Merovech’s revolt, Chilperic sought to \u003Cstrong>restore royal authority\u003C/strong> in a kingdom weakened by civil wars and aristocratic intrigues.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>Campaigns against the Bretons\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>From \u003Cstrong>577\u003C/strong>, the king raised armies in cities \u003Cstrong>south of the Loire\u003C/strong> to lead expeditions against the \u003Cstrong>Bretons\u003C/strong> in western Gaul.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>These campaigns had two goals:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>reassert Frankish authority in peripheral regions\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>prevent the Bretons from taking advantage of political instability\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>Results were limited, but these operations showed the king could still mobilise the kingdom’s forces.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch3>Heavier taxation\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>To finance his power and campaigns, Chilperic restored \u003Cstrong>heavy taxation\u003C/strong>, inspired by the Roman administrative model.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The cities of \u003Cstrong>Aquitaine\u003C/strong>, often shifting between kingdoms during wars, were particularly affected: many had not paid taxes for years.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>This fiscal policy was unpopular among local elites and part of the population, attached to more “egalitarian” Frankish traditions.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>However, accumulated wealth allowed the king to display his power.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He notably commissioned a \u003Cstrong>missorium\u003C/strong>, a large gold dish inlaid with precious stones weighing about \u003Cstrong>fifty pounds\u003C/strong>, meant to impress foreign ambassadors and symbolise royal wealth.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch3>Discipline imposed on the aristocracy\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic also faced a turbulent nobility, some of whom had supported enemies or tried to exploit unrest.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>To impose respect, he adopted a severe policy.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Those guilty of \u003Cstrong>lèse-majesté\u003C/strong> were sometimes condemned to exemplary mutilations: hands and feet cut off, then public display at crossroads.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Salic law, however, forbade executing the condemned, which explains why mutilations served primarily as \u003Cstrong>symbolic and deterrent punishment\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚖️ Conflict with Gregory of Tours (580)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Gregoire_de_Tours_statue.jpg\" alt=\"Statue of Gregory of Tours\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Statue of Gregory of Tours — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>This period was also marked by a famous confrontation between Chilperic and Bishop \u003Cstrong>Gregory of Tours\u003C/strong>, the main chronicler of the time.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Appointed bishop around \u003Cstrong>573\u003C/strong> with the support of \u003Cstrong>Sigebert\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Brunhilda\u003C/strong>, Gregory was in a delicate position under Chilperic.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>At Tours, he faced hostility from part of the clergy and royal power.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>With the support of a high palace officer, \u003Cstrong>Ansoald\u003C/strong>, close to Fredegund, he managed to have his personal enemy, Count \u003Cstrong>Leudaste\u003C/strong>, removed and replaced by \u003Cstrong>Eunomius\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Leudaste sought revenge.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He accused Gregory of plotting with Austrasia and of spreading an explosive rumour:\u003Cbr>\nQueen \u003Cstrong>Fredegund\u003C/strong> allegedly committed adultery with \u003Cstrong>Bertrand of Bordeaux\u003C/strong>, a relative of the king.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Such an accusation could undermine the \u003Cstrong>legitimacy of Chilperic’s children\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The king ordered an investigation.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch3>The judicial council of Berny\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>To judge the case, Chilperic convened a council in \u003Cstrong>September 580\u003C/strong> at his palace of \u003Cstrong>Berny\u003C/strong>, near Soissons.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The accusation was brought by Bishop \u003Cstrong>Bertrand of Bordeaux\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Gregory gathered support among the kingdom’s great men, including the chamberlain \u003Cstrong>Eberulf\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>On the day of the trial, the poet-bishop \u003Cstrong>Venantius Fortunatus\u003C/strong> delivered a long \u003Cstrong>panegyric\u003C/strong> in honour of the king.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In this speech, Chilperic was presented as:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>Chlothar I’s favourite son\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>a pious and learned king\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>a defender of the Church\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>Fortunatus also praised Queen \u003Cstrong>Fredegund\u003C/strong>, described as faithful, prudent, and generous.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch3>Gregory acquitted\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>At the end of the council, Gregory of Tours was \u003Cstrong>acquitted\u003C/strong> after taking a purgatory oath.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The accuser, Leudaste, was found guilty of slander. His removal was confirmed and he had to leave the kingdom.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>According to Gregory, the affair was followed by natural disasters interpreted as divine signs:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>an \u003Cstrong>earthquake\u003C/strong> in Bordeaux\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>floods of the Loire\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>a \u003Cstrong>fire in Orléans\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>a \u003Cstrong>hailstorm\u003C/strong> devastating Bourges\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>An epidemic of \u003Cstrong>dysentery\u003C/strong> also ravaged Gaul.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In his narrative, however, these misfortunes spared Austrasia, which he interpreted as God’s judgement.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>👑 Fredegund and Brunhilda: two queens in power\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9gonde_P-FG-ES-04287.jpg\" alt=\"Fredegund\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Fredegund, queen of Neustria — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cimg src=\"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Brunhilda_of_Austrasia.png\" alt=\"Brunhilda\" class=\"kb-img-contain\">\n\u003Cem>Brunhilda, queen of Austrasia — Source: Wikimedia Commons\u003C/em>\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The war between Neustria and Austrasia was also a clash between two powerful queens.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Fredegund\u003C/strong>, Chilperic’s wife, was reputed for political intelligence and brutality.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Brunhilda\u003C/strong>, queen of Austrasia, became regent for her son and organised resistance against Neustria.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>For decades, these two women exercised exceptional political power for their time.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>🔍 \u003Cstrong>\u003Ca href=\"/en/zoom/p4ch5z2\">Zoom – Fredegund and Brunhilda: faces of power\u003C/a>\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🏛️ Chilperic: the “Nero of the Franks”?\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Bishop \u003Cstrong>Gregory of Tours\u003C/strong> portrayed Chilperic as a cruel tyrant.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But he also acknowledged some qualities.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>An administrator\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic tried to strengthen royal authority and improve kingdom finances.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>His fiscal reforms caused revolts, notably in \u003Cstrong>Limoges in 579\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Ch3>An intellectual\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the image of a mere war leader, Chilperic took interest in theology and literature.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He composed \u003Cstrong>poems\u003C/strong> and even tried to modify the \u003Cstrong>Latin alphabet\u003C/strong> by adding new letters to better transcribe Germanic sounds.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ Elimination of Audovera’s children (580)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Around \u003Cstrong>580\u003C/strong>, a new tragedy struck the royal family.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The young princes \u003Cstrong>Clodebert\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Dagobert\u003C/strong>, Fredegund’s sons, died of illness in Paris despite their mother’s efforts. Fredegund then sought to protect the future of her line.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>A potential rival remained: \u003Cstrong>Clovis\u003C/strong>, Audovera’s son and the last male heir of that branch.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Clovis boasted he was now the legitimate heir to the throne. Fredegund, feeling threatened, accused him of \u003Cstrong>sorcery and treason\u003C/strong> before Chilperic.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The prince was arrested during a hunt and brought to the queen. He refused to confess.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Three days later, he was moved to a house at \u003Cstrong>Nogent-sur-Marne\u003C/strong> and assassinated. Messengers then told the king Clovis had \u003Cstrong>committed suicide\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Soon after, Fredegund also had \u003Cstrong>Audovera\u003C/strong> murdered.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Audovera’s last daughter, \u003Cstrong>Basina\u003C/strong>, suffered a cruel fate: violated by servants of the queen to make her unfit for marriage, she was confined to the \u003Cstrong>Sainte-Croix monastery of Poitiers\u003C/strong>, where several Merovingian princesses already lived.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>These violences deprived Chilperic of an important diplomatic asset: his daughters could have served to seal alliances.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Court poets, notably \u003Cstrong>Venantius Fortunatus\u003C/strong>, composed funeral poems for the dead princes, while Gregory of Tours visited the king and queen at \u003Cstrong>Nogent-sur-Marne\u003C/strong> in 581 to offer condolences.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🤝 Rapprochement with Austrasia (581–583)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>581\u003C/strong>, a death changed the political balance: the death of \u003Cstrong>Gogo\u003C/strong>, regent of the young Austrasian king \u003Cstrong>Childebert II\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>This opened the way to a policy shift in Austrasia. A pro-Neustrian party gained the upper hand, led by aristocrats \u003Cstrong>Ursio\u003C/strong> and \u003Cstrong>Berthefred\u003C/strong>, as well as Bishop \u003Cstrong>Egidius of Reims\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Diplomatic rapprochement followed.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>An agreement was negotiated: \u003Cstrong>Childebert II became a potential heir to Chilperic’s territories\u003C/strong>. This alliance reshaped relationships among Frankish kingdoms and created tensions with Burgundian king \u003Cstrong>Guntram\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Taking advantage of these rivalries, Chilperic expanded his possessions in \u003Cstrong>Aquitaine\u003C/strong> and seized several Burgundian cities:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Saintes\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Angoulême\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Périgueux\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Agen\u003C/strong>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>The following year, Guntram ultimately recognised these conquests to conclude peace.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>💍 Alliances with the Visigoths\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>582\u003C/strong>, Chilperic sought to strengthen external alliances.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Ambassadors were sent to \u003Cstrong>Hispania\u003C/strong> to negotiate the marriage of his daughter \u003Cstrong>Rigunth\u003C/strong> with \u003Cstrong>Reccared\u003C/strong>, son of the Visigothic king \u003Cstrong>Leovigild\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>This alliance would have strengthened ties between Neustria and the Visigothic kingdom.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>That same year, Fredegund gave birth to a new son, \u003Cstrong>Theuderic\u003C/strong>, baptised in Paris during Easter celebrations of \u003Cstrong>583\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The prince’s name worried Austrasians: “Theuderic” recalled \u003Cstrong>Theuderic I\u003C/strong>, the first king of Austrasia, and some feared Chilperic might claim that kingdom.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>To reassure allies, Chilperic accused \u003Cstrong>Guntram\u003C/strong> of having ordered Sigebert’s assassination and proposed an alliance against Burgundy.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚔️ The campaign against Guntram (583)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In \u003Cstrong>583\u003C/strong>, a large campaign was launched against the Burgundian kingdom.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic’s troops attacked from the north and took \u003Cstrong>Melun\u003C/strong>, then marched toward \u003Cstrong>Orléans\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>In the south, an army from Aquitaine entered the \u003Cstrong>Berry\u003C/strong>, commanded by Duke \u003Cstrong>Didier of Toulouse\u003C/strong>. It ravaged the region and besieged several strongholds.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Bourges\u003C/strong> was threatened.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>But Guntram counter-attacked quickly.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>A battle took place between \u003Cstrong>Étampes and Orléans\u003C/strong>, where the Burgundian army won.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Invaders abandoned their booty and freed prisoners. Chilperic’s dukes lifted the siege of Bourges.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Despite peace, some Neustrian troops continued plundering in Touraine.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚰️ Final manoeuvres and assassination (584)\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>In early \u003Cstrong>584\u003C/strong>, another blow struck the dynasty.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The young prince \u003Cstrong>Theuderic\u003C/strong> died of \u003Cstrong>dysentery\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Now fearing for succession, Chilperic hesitated to send Rigunth to Spain. The marriage was maintained.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Rigunth left Gaul in \u003Cstrong>September 584\u003C/strong> with an enormous \u003Cstrong>dowry carried on about fifty wagons\u003C/strong>, worrying nobles about the state of the royal treasury.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🗡️ The assassination of Chilperic\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Soon after his daughter’s departure, between \u003Cstrong>20 and 28 September 584\u003C/strong>, Chilperic was murdered near his villa at \u003Cstrong>Chelles\u003C/strong>, after a hunt.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>As a servant helped him dismount, a man named \u003Cstrong>Falco\u003C/strong> stabbed him under the armpit and then in the belly before fleeing.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The sponsor remains unknown.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Some chronicles accuse \u003Cstrong>Brunhilda\u003C/strong>, others \u003Cstrong>Fredegund\u003C/strong>, while others mention a plot linked to King \u003Cstrong>Guntram\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>No proof allows a definitive conclusion.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>⚰️ The king’s funeral\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic’s body was prepared by Bishop \u003Cstrong>Mallulf of Senlis\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>It was transported by boat down the \u003Cstrong>Marne\u003C/strong> and then the \u003Cstrong>Seine\u003C/strong> to \u003Cstrong>Paris\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Fredegund, terrified by political intrigues, took refuge in the cathedral and did not attend the funeral.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The king was buried in the church of \u003Cstrong>Saint-Vincent–Sainte-Croix\u003C/strong>, future \u003Cstrong>abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés\u003C/strong>, beside his uncle \u003Cstrong>Childebert I\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>His sarcophagus bore the inscription:\u003C/p>\n\u003Cblockquote>\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>Rex Chilpericus hoc tegitur lapide\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\n“Under this stone lies King Chilperic.”\u003C/p>\n\u003C/blockquote>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>👑 The succession\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cp>After the king’s death, the kingdom entered disorder.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Princess \u003Cstrong>Rigunth’s\u003C/strong> convoy was plundered.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>With the support of King \u003Cstrong>Guntram\u003C/strong>, Fredegund nonetheless preserved the throne for her son.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>The infant, only a few months old, was baptised and received the name \u003Cstrong>Chlothar II\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>He became king of Neustria under the \u003Cstrong>regency of his mother Fredegund\u003C/strong>.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>🧠 Key takeaways\u003C/h2>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>561\u003C/strong>: division of the kingdom among the sons of Chlothar I.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Chilperic I\u003C/strong> becomes king of Neustria.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>568\u003C/strong>: assassination of Galswintha, beginning of the royal feud.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>575\u003C/strong>: assassination of Sigebert I.\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>584\u003C/strong>: death of Chilperic and Fredegund’s regency.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic’s reign marks the entry into a period of dynastic wars that deeply shaped Merovingian history.\u003C/p>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Ch2>📚 Sources\u003C/h2>\n\u003Ch3>Primary sources (public domain)\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Gregory of Tours\u003C/strong>, \u003Cem>History of the Franks\u003C/em>\u003Cbr>\n\u003Ca href=\"https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Histoire_des_Francs\">https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Histoire_des_Francs\u003C/a>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\u003Ch3>Free historical resources\u003C/h3>\n\u003Cul>\n\u003Cli>\n\u003Cp>Chilperic I\u003Cbr>\n\u003Ca href=\"https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilp%C3%A9ric_Ier\">https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chilpéric_Ier\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\n\u003Cp>Brunhilda\u003Cbr>\n\u003Ca href=\"https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunehaut\">https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunehaut\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\u003C/li>\n\u003Cli>\n\u003Cp>Fredegund\u003C/p>\n\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n",[19,22,25,28],{"id":20,"title":21},"p4ch5z1","The Division of 561: A Political Powder Keg",{"id":23,"title":24},"p4ch5z2","Fredegund and Brunhilda: Faces of Power",{"id":26,"title":27},"p4ch5z3","Neustria: The Rise of a New Power Centre",{"id":29,"title":30},"p4ch5z4","The Co-Kings of 561: Sigebert, Guntram, and Charibert","",true,false,"561 à 584","Neustrie","Division of the Frankish kingdom in 561 — Source: Wikimedia Commons Les luttes de pouvoir et la rivalité Frédégonde-Brunehaut après 561. Explore Chilperic I:","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch5.jpg",{"period":39,"chapters":43},{"id":5,"title":6,"titleEn":6,"titleEs":7,"range":8,"rangeEn":8,"rangeEs":8,"cover":40,"coverArtworkId":42},{"fileName":31,"filePageUrl":31,"imageUrl":41,"sourceLabel":31},"/assets/carousels/p4/Alma-Tadema The Education of the Children of Clovis.jpg","alma-tadema-the-education-of-the-children-of-clovis",[44,50,57,64,70,76,82,88,90,96,103,109,115,121,127,133,139,145,151,157,163,169,175,181,187,193,199,205,211],{"id":45,"title":46,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":47,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":48,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":49,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch1","Clovis: The King Who Forged Gaul","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch1.jpg","Le premier grand roi franc et l'unification de la Gaule.","481 à 511",{"id":51,"title":52,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":53,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":54,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":55,"realm":56,"ready":32},"p4ch2","Theuderic I: Heir of the East (Austrasia)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch2.jpg","Le partage de 511 et la naissance de l'Austrasie.","511 à 534","Austrasie",{"id":58,"title":59,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":60,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":61,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":62,"realm":63,"ready":32},"p4ch2b","Clodomir: Orléans and the Burgundian War","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch2b.png","Division of the Frankish kingdom after the death of Clovis — Source: Wikimedia Commons","511 à 524","Orléans",{"id":65,"title":66,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":67,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":61,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":68,"realm":69,"ready":32},"p4ch2c","Childebert I: Paris, Alliances, and Expansion","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch2c.jpg","511 à 558","Paris",{"id":71,"title":72,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":73,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":74,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":75,"realm":56,"ready":32},"p4ch3","Theudebert I: Austrasia’s King Looking Toward Rome","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch3.png","Un roi d'Austrasie, entre Méditerranée, monnaie et ambitions italiennes.","534 à 548",{"id":77,"title":78,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":79,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":80,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":81,"realm":56,"ready":32},"p4ch3b","Theudebald: A Brief Reign in Austrasia","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch3b.png","The Frankish kingdom in 548 — Source: Wikimedia Commons","548 à 555",{"id":83,"title":84,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":85,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":86,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":87,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch4","Chlothar I: The Last Son of Clovis","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch4.jpg","Rivalités mérovingiennes et retour au royaume unique (558).","511 à 561",{"id":15,"title":16,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":37,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":89,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":34,"realm":35,"ready":32},"Les luttes de pouvoir et la rivalité Frédégonde-Brunehaut après 561.",{"id":91,"title":92,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":93,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":94,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":95,"realm":56,"ready":32},"p4ch5b","Sigebert I: Austrasia and the Brothers’ War","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch5b.jpg","In 561 , King Chlothar I , the last son of Clovis , died. As in the previous generation, his kingdom was divided among his sons.","561 à 575",{"id":97,"title":98,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":99,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":100,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":101,"realm":102,"ready":32},"p4ch5c","Guntram: Burgundy and Merovingian Arbitration","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch5c.jpg","After King Chlothar I died in 561 , the Frankish kingdom was once again divided among his sons.","561 à 592","Bourgogne",{"id":104,"title":105,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":106,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":107,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":108,"realm":69,"ready":32},"p4ch5d","Charibert I: Paris and a Brief Reign","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch5d.png","In 561 , after King Chlothar I died, the Frankish kingdom was divided among his sons according to Merovingian tradition.","561 à 567",{"id":110,"title":111,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":112,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":113,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":114,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch6","Chlothar II: The Survivor and the Unifier","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch6.png","La fin de la Faide royale et la réunification du royaume franc.","584 à 629",{"id":116,"title":117,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":118,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":119,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":120,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch7","Dagobert I: The Last Great Merovingian King","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch7.png","L'âge d'or mérovingien, Saint Éloi et la fondation de Saint-Denis.","629 à 639",{"id":122,"title":123,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":124,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":125,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":126,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch8","The Mayors of the Palace: Power Shifts (639–687)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch8.jpg","Après Dagobert, la réalité du pouvoir passe aux maires du palais.","639 à 687",{"id":128,"title":129,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":130,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":131,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":132,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch9","Pepin of Herstal: Prince of the Franks (687–714)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch9.png","Après Tertry, Pépin de Herstal gouverne comme l'homme fort du royaume.","687 à 714",{"id":134,"title":135,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":136,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":137,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":138,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch10","Charles Martel: Ruling Without a Crown (714–741)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch10.png","Après 714, Charles Martel devient l'homme fort du royaume franc.","714 à 741",{"id":140,"title":141,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":142,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":143,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":144,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch11","Pepin the Short: From Real Power to the Crown (741–768)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch11.png","Après 741, Pépin transforme le pouvoir pépinide en royauté.","741 à 768",{"id":146,"title":147,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":148,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":149,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":150,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch12","Charlemagne: Inherit, Conquer, Scale Up (768–814)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch12.png","Après 768, Charlemagne unifie le pouvoir et change d’échelle.","768 à 814",{"id":152,"title":153,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":154,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":155,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":156,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch13","Louis the Pious: The Empire Put to the Test (814–840)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch13.png","À partir de 814, Louis le Pieux tente de maintenir l’unité impériale face aux crises successorales.","814 à 840",{"id":158,"title":159,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":160,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":161,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":162,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch14","Charles the Bald: The Birth of West Francia (840–877)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch14.png","Après 840, la Francie occidentale se stabilise entre guerre civile, Vikings et pouvoirs locaux.","840 à 877",{"id":164,"title":165,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":166,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":167,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":168,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch15","Louis the Stammerer: A Short Reign, a Fragile Kingdom (877–879)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch15.png","Après 877, Louis le Bègue hérite d’un royaume fragilisé et doit composer avec les grands.","877 à 879",{"id":170,"title":171,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":172,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":173,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":174,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch16","Louis III and Carloman II: Two Kings Facing the Vikings (879–884)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch16.jpg","Après 879, deux rois et un royaume sous pression viking ; le pouvoir se joue aussi chez les grands.","879 à 884",{"id":176,"title":177,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":178,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":179,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":180,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch17","Charles the Fat: Carolingian Unity and the Crisis of Power (884–888)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch17.jpg","Le siège de Paris (885–886) met à nu la crise du pouvoir carolingien, jusqu’à la rupture de 887–888.","884 à 888",{"id":182,"title":183,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":184,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":185,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":186,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch18","Odo: The Robertian King and the War of Prestige (888–898)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch18.jpg","Eudes impose une royauté robertienne par sacres, alliances et victoires, face à Charles le Simple.","888 à 898",{"id":188,"title":189,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":190,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":191,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":192,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch19","Charles the Simple: Norman Compromise, Imperial Ambitions, and Fall (898–929)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch19.jpg","Retour carolingien : compromis de 911, axe lotharingien, ambitions impériales, puis déposition et captivité.","898 à 929",{"id":194,"title":195,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":196,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":197,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":198,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch20","Robert I: The Robertian King of Civil War (922–923)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch20.jpg","Règne bref et décisif : sacre de 922, guerre civile, mort à Soissons et transition vers Raoul.","922 à 923",{"id":200,"title":201,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":202,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":203,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":204,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch21","Rudolph of Burgundy: King of the Franks Between Princes and Normans (923–936)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch21.jpg","Règne de Raoul : arbitrer entre princes, stabiliser la Normandie, puis succession carolingienne (936).","923 à 936",{"id":206,"title":207,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":208,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":209,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":210,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch22","Louis IV \\\"d’Outremer\\\": Carolingian Return and the Princes’ War (936–954)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch22.jpg","Restauration carolingienne : rivalité avec Hugues le Grand, crise lotharingienne, capture de 945, puis consolidation.","936 à 954",{"id":212,"title":213,"periodId":5,"thumbnailUrl":214,"thumbnailArtworkId":31,"hasEn":32,"isFallback":33,"teaser":215,"coverFit":31,"coverPosition":31,"chronicle":216,"realm":31,"ready":32},"p4ch23","Lothair and Louis V: The End of the Carolingians (954–987)","/assets/covers/cover-p4ch23.jpg","Lothaire et Louis V : guerre avec l’Empire, crise lotharingienne, mort de 987 et bascule capétienne.","954 à 987",1778543068706]