북위, 동위, 서위, 북주, 북제와 프랑크왕국 역사 자료

필자는 서고트왕국이 북위이며 고구려라 추정한 바 있다. 그러나 이에 대해 서양사와 동양사를 비교하며, 한번 더 확인해 보고자 한다. 프랑스 역사학자 르네 그루세는 '유라시아 유목제국사'에서 북위가 프랑크왕국이라 주장했다.

 

북위는 동양사에서 서위, 동위로 갈라졌다 한다. 그러다가 북주, 북제로 되었다가 수나라에 의해 통일 되었다 한다. 서고트왕국은 프랑크왕국에 의해 남쪽으로 밀리지만, 동서로 나뉘는 역사는 보이지 않았다. 그러나 프랑크왕국은 Austrasia, Neustria 등으로 동서로 나뉘어 갈등을 빚다가 합쳐지는 양상을 보인다. 그래서 이에 대해 좀더 자세히 파악해 보고자 한다.

 

 

먼저 북위의 쇠퇴과정과 동위, 서위의 성립, 이어서 북제, 북주의 성립, 그리고 수에의해 통일되는 과정을 동양사에서 살펴 보고자 한다.

 

"북위의 쇠퇴 및 멸망

 

효문제 사후 어린 효명제를 대신해 섭정한 영태후는 정치를 하면서 불교에 심취해 전국에 사탑을 건립하여 재정을 어지럽혔다. 그로 인해 국내에 도적들이 봉기하고, 그동안 누적된 한화정책에 대한 선비족의 불만은 523년에 일어난 6진의 난을 초래하여 북위 멸망의 원인이 되었다.

 

6진은 원래 북위의 수도 평성을 지키던 6곳의 군사기지로 이곳엔 왕실 계통의 유력자들이 머물면서 국경을 지켰기에 대우가 좋았다. 하지만 급진적인 한화정책과 수도의 이전으로 인해 대우가 소홀해지면서 그 불만이 누적되어 6진의 난을 초래하게 된 것이다.

 

영태후는 효명제를 독살하고 황제를 두 번이나 바꿔 세우지만 6진의 난의 진압과정 중 대군벌으로 성장한 지금의 산시 성 삭현 지방의 흉노족 출신 이주영이 군사를 일으켜 영태후에 맞서 효장제를 옹립했다. 이주영은 528년에 낙양을 함락한 뒤 영태후와 영태후가 세운 황제를 황하에 빠뜨려 죽이고, 승상 이하 대신 천여 명을 처형하니 역사에서는 이를 하음의 변이라고 한다.

 

이주영은 6진의 난을 평정하고 진양(晉陽)에서 조정과 효장제를 마음대로 휘둘렀으나 이주씨 휘하의 장군 고환이 그 폭정을 비판하여 이주씨와 대립하고 532년 낙양에 들어와 이주씨에 의해 세워진 절민제를 폐위하고 효무제를 세웠다. 고환은 이주씨 일당을 각지에서 격파하여 정권은 그에게로 넘어갔다.

 

그러나 효무제는 이번엔 고환의 전횡을 싫어해 낙양을 탈출해 장안으로 도망쳐 우문태에게 의지하자, 고환은 효정제를 옹립하고 534년 수도를 업으로 옮겼다. 같은 해 우문태는 효무제를 살해하고 문제를 즉위시키니 이로써 북위는 동서로 분열하게 되었다. 역사상 이것을 동위, 서위라 부른다.

 

동위의 정권은 모두 고씨의 손에 있어, 고환의 아들 고양이 재상이 되어 550년에 효정제로부터 제위를 빼앗아 북제를 건국했다. 서위에서도 정권은 우문씨가 차지하여 우문태의 아들 우문각이 556년에 공제를 폐위하고 다음 해 북주를 건국하니 이로써 동서 양위는 멸망했다."

(자료 : 북위, 위키백과)

 

​북위 수도의 변천을 살펴 보면, 성락 (386-398), 평성 (398-494), 낙양 (494-534), 장안 (534-535)으로 이어진다. 이러한 수도는 북위 지역의 변천을 의미하므로 주목하여 살펴 볼 필요가 있다.  

 

북위는 또한 그 이전의 전진, 대나라의 지역으로 기술되며, 북위 이후에는 동위, 서위로 기술된다. 즉 동위 지역은 과거 전진지역이며, 서위지역은 과거 대나라지역이라는 것이다. 
 

 

 

"동위(東魏)는 534년부터 550년까지 존속했던 중국의 나라이다. 고구려 바로 옆에 있어서 교류하기 편했으며, 백제에 압력을 넣은 국가이다. (고구려의 사주).....

 

건국 후 고환이 진양에서 모든 정사를 휘둘렀고, 그가 죽자 장남 고징(高澄)이 뒤를 이어 전횡을 휘두르게 된다. 549년 고징은 제왕(齊王)에 봉해지며 사실상 북제를 열었다. 그러나 고징은 노비였던 난경(蘭京)에게 살해되고, 고환의 차남인 고양(高洋)이 제왕을 물려받게 되었다. 550년 고양은 효정제로부터 선양을 받으며 북제를 건국하였으며 동위는 16년 만에 멸망하였다."

(자료 : 동위, 나무위키)

 

 

"서위(西魏)는 535년부터 556년까지 존속했던 중국의 나라이다.........
건국 후 동위처럼 우문태가 화주에서 모든 정사를 휘둘렀다. 535년 도망온 효무제와 사이가 틀어지자 효무제를 독살하고 새로 문제(文帝)를 옹립하였고, 서위가 건국되었다. 556년 우문태가 죽자 아들 우문각(宇文覺)이 후계자가 되었다. 그러나 실권은 사촌인 우문호(宇文護)가 가지고 있었으며 556년 우문호에 의해 공제(恭帝)가 우문각에게 선양하면서 북주(北周)가 건국되었고, 서위 정권은 31년만에 멸망하게 되었다."

(자료 : 서위, 나무위키)

 

 

"중국 남북조시대 북조의 왕조다. 존속 기간은 550년 ~ 577년. 다른 제나라랑 구분키 위해 북제, 호제(胡齊)[1], 고제(高齊)라 일컫기도 한다.

북위가 동위와 서위로 갈라졌을 때, 동위의 효정제 원선견이 북제의 문선제 고양에게 선위하면서 시작되었다. 고양은 북위 선비족 탁발씨 황제인 효문제 시절 고씨 성씨를 받은 선비족이다. 당연한 것이 선비족이 중국 북방을 정복하고 세운 북위에서 지배층 교체 없이 북주, 북제로 나뉘었으며 당시 엄연히 북위의 지배층은 선비족이고 북제 또한 선비족들이 지배층이여서 아무리 선비족에 따르는 한족들을 등용했다고 해서 한족이 지배층이 될 수는 없었다.[2][3] 서위의 후신인 북주에게 멸망당했다.

스스로는 제나라라고 칭했지만 소도성이 세운 남조(육조시대)의 제(육조)가 같은 이름이었기에 북제라고 한다. 그래서 육조의 제를 남제라고 부르기도 한다.[4] 다만 남제는 북제가 세워지기 50년 전인 502년에 멸망한 상태여서 둘이 겹치지는 않는다.

당대에야 화북을 양분한 강호였겠으나 오늘날에는 중국사의 수많은 그렇고 그런 단명 왕조1이 되어 버렸다. 그래도 그 짧은 기간 동안 고구려와는 거란과 유민 송환 문제로 대립하기도 하였다.

돌궐에게 북주랑 같이 조공하였으며, 신라 진흥왕을 책봉한 국가이다......

 

 

북제가 쇠약해져 가는 것을 지켜본 북주 무제 우문옹(宇文邕)은 출병을 결심했다. 575년 북주군의 침공이 시작되면서 순식간에 영토를 잃고 말았다. 577년 후주는 장남 고항에게 양위하였고, 북주군의 추격을 피해서 도피를 하지만 결국에는 부하들이 배신하면서 3월 청주(青州)에서 유주 고항과 함께 북주군에게 생포되었다. 그 후, 북제는 멸망하였다. 북주는 고위를 온공(温公)으로 봉했지만, 577년 일족과 함께 살해했다.

결국 북제는 고위가 곡률광을 죽인 지 5년, 고장공을 죽인 지 3년 만에 멸망했다. 고위는 막판에 자신의 8살 난 아들 고항을 황제로 세우고 태상황을 칭했으나, 결국 항복했다. 그러나 반역죄로 모함받아 고추[19]로 입을 막아 질식사당하고, 고씨 황족들은 모조리 멸족당했다.[20]

반면 북주의 무제 우문옹은 한족의 문화를 받아들여 율령[21]을 정비하고 국력을 강화했으니, 점차 국력이 역전이 되는 것은 당연한 일이었다. 단적인 일화로, 강을 끼고 대치하던 북제와 북주 사이에서 처음에는 겨울에 도강을 막기 위해 국력이 약한 북주가 얼음을 깼는데, 나중에는 북제가 얼음을 깨는 처지가 되었다. 사실 우문호가 집권한 시기부터 있었던 일이라는 것이 충공깽... [22]

이로서, 굳이 따지면 우문씨 일족이 제위를 강탈한 고씨 일족까지 멸족시키면서 완벽하게 북위의 유산들을 청소했다고 볼 수 있다.

여담으로 북제가 존재했던 시기는 신라 진흥왕(540년 ~ 576년)의 재위 기간과 정확히 겹친다. 신라는 564년과 572년에 북제(北齊)에 사신을 보내 조공하였고, 무성제 고담은 진흥왕을 사지절(使持節) 동이교위(東夷校尉) 낙랑군공(樂浪郡公) 신라왕(新羅王)에 봉했다.

 

(자료 : 북제, 나무위키)

 

 

 

"북주(北周)는 옛 중국 남북조시대 북조의 왕조다. 존속 기간은 557년 ~ 581년. 당대에는 그냥 주라고 불렸으나 다른 주나라랑 구분키 위하여 북주, 호주(胡周), 우문주(宇文周)라고도 일컫는다.

 

 

2.1. 시조 우문태

 

육진의 난에 참가하였다가 하발악에게 귀순하여 두각을 나타낸 우문태는 하발악의 사후, 하발악이 가지고 있던 기반으로 관중 지방에서 세력을 과시했다. 534년 북위의 대승상 고환을 제거하는 음모를 꾸미다가 실패한 효무제는 관중의 장안으로 도망쳐 관서 대도독이었던 우문태의 보호를 받았다. 고환은 따로 효정제를 세우고 이로써 북위는 우문태가 실권을 잡은 서위와 고환이 실권을 잡은 동위로 분열되었다. 서위의 승상이 된 우문태는 효무제와의 불화로 그를 먼저 제거해 버리고 그의 사촌 문제 원보거를 옹립했다. 553년에는 후경의 난을 틈타 남조의 양나라를 공격해 원제 소역을 죽이고 촉 땅을 빼앗고 강릉 일대에 후량이라는 괴뢰국을 세워 소찰을 꼭두각시 황제로 삼았다. 554년 문제의 아들 폐제 원흠이 권력 농단을 하던 우문태를 제거할려고 하자 우문태는 선수를 쳐 폐제를 죽이고 그의 동생 공제 원곽을 세웠다.

 

2.2. 북주의 건국과 권신 우문호

 

556년 우문태가 사망하자 자신의 아들들이 어려 자신의 조카 진공 우문호(宇文護)에게 실권을 넘긴다. 557년 실권자 우문호는 공제에게 협박을 하여 그의 사촌 동생이자 우문태의 뒤를 이은 우문각(宇文覺)에게 선양하도록 했다. 이에 주나라가 건국되었는데 과거의 주와 구분하기위하여 북주(北周)라고 부른다. 하지만 실권은 사촌형인 우문호가 가지고 있었고 마음대로 권력을 남용했다. 이에 나이는 어렸지만 강한 성격이었던 우문각은 불만을 품고 일부 세력과 함께 우문호를 제거하려고 했다. 하지만 557년 실권자 우문호는 효민제 우문각을 폐하고 죽였으며 우문각의 동생 우문육(宇文毓)을 세웠다. 우문육은 겉으로는 너그럽고 만만해 보였지만 능력이 있어서 원로 대신들이 점점 몰려들고 백성들에게 위망을 샀다. 이에 우문육을 시험하고자 병권을 제외한 모든 권한을 우문육에게 넘기니 모든 권력을 접수하고 점점 황제의 재능을 발휘하기 시작했다. 겁이 난 우문호는 560년 우문육을 독살하고 그 동생 우문옹(宇文邕)을 세웠다. 우문호는 황제가 될 힘이 있었으나, 민심을 위해서인지 황제가 되진 않았다.

이 우문옹은 매우 무능해서 우문호가 충신을 죽이고 간신을 등용하고 황제보다 군대와 재산이 많아도, 우문호의 아들들이 온갖 막장 패악짓을 해도 모르는 척 했다. 그후에는 우문호의 덕이 높다면서 그를 이름을 부르지 않고 직책으로 불렀다. 그러자 우문호는 우문옹에게 마음을 점점 놓게 되었다.

하지만 이것은 우문옹의 계략으로, 우문옹은 실제로는 매우 유능한 사람으로 앞서 두 형이 유능함을 보여주다가 제거된 것을 보고 무능한 척하면서 힘을 길렀다. 마침내 13년 후인 572년 실권자 우문호를 죽이고 황권을 회복하였다. 바로 그가 북주의 명군인 무제다. 앞서 우문호는 유계재에게서 곧 변고가 있을 것이니 실권을 반납하고 병을 이유로 사퇴해 집에 있으면 주공단과 소공석이 될 수 있으며 자손들도 번성할 것이라고 제안을 받았다. 하지만 우문호는 이를 거절했으며 우문호에게 벼슬을 뺴앗긴 우문직을 포섭한 무제는 왕궤, 우문신거, 우문효백도 추가적으로 포섭했다. 우문호가 입궐하자 무제가 태후가 술을 좋아하니 태후를 알현하여 술 좀 그만 드시라고 주청할 것을 제안했다. 이에 우문호는 태후를 알현하여 글을 읽는데 무제가 뒤에서 옥으로 된 홀로 우문호의 뒤통수를 때렸다. 직후 쓰러진 우문호의 머리를 우문직이 베어버렸다. 그 후 무제의 명령으로 우문호의 아들들과 부하들을 제거하고 실권을 찾았다.

 

2.3. 무제의 치세

 

무제는 전쟁 노비를 해방하여 일반 농민으로 개편하여 농업에 종사하도록 하고, 균전제를 확대 실시하여 농민에게 토지를 분배하였다. 또한, 황무지 개간 및 수리 시설의 확대로 농업 생산력을 증대시켰다. 그리고, 부병제를 균전제와 결합시켜 병농 일치화하고, 부병을 황제에 직속시켜 황제의 군사 통제권을 강화시켰다. 또한 폐불을 단행하여 승려를 환속시키고, 사원전을 몰수하여 균전농에게 분배해 부역과 세금을 납부케 하여 세수를 확대하였다. 이렇게 커진 국력으로 577년 북제를 멸하고 화북 지역을 통일했고 고구려와 충돌하기도 했다. 그러나 남쪽의 남진을 토벌하기 위해 준비하던 무제가 36세의 이른 나이에 병사하면서 나라가 흔들리기 시작하였다.

 

2.4. 멸망

 

578년 무제의 장남인 선제(宣帝) 우문윤(宇文贇)이 즉위하였다. 그러나 선제는 황태자 시절 술을 좋아하고 놀기를 좋아해서 무제에게 엄격한 교육과 체벌을 받았다. 무제는 마음에 들지 않는 선제를 폐태자할려고 했지만 그의 동생들이 나이가 어리고 그나마 선제가 유능한 편이라 관두었다. 선제는 아버지에 대한 증오심이 엄청나서 아버지가 죽은 뒤에도 슬퍼하지 않고 오히려 회초리 자국을 어루만지며 왜 늦게 죽었냐고(...) 고인드립에 패드립을 쳤다. 음란사치하여 황후를 5명이나 두었는데 갑자기 1년 후 7살인 정제(靜帝) 우문천(宇文闡)에게 제위를 물려주고 천원황제(天元皇帝)로 자칭하며 주색잡기에 열중하였다. 580년 22세의 나이로 사망하자 북주의 멸망이 가시화된다. 선제의 황후 양황후의 부친이었던 양견(楊堅)이 섭정이 되어 실권을 장악하였다. 580년 양견은 수왕(隋王)에 책봉되었고 581년 그에게 대항하는 난을 진압하면서 확실하게 반대 세력을 제거했으며 9세인 정제에게 선양을 받아 수(隋)를 건국하면서 북주는 24년만에 멸망하였다. 양견은 수나라 건국 직후 정제를 포함한 우문씨 일족을 모두 죽여없앴다.[1][2] 이것은 589년 진나라 멸망 후 진 황실을 북서쪽에 땅을 주고 살게 해준 것과는 다른 조치였다. 그래도 후손 중 일부가 살아남았는지 당고조가 북주의 후예를 개국공에 봉했다는 얘기가 있기는 하다.

 

 

(자료 : 북주, 나무위키)

 

 

 

 

 

 

<프랑크왕국에서의 동시기 내용>

 

 

"Clovis (Latin: Chlodovechus; reconstructed Frankish: *Hlodowig; c. 466 – 27 November 511)[1] was the first king of the Franks to unite all of the Frankish tribes under one ruler, changing the form of leadership from a group of royal chieftains to rule by a single king and ensuring that the kingship was passed down to his heirs.[2] He is considered to have been the founder of the Merovingian dynasty, which ruled the Frankish kingdom for the next two centuries.

Clovis succeeded his father, Childeric I, as a king of Salian Franks in 481, and eventually came to rule an area extending from what is now the southern Netherlands to northern France, corresponding in Roman terms to Gallia Belgica (northern Gaul). At the Battle of Soissons (486) he established his military dominance of the rump state of the fragmenting Western Roman Empire which was then under the command of Syagrius. By the time of his death in either 511 or 513, Clovis had conquered several smaller Frankish tribes in the northeast of Gaul including some northern parts of what is now France. Clovis also conquered the Alemanni tribes in eastern Gaul, and the Visigothic kingdom of Aquitania in the southwest. These campaigns added significantly to Clovis's domains, and established his dynasty as a major political and military presence in western Europe...............

 

Around 493 AD, he secured an alliance with the Ostrogoths through the marriage of his sister Audofleda to their king, Theodoric the Great.[17] In the same year, the neighboring King of the Burgundians was slain by his brother, Gundobad; bringing civil strife to that kingdom.........

 

In 496 the Alamanni invaded, some Salians and Ripuarians reguli defected to their side. Clovis met his enemies near the strong fort of Tolbiac. During the fighting, the Franks suffered heavy losses and Clovis (+three thousand Frankish companions) might have converted to Christianity.[21] With the help of the Ripuarian Franks he narrowly defeated the Alamanni in the Battle of Tolbiac in 496.[17]

............

 

In 500 or 501 the relationship between the Burgundian brothers took the turn to the worse began scheming against his brother. He promised his brother-in-law territory and annual tribute for defeating his brother. Clovis was eager to subdue the political threat to his realm and crossed to the Burgundian territory. After hearing about the incident Gundobad moved against Clovis and called his brother. The three armies met near Dijon, where both the Franks and Godegisel's forces defeated the host of dumbfounded Gundobad, who was able to escape to Avignon. Clovis proceeded to follow to the Burgundian king and laid siege to the city, however, after some months he was convinced to abandon the siege and settled for an annual tributary from Gundobad.[22]

 

 

................

 

Armonici allies

 

In 501, 502 or 503 Clovis led his troops to Armorica. He had previously restricted his operations to minor raids, yet, this time the goal was subjugation. Clovis' failed to complete his objective via military means, therefore, he was constrained to statecraft, which proved fruitful for the Armonici shared Clovis' disdain for the Arian Visigoths. And thus Armorica and her fighters were integrated into Frankish realm.[23]

 

.............

 

In 507 Clovis was allowed by the magnates of his realm to invade the remaining threat of the Kingdom of the Visigoths.[24] King Alaric had previously tried to establish a cordial relationship with Clovis by serving him the head of exiled Syagrius on a silver plate in 486 or 487.[13] However, Clovis was no longer able to resist the temptation to move against the Visigoths for many Catholics under Visigoth yoke were unhappy and implored Clovis to make a move.[25] But just to be absolutely certain about retaining the loyalties of the Catholics under Visigoths, Clovis ordered his troops to omit raiding and plunder, for this was not a foreign invasion, but a liberation.[24]

 

Armonici assisted him in defeating the Visigothic kingdom of Toulouse in the Battle of Vouillé in 507, eliminating Visigothic power in Gaul. The battle added most of Aquitaine to Clovis's kingdom[17] and resulted in the death of the Visigothic king Alaric II.

 

 

............

 

When Clovis died, his kingdom was partitioned among his four sons, Theuderic, Chlodomer, Childebert, and Clotaire. This partition created the new political units of the Kingdoms of Rheims, Orléans, Paris and Soissons, and inaugurated a tradition that would lead to disunity lasting until the end of the Merovingian dynasty in 751. Clovis had been a king with no fixed capital and no central administration beyond his entourage. By deciding to be interred at Paris, Clovis gave the city symbolic weight. When his grandchildren divided royal power 50 years after his death in 511, Paris was kept as a joint property and a fixed symbol of the dynasty.[29]"

 

(source : Clovis I (481-511), Wikipedia)

 

 

 

Division of Gaul on Clovis's death, showing Theuderic's kingdom beside his brothers' (source : Wikipedia)

 

 

"Theuderic I[a] (c. 485 – 533/4) was the Merovingian king of Metz, Rheims, or Austrasia—as it is variously called—from 511 to 533 or 534.

 

He was the son of Clovis I and one of his earlier wives or concubines (possibly a Franco-Rhenish Princess, Evochildis of Cologne).[1] In accordance with Salian tradition, the kingdom was divided between Clovis's four surviving sons: Childebert I in Paris, Chlodomer in Orléans, and Chlothar I in Soissons. Theuderic inherited Metz in 511 at his father's death. Early in his reign, he sent his son Theudebert to kill the Scandinavian King Chlochilaich (Hygelac of Beowulf fame) who had invaded his realm.[2]

 

 

 

Theuderic got involved in the war between the Thuringian King Hermanfrid and his brother Baderic. Theuderic was promised half of Thuringia for his help; Baderic was defeated, but the land promised was not given up. In 531, Theuderic invaded Thuringia with the support of Chlothar. Hermanfrid was killed in the invasion and his kingdom was annexed.[1]

 

The four sons of Clovis then all fought the Burgundian kings Sigismund and Godomar; Godomar fled and Sigismund was taken prisoner by Chlodomer. Theuderic married Sigismund's daughter Suavegotha. Godomar rallied the Burgundian army and won back his kingdom. Chlodomer, aided by Theuderic, defeated Godomar, but died in the fighting at Vézeronce.

 

Theuderic then, with his brother Chlothar and his son, attacked Thuringia to avenge himself on Hermanfrid. With the assistance of the Saxons under Duke Hadugato, Thuringia was conquered, and Chlothar received Radegund, daughter of King Berthar (Hermanfrid's late brother). After making a treaty with his brother Childebert, Theuderic died in 534. Upon his death the throne of Metz, passed (without hindrance, unexpectedly) to his son Theudebert. Theuderic also left a daughter Theodechild (by his wife Suavegotha, daughter of the defeated Sigismund of Burgundy). Theodechild founded the Abbey of St-Pierre le Vif at Sens.[3]

 

(source : Theuderic I (511-533/534), Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

 

Francia in 714 showing Austrasia (Eastern part) and Neustria (Wesern part) region (source : Wikipedia)

 

 

 

"Theudebert I (French: Thibert/Théodebert) (c. 500 – 547 or 548) was the Merovingian king of Austrasia from 533 to his death in 548. He was the son of Theuderic I and the father of Theudebald......

 

 

During his father's reign, the young Theudebert had shown himself to be an able warrior. In 516 he defeated a Danish army under King Chlochilaich (Hygelac of Beowulf) after it had raided northern Gaul.[2] His reputation was further enhanced by a series of military campaigns in Septimania against the Visigoths.[3]

Upon his father's death, Theudebert had to fight both his uncles Childebert and Clotaire I to inherit his father's kingdom. In the end, his military prowess persuaded Childebert to abandon the dispute and adopt Theudebert as his heir.[3] Together they campaigned against Clotaire but then pursued peace after their armies were hit by a storm.

 

 

 

After relations between the Frankish kings had settled down, Theudebert found himself embroiled in the Gothic War started when the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I attempted to subdue the Ostrogoths in Italy. Justinian saw Theudebert as an ideal ally: Austrasian lands flanked the Ostrogoths in northern Italy. The emperor paid Theudebert handsomely for his assistance, but Theudebert proved an untrustworthy ally. The Frankish armies saw the Italian conflict as an opportunity for plunder and a chance to exert their own claims to northern Italy. In the event the Byzantines were forced to fight the Franks as much as the Ostrogoths.......

 

 

Theudebert died in the 14th year of his reign (at the end of 547 or the beginning of 548). He was killed by a bison during a hunting party.[7] Theudebald, his son by Deuteria, succeeded him. In contrast to that experienced by many Merovingian kings, Theudebald's accession was peaceful.[8] "

 

(source : Theudebert I (533-548), Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

"Theudebald or Theodebald (in modern English, Theobald; in French, Thibaut or Théodebald; in German, Theudowald) (c. 535–555), son of Theudebert I and Deuteria, was the king of Metz, Rheims, or Austrasia—as it is variously called—from 547 or 548 to 555.

 

He was only thirteen years of age when he succeeded and of ill health. However, the loyalty of the nobility to his father's memory preserved the peace during his minority. He married Waldrada, daughter of the Lombard king Wacho and his step-aunt (a sister of his father's second wife). This marriage fortified the alliance between Austrasia and Lombardy.

 

Nevertheless, Theudebald could not hold on to the conquests of his father in the north of Italia. The Byzantine Emperor Justinian I sent an army under the command of Narses in 552. The Franks who did not perish of want or plague in Apulia were defeated at Casilinum.[1]

 

In 550, Theudebald convoked the Council of Toul.

 

After a prolonged sickness and prostration, he died in 555. His realm passed finally outside of the family of Theuderic I and was united to the kingdoms of his granduncle Clotaire I, who would soon become king of all the Franks.[2] "

 

(source : Theudebald (548-555), Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frankish Empire during 481-555 (source : Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

The expansion of Clothar's territories, shown in brown

 

Frankish customs of the day allowed for the practice of polygamy, especially among royalty. So it was not uncommon for a king to have multiple wives and several competing heirs upon his death. This was a major deviation from the monogamy of late Roman customs, influenced by the Church. Frankish rulers followed this practice mainly to increase their influence across larger areas of land in the wake of the Roman empire's collapse. The aim was to maintain peace and ensure the preservation of the kingdom by appeasing local leaders.[1] In the Germanic tradition succession fell, not to sons, but to younger brothers, uncles, and cousins. But under Salic law, Clovis I instituted the custom of sons being the primary heirs in all respects. However, it was not a system of primogeniture, with the eldest son receiving the vast majority of an inheritance, rather the inheritance was split evenly between all the sons. Therefore, the greater Frankish Kingdom was often splintered into smaller sub-kingdoms.[1]

 

Accession to the throne

 

Upon the death of Clovis I in the year 511, the Frankish kingdom was divided between Chlothar and his brothers, Theuderic, Childebert, and Chlodomer.[3] Because of the rights of mothers, queens were granted a portion of their son's kingdom. Clovis I, who had two wives, divided his kingdom into two for each of his wives, then parceled out pieces to his respective sons. The eldest, Theuderic, son of the first wife, had the benefit of receiving one half of the kingdom of Francia, Reims. Chlothar shared the second half of the kingdom with his brothers Childebert and Chlodomer. Chlothar received the northern portion, Childebert the central kingdom of Paris, and Chlodomer the southern Kingdom of Orléans.[1] The domain inherited by Chlothar consisted of two distinct parts: one in Gaulic Belgium, corresponding to the kingdom of the Salian Franks, where he established his capital at Soissons and included the dioceses of Amiens, Arras, Saint-Quentin and Tournai; and the other in Aquitane including the dioceses of Agen, Bazas, and Périgueux.[1]

 

First Burgundian war

 

In 516, Gundobad, king of Burgundy, died, and the throne passed to his son Sigismund, who converted to Catholicism. Sigismund adopted an extreme anti-Arian policy, going so far as to execute his Arian son Sigeric, who was the grandson of the Ostrogoth King Theoderic the Great. Sigismund also nearly prompted the Franks to launch an offensive against him, but he avoided a conflict by giving one of his daughters, Suavegotha, in marriage to Chlothar's older half-brother, Theuderic I.

 

In 523, at the instigation of their mother, Clotilde, Chlothar, Childebert, and Chlodomer joined forces in an expedition against the Burgundians. The Burgundian army was defeated, and Sigismund was captured and executed. Sigismund's brother Godomar replaced him on the throne, with the support of the aristocracy, and the Franks were forced to leave.

 

In 524, Chlothar and his brothers, including Theuderic, began a new campaign, advancing to the Isère Valley. But on 25 June 524, they suffered a serious defeat at the Battle of Vézeronce, and Chlodomer was killed. The Franks left Burgundy, and Godomar resumed his rule until 534.[4]

 

Marriage with Guntheuc

Radegonde's wedding, depiction of her praying, and prostrate in the marital bed

 

Chlothar married Guntheuc, Queen of Orléans and widow of Chlodomer, his brother. This union gave Chlothar access to Chlodomer's treasury and ensured Guntheuc's position as sole heiress to King Godegisel lands; Frankish law allowed a woman to inherit land if she had no sons.[5]

 

Marriage with Aregund

 

Chlothar's wife Ingund requested that he find a husband worthy of her sister, Aregund. Finding no one suitable, Chlothar took Aregund as one of his own wives. The year was c. 533–538. She remained his wife until the death of her sister, Ingund, in 546, after which she fell out of favor with Chlothar.[6]

 

Thuringian conquest

 

In 531, Hermanafrid, king of the Thuringians, promised to give Chlothar's half-brother, Theuderic, part of the Kingdom of Thuringia if he would help to depose Baderic, Hermanafrid's rival and brother. Theuderic accepted. However, having been injured after a victory, he appealed to Chlothar to continue the war. Hermanafrid died around this time, and the goal became simply to conquer Thuringia.

The alliance, along with the aid of his nephew Theudebert I, conquered Thuringia, and it became a part of the Frankish domain. During the division of the spoils, Chlothar and Theuderic argued fiercely over the hand of Princess Radegund, but eventually Chlothar won the dispute on the grounds that it had been his men who had captured her.[7]

 

Princess Radegund

Radegund is brought before Chlothar

 

In 538, Radegund was brought to Soissons to marry Chlothar, as "not illegitimate but legitimate queen," who could help consolidate his dominance over Thuringia.

 

While her title and status were necessary for Chlothar to attain authority over Thuringia, Radegund remained in simple clothing and was not treated in the customary manner of a queen. This was largely due to her Christian faith; she did not want to appear luxurious.

 

Radegund did not eat to excess. She insisted that much of her food be given to the poor. She spent most of her time praying and singing psalms but spent very little time with the king. Her allegiance was to God first and to Chlothar second. Chlothar became irritated and had many disputes with her.[8]

 

She retired to a convent and went on to found the abbey in Poitiers St. Croix, the first nunnery in Europe. She was canonized Saint Radegund.[9]

 

Acquisition of the kingdom of Orléans

 

Chlothar was the chief instigator in the murder of his brother Chlodomer's children in 524, and his share of the spoils consisted of the cities of Tours and Poitiers. Chlothar's brother, Chlodomer was killed on 25 June 524 during an expedition against the Burgundians at the Battle of Vezeronce. Upon Chlodomer's death, his three sons, Theodebald, Gunther, and Clodoald, were entrusted to care of their grandmother, hence the young princes were raised in Paris by Chlodomer's mother, Chlotilde.

 

To prevent the kingdom of Orleans from returning to his nephews, Chlothar joined with his brother Childebert in 532 to threaten the young heirs with death unless they agreed to join a monastery. They sent Arcadius, grandson of Sidonius Apollinaris, to their mother, Clotilde, with a pair of scissors and a sword. He gave the queen an ultimatum: the boys could either live as monks or die.

 

Germanic traditions gave Queen Clotilde, as the mother, the right as head of her household. However, among kings the lineage passed to younger brothers before it passed to the next generation. Due to tribal politics, shearing of the boys' hair could lead to a civil war; long hair was a symbol of Frankish royalty, and to remove it was considered a grave insult. But Theodebald, Gunthar, and Clodoald could someday lay claim to the throne, and it was Chlothar and Childebert's duty to pass authority on to them.

 

Clotilde was disgusted and shocked at the demands relayed by Arcadius and stated that she would rather see her grandsons dead than see their hair shorn.[10]

Assassination of Thibaut and Gunthar

 

The two uncles went through with their plan to murder the children. Chlothar stabbed Theodebald in the armpit. Gunthar threw himself at the feet of Childebert, who began to cry and almost gave in to the pleas of his nephew. Chlothar, however, demanded that Childebert carry through with the murder, stating that it was the only way to consolidate power. Childebert gave Gunthar up to Chlothar, who stabbed him.[11]

 

Theodebald and Gunthar were ten and seven years old respectively.

 

Clodoald remained alive by managing to escape, hidden by loyal supporters. He renounced all claims and chose a monastic life. Childebert and Chlothar could then freely share their acquired territory. Meanwhile, Theuderic captured a parcel consisting of Auxerrois, Berry and Sens.

 

Second Burgundian war

 

In 532, Childebert and Chlothar seized Autun. They hunted for Godomar III, brother of Sigismund, with the help of his father and ally, the king of the Ostrogoths Theoderic the Great.

 

The death of Athalaric, the grandson and successor of Theodoric the Great, in 534, generated a succession crisis in the Ostrogothic kingdom, the Burgundian ally. Chlothar, Theudebert, and Childebert took the opportunity to invade the Burgundian kingdom, now devoid of Ostrogothic protection. The Burgundian kingdom was overtaken and divided between the three Frankish rulers. Chlothar received Grenoble, Die and many of the neighbouring cities.[12]

 

First Visigoth war

Imagined Bust of Chlothar on coin minted by Louis XVIII

 

Over the years, the Spanish Visigoths had made many incursions into Frankish territories and had taken lands. Clovis had retrieved them and even made further conquests of Gothic territories. Chlothar sent his eldest sons to reclaim lost territories. Although there was some success, for some unknown reason Gunthar, his second eldest, ended his campaign and returned home. Theudebert, the eldest, continued the war and took the strongholds of Dio-et-Valquières and Cabrières. Most of the lost Frankish lands were recovered.[13]

 

Civil war

 

Chlothar attempted to take advantage of Theuderic's illness during this time, trying to attain his kingdom with the help of Childebert. However Theudebert, who was busy securing Arles, rushed back to his father Theuderic's aid. Theuderic died a few days later. And Theudebert, supported by his vassals, managed to keep his kingdom and restrained his uncles from taking over.

 

Childebert and Theudebert joined forces and declared war on Chlothar. They initially defeated him, forcing him to take refuge in a forest for protection against the alliance. While Chlothar was besieged, a storm ravaged equipment, roads, and horses and disorganized the allied army. Childebert and Theudebert were forced to abandon the siege and make peace with Chlothar.[14]

 

Ceding of Provence

 

In 537, a conflict broke out between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ostrogothic kingdom. To ensure Frankish neutrality in the conflict, King Vitiges offered Provence, which the Frankish Kings shared between them, along with the northern Alps with sovereignty over the Alemanni, by grabbing the upper Rhine valley, Main, and high Danube.[15] When the Ostrogoths ceded Provence to the Franks, he received the cities of Orange, Carpentras, and Gap.

 

Second Visigoth war

 

In spring 542, Childebert and Chlothar, accompanied by three of his sons, led an army into Visigoth Hispania. They seized Pamplona and Zaragoza but were finally forced to abandon after conquering most of the country. Since most of the king's army was still with Theudis and there was still enough power to be shown, they were ceded some major lands beyond the Pyrénées, although not as much as they had occupied.[13]

 

Tuscan tribute

 

The murder of Amalasuntha, the daughter of Theodoric the Great, and of Audofleda, sister of Clovis I, at the hands of King Theodahad of Tuscany caused Chlothar to threaten invasion if he did not receive a payment. The agreement that averted the war was for the Tuscan king to offer gold and land. However, Childebert and Theudebert cheated Chlothar, Childebert taking the money and Theudebert the land that Theodahad's successor, Vitiges turned over.[16] Chlothar's treasury was still much larger than either Childebert's or Theudebert's.

 

Death of Clotilde

Frankish Realm in 548

 

On 3 June 548, Clotilde, Chlothar's mother, died in the city of Tours. Chlothar and his brother Childebert transported her body by funeral procession to the Basilica of St. Apostles to be buried alongside her husband, Clovis I, and St. Genevieve.

 

Acquisition of Metz

 

Theudebald, Chlothar's great-nephew and the grandson of the late Theuderic, died childless in 555. So Chlothar immediately went to Metz to take possession of the kingdom from his late nephew, but under Salic Law he had to share it with his brother. So he married Vuldetrade, Theudebald's widow and the daughter of the Lombard king Wacho. This ensured the smooth succession to the kingdom of Metz, as well as an alliance with the Lombards, established since the reign of Theudebert. But the bishops condemned this incestuous marriage and forced Chlothar to divorce her. They gave her in marriage to the Bavarian Duke Garibald. To compensate for the breakdown of the marriage with Vuldetrade (Waldrada), Chlothar gave Chlothsind, his daughter, to the Lombard prince and future king, Alboin. Condat the Domesticus, great administrator of the palace of King Theudebald, retained his position after the annexation of the kingdom of Metz.[17]

 

Saxon war

 

In 555, Chlothar attacked and conquered the Saxons, who had revolted, in the upper valley of the Weser, Elbe, and the coast of the North Sea. As a submission, Chlothar required them to pay a substantial annual tribute and for some time exacted from the Saxons an annual tribute of 500 cows.[18]

 

Between 555 and 556, the Saxons revolted again, perhaps instigated by Childebert. Faced with the Saxon revolt and threat of a massacre, Chlothar preferred peace talks. He offered to forego battle if they would accept his demand to continue to pay him tribute, despite a previous rejection. But his men, aggressive, eager for battle, contested the decision. Talks were cut short when the soldiers forced him, with insults and death threats, to take on the Saxons. After an incredibly bloody battle, the Saxons and Franks made peace.[19]

 

Submission of Auvergne

 

Auvergne, a once prosperous Roman province, which had resisted the Visigoths and Franks, had hoped they could avoid destruction by offering their loyalty. Theuderic had devastated much of the land, and Theudebert pacified the land by marrying a Gallo-Roman woman of Senatorial descent. In anticipation of the death of Theodebald, Chlothar sent his son Chram to take possession of the area. In time, Chram came to control a larger area and desired to break away from his father entirely. To achieve this, he joined politically with Childebert who encouraged his dissent. In time his influence was expanded over Poitiers, Tours, Limoges, Clermont, Bourges, Le Puy, Javols, Rodez, Cahors, Albi, and Toulouse.[20]

 

War with Chram

 

Chlothar again engaged in war with the Saxons. He sent his sons Charibert and Guntram to lead an army against Chram. They marched to Auvergne and Limoges and finally found Chram in Saint-Georges-Nigremont. Their armies met at the foot of a "black mountain" where they demanded that Chram relinquish land belonging to their father. He refused, but a storm prevented the battle. Chram sent a messenger to his half-brothers, falsely informing them of the death of Chlothar at the hand of the Saxons. Charibert and Guntram immediately marched to Burgundy. The rumor that Chlothar had died in Saxony spread throughout Gaul, even reaching the ears of Childebert. It is possible that Childebert was behind the rumor as well. Chram then took the opportunity to extend his influence to Chalon-sur-Saône. He besieged the city and won. Chram married Chalda, daughter of Wiliachaire (Willacharius), Count of Orléans, which was under Childebert's authority.[21]

 

Unification of all Francia

The Death of Chramn, in a 16th-century miniature

 

On 23 December 558, Childebert died childless after a long illness. This allowed Chlothar to reunite the Greater Frankish Kingdom, as his father Clovis had done, and seize the treasure of his brother.[22]

 

The news of Childebert's death had caused many kingdoms to unify under Chlothar. Paris, which had fought against him, submitted to his rule. Chram therefore called on the Bretons to allow him refuge. He had made such an agreement with his father-in-law Willacharius, Count of Orléans, although he was currently taking refuge himself in the Basilica of St. Martin of Tours. He[who?] was caught and subsequently burned "for the sins of the people and the scandals that were perpetrated by Wiliachaire and his wife." Chlothar then restored the Basilica.[22]

 

Between 1 September and 31 August 559, with the help of the Bretons, Chram plundered and destroyed a large number of places belonging to his father. Chlothar, accompanied by his son Chilperic, advanced to Domnonée and arrived there in November or December of 560. During the battle, located near the coast, Conomor was defeated and killed when he attempted to flee. Conomor owned land on both sides of the Channel, and Chram perhaps intended to flee from Chlothar to take refuge in England with the support of Conomor. Chram fled for the sea, but first attempted to rescue his wife and daughters. He was then captured and immediately sentenced to death. He and his wife and daughters were locked in a shack and were strangled and burned.[23] Overwhelmed with remorse, Clothar went to Tours to implore forgiveness at the tomb of St Martin and died shortly afterwards at the royal palace at Compiègne.

 

Relations with the church

 

In 561, Chlothar attempted to raise taxes on churches, despite the exemption granted by Roman law which had been routinely confirmed by past kings. Indeed, Childeric I had granted immunities to ecclesiastics. The Bishop of Tours, Injuriosus refused, left his diocese, and abandoned Chlothar. At the death of the bishop, the king replaced him with a member of his household named Baudin. Similarly, Chlothar exiled the bishop of Trier, Nizier, because of its inflexibility on canon law. Thus the tax on churches held.

 

Ingund and Chlothar made many additions to churches, including the decorations of the tomb of Saint-Germain Auxerre; the basilica are preserved with a given royal chalice.

 

Death

 

At the end of his reign, the Frankish kingdom was at its peak, covering the whole of Gaul (except Septimania) and part of present-day Germany. Chlothar died at the end of 561 of acute pneumonia at the age of 64, leaving his kingdom to his four sons. They went to bury him at Soissons in the Basilica of St. Marie, where he had started to build the tomb of St. Médard.[24]

 

Succession

• Charibert received the ancient kingdom of Childebert I, between the Somme and Pyrénées, with Paris as its capital, and including the Paris Basin, Aquitaine and Provence.
• Guntram received Burgundy with a part of the Kingdom of Orléans, where he established his capital.
• Sigebert received the Kingdom of Metz with its capital Reims and Metz.
• Chilperic received the territories north of the Kingdom of Soissons.[25]

 

Female monasticism

 

Chlothar financed the construction of the monastery of Sainte-Croix in Poitiers, which folds Radegund. He transferred reliquaries that the queen had accumulated during her stay with the king to the monastery of St. Croix.

 

Family

 

"Blithilde" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Bilichild.

 

According to Gregory of Tours, "The King Chlothar had seven sons of various women, namely: with Ingund he had Gunthar, Childeric, Charibert, Guntram, Sigebert, and a daughter named Chlothsind; of Aregund, sister of Ingund he had Chilperic; and of Chunsine he had Chram."

Breakup of the Frankish Kingdoms upon Chlothar's death in 561

 

Chlothar's first marriage was to Guntheuc, widow of his brother Chlodomer, sometime around 524. They had no children. His second marriage, which occurred around 532, was to Radegund, daughter of Bertachar, King of Thuringia, whom he and his brother Theuderic defeated.[26] She was later canonized. They also had no children. His third and most successful marriage was to Ingund,[27] by whom he had five sons and two daughters:

• Gunthar, predeceased father
• Childeric, predeceased father
• Charibert, King of Paris
• Guntram, King of Burgundy
• Sigebert, King of Austrasia
• Chlothsind, married Alboin, King of the Lombards

 

Chlothar likely had an illegitimate son named Gondovald with an unnamed woman, born sometime in the late 540s or early 550s. Since Chlothar had sown children all throughout Gaul this was not unlikely. The boy was given a literary education and allowed to grow his hair long, a symbol of belonging to royalty. Although Chlothar would offer no more aid or privilege to the boy, his mother took him to the court of Childebert, who recognized him as his nephew and agreed to keep him in court.

 

His next marriage was to a sister of Ingund, Aregund, with whom Chlothar had a son, Chilperic, King of Soissons.[27] His last wife was Chunsina (or Chunsine), with whom he had one son, Chram,[28] who became his father's enemy and predeceased him. Chlothar may have married and repudiated Waldrada."

(source: Clothar I (555-561), Wikipedia)

 

 

"Sigebert I (c. 535 – c. 575) was a Frankish king of Austrasia from the death of his father in 561 to his own death. He was the third surviving son out of four of Clotaire I and Ingund. His reign found him mostly occupied with a successful civil war against his half-brother, Chilperic.

 

When Clotaire I died in 561, his kingdom was divided, in accordance with Frankish custom, among his four sons: Sigebert became king of the northeastern portion, known as Austrasia, with its capital at Rheims, to which he added further territory on the death of his brother, Charibert I, in 567 or 568; Charibert himself had received the kingdom centred on Paris; Guntram received the Kingdom of Burgundy with its capital at Orléans; and the youngest son, the aforementioned Chilperic, received Soissons, which became Neustria when he received his share of Charibert's kingdom. Incursions by the Avars, a fierce nomadic tribe related to the Huns, caused Sigebert to move his capital from Rheims to Metz. He repelled their attacks twice, in 562 and c. 568.

 

About 567, he married Brunhilda, daughter of the Visigothic king Athanagild. According to Gregory of Tours:

 

Now when king Sigebert saw that his brothers were taking wives unworthy of them, and to their disgrace were actually marrying slave women, he sent an embassy into Spain and with many gifts asked for Brunhilda, daughter of king Athanagild. She was a maiden beautiful in her person, lovely to look at, virtuous and well-behaved, with good sense and a pleasant address. Her father did not refuse, but sent her to the king I have named with great treasures. And the king collected his chief men, made ready a feast, and took her as his wife amid great joy and mirth. And though she was a follower of the Arian law she was converted by the preaching of the bishops and the admonition of the king himself, and she confessed the blessed Trinity in unity, and believed and was baptized. And she still remains catholic in Christ's name.[1]

The assassination of Sigebert by Jean Fouquet, from the fifteenth century Grandes Chroniques de France.

 

Upon seeing this, his brother Chilperic sent to Athanagild for his other daughter's hand. This daughter, Galswintha, was given him and he abandoned his other wives. However, he soon tired of her and had her murdered in order to marry his mistress Fredegund. Probably spurred by his wife Brunhilda's anger at her sister's murder, Sigebert sought revenge. The two brothers had already been at war, but their hostility now elevated into a long and bitter war that was continued by the descendants of both.

 

In 573, Sigebert took possession of Poitiers and Touraine, and conquered most of his kingdom. Chilperic then hid in Tournai. But at Sigebert's moment of triumph, when he had just been declared king by Chilperic's subjects at Vitry-en-Artois, he was struck down by two assassins working for Fredegund.[2]

 

He was succeeded by his son Childebert under the regency of Brunhilda. Brunhilda and Childebert quickly put themselves under the protection of Guntram, who eventually adopted Childebert as his own son and heir.[3] With Brunhilda he had two daughters: Ingund and Chlodosind."

 

(source : Sigebert (561-575), Wikipedia)

 

 

 

 

 

The Frankish realm as it was after the Treaty of Andelot in 587. The Burgundian kingdom of Guntram (pink) was inherited first by Childebert II and then by Theuderic II. (source : Wikipedia)

 

 

"Childebert II (c.570[1]–596) was the Merovingian king of Austrasia (which included Provence at the time) from 575 until his death in March 596,[2] as the only son of Sigebert I and Brunhilda of Austrasia; and the king of Burgundy from 592 to his death, as the adopted son of his uncle Chilperic.

...

 

 

On the death of Guntram in 592, Childebert annexed the kingdom of Burgundy, and even contemplated seizing Clotaire's estates and becoming sole king of the Franks. However, he and his young wife Faileuba were poisoned to death in 596. He had two young sons: the older, Theudebert II, inherited Austrasia with its capital at Metz, and the younger, Theuderic II received Guntram's former kingdom of Burgundy, with its capital at Orléans. "

 

(source : Childebert II (570-596), Wikipedia)

 

 

 

"Theudebert II (French: Thibert ou Théodebert) (c.585-612),[1] King of Austrasia (595–612 AD), was the son and heir of Childebert II. He received the kingdom of Austrasia plus the cities (civitates) of Poitiers, Tours, Le Puy-en-Velay, Bordeaux, and Châteaudun, as well as the Champagne, the Auvergne, and Transjurane Alemannia.

 

During his early years, his grandmother Brunhilda ruled for Theudebert and his brother Theuderic II, who had received the realm of Burgundy. After the two brothers reached adulthood, they were often at war, with Brunhilda siding with Theuderic. In 599, Theuderic defeated Theudebert at Sens, but then the two brothers allied against their cousin Chlothar II and defeated him at Dormelles (near Montereau), thereby laying their hands on a great portion of Neustria (600–604). At this point, however, the two brothers took up arms against each other; Theuderic defeated Theudebert at Étampes. In 605, Theudebert refused to aid his brother whose kingdom was invaded by Clothar II. In 610, Theudebert extorted Alsace from his brother and Theuderic took up arms against him, yet again.

 

Theudebert was defeated decisively by Theuderic at Toul and at Zülpich in 612.[2][3][4] Theudebert was locked up in a monastery at the order of his grandmother, and killed with his son Merovech.[5]

 

He was married to Bilichildis. His daughter Emma is sometimes thought to have married Eadbald of Kent."

 

(source : Theudebert II (595-612), Wikipedia)