King Chlodovech (c. 466–511) son of Childeric I and Basina of Thüringen — to us better known as Clovis I — 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. Clovis I was the grandson of Merovech, the founder of the Merovingian dynasty, and he succeeded his father at the age of fifteen in 481. Five years later he would conquer what was left of the Western Roman Empire and unite all of Gaul.

When Clovis died, his kingdom was partitioned among his four sons, Theuderic, Chlodomer, Childebert, and Chlotarius. 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, named after their Ancient Ancestor Prince Paris of Troy.

Chlotarius was born in Tournai (Tournai) in 497, as the youngest son of the illustrious Clovis and his Queen Clothilda. Chlotarius was also referred to as the ‘often married’. He had no fewer than six wives: Ingonde, Aregonde (daughter of Balderic of Thuringia), Grinside, Princess Radegonde of Thuringia, Gontheuque (Ghunteuca) daughter of Gondebaud of Burgundy and Wultrade of Lombardy. In addition, he also had several concubines. When Clovis died in 511, his Kingdom was divided among his four sons according to Frankish traditions. Chlotarius got the traditionally Frankish areas between the Oise and the lower Meuse (including Laon, Noyon, Cambrai, Tournai).

Theodebald was born around 534 as the son of the Merovingian King Theodebert and Queen Deuteria. In 547 or 548, he succeeded his father as king of Reims. He was then only about 13 years old. As usual during that period, a woman was sought and found for him. About 552, he married Waldrada of Lombardy. Theodebald proved unable to continue his father’s dynamic politics. He didn’t get much opportunity for this either, because after a eight-year reign, he died in 555 at age 22 without leaving a son old enough to succeed him. His empire went to his two great-uncles, Clovis’ remaining sons: Childebert I and Chlotarius I.

Part of Aquitaine also fell to him. He appointed Soissons his capital. The brothers waged a life-to-death battle to increase their Kingdom. However, they did work together when it came to expanding the Frankish Empire (this eventually resulted in the conquest of Burgundy and Provence).

In 524, Chlotarius died his brother Chlodomer in the battle against the Burgundians. Together with his brother Childebert, Chlotarius caused his two sons and heirs to be murdered and then married their mother Gontheuque so that the kingdom of Chlodomer could be divided among the three remaining brothers (Theodorik, Childebert and Chlotarius). In 534, the Duke of Burgundy and his vassals were eventually defeated and added to the Frankish Empire. In 537 he made a frantic attempt to conquer Provence and he succeeded. However, an attempt to capture the Visigoth Zaragoza in 542 failed. In the winter of 555/556 he carried out another punitive expedition against the Saxons. Since murder and manslaughter – also common in the family sphere – were very common, in 557 his brother Childebert incited the Saxons to a new rebellion against Chlotarius.

While Chlotarius fought against the Saxons, his brother set fire to the area around Reims. After Childebert I died in 558, Chlotarius I annexed his kingdom with the capital Paris.

Chlotarius was then crowned King of all Franks and for the first time since Clovis’ death, the Frankish empire was again united under one leader.

Of Clovis’ sons, Chlotarius was undoubtedly the most cruel and villainous. Not only did he murder his brother’s sons, his own favorite son Chramme also had to pay for it when he plotted against his father. Chramme was unsuccessful and fled to the King of Brittany who was unable to protect him. The hunt for the son started. King Chlotarius caught his son and tied him, together with his wife and children, in a hut which he then set on fire. Unfortunately they perished in the flames. In 561, three years after becoming King over the entire Frankish Empire, Chlotarius died at age 64 in Compiègne (Belgium) of a fever.

His kingdom was then divided among his four sons Charibert, Sigibert, Chilperik and Gontran (Guntram). The four territories into which the Kingdom was divided were named Austrasia, Neustria, Burgundy, and Aquitaine. But the parts were not homogeneous, each frost owned pieces of land near the neighbor: the national area had become a giant puzzle and the object of eager looks. Charibert I ruled Aquitaine in Paris, Sigebert I in Reims
over Austrasia, Chilperik I ruled in Soissons over Neustria and Gontran or Guntram in Orléans over South Gaul and Burgundy. The game of murder and manslaughter could start again!

Sigebert I was born around 530-533 as the youngest son of Chlotarius I and Ingonde. When Chlotarius died in 561, Sigebert was assigned Austrasia with sub-areas in Aquitaine and Provence. His brother Chilperik, who had received Neustria, felt disadvantaged and invaded the area of Sigebert. However, he was defeated and chased away.

New problems arose between Sigebert and his brother Chilperik when their eldest brother Charibert died in 567. The complex division of his legacy led to an outright civil war that would later escalate into a family drama starring both their wives. In 567 Sigebert in Metz married the beautiful princess Brunhilde, daughter of the Visigoth king Athanagild.

Not wanting to be left behind by his brother, Chilperik subsequently married Galswintha, Brunhilde’s older sister. However, Chilperik fell under the spell of Fredegonde, one of Galswintha’s servants. Fredegonde became the mistress of Chilperik, but her ambitions went further: she wanted to become queen. To accomplish this, she arranged for Chilperik to strangle Galswintha so that she could take her place on the throne. But one thing entailed another. Brunhilde was very angry when she heard about the murder of her sister.

She persuaded her husband Sigebert to go to war against his brother Chilperik to avenge Galswintha’s death.
Sigebert had several victories and in 575, driven by the hatred of his queen, he had advanced to Paris.
Fredegonde, however, was a dangerous enemy. She was said to have killed virtually everyone who thwarted her plans, including her stepchildren, some “witches”, two bishops, her own son Samson and her daughter Ringunth. Nobody doubted that the death of Sigibert I, who was killed by knife stabs in Vitry in 575, was the work of Fredegonde. Thus she ruled with an extremely harsh hand.

After the murder of Sigibert, Chilperik tried to annex Austrasia to his own territory. However, Brunhilde rejected his claims in her favor
5-year-old son Childebert II. Chilperik then captured Brunhilde and imprisoned her in a prison in Rouen. Brunhilde, who was still young and attractive, managed to escape with the help of Merovech (the youngest son from Chilperik’s first marriage). She then married Merovech but the marriage was later dissolved because it was incestuous. Brunhilde was forgiven for her slip. However, the unfortunate Merovech was imprisoned. Some believed that the history of Sigibert and Brunhilde had underpinned the famous ‘Nibelungen Sage’.

Childebert II was born in 570 as the only son of King Sigibert I and his Visigoth queen Brunhilde. Childebert was only five years old when his father was murdered, but he became Brunhilde thanks to the interference of his mother
accepted as its successor. Because Childebert was too young to rule herself, his mother acted as regent.
However, this brought her into conflict with the Austrasian nobility who wanted to rule on behalf of the minor Childebert. In the end, Brunhilde was even forced to flee to Bougondia and temporarily stay in exile here. Her son was left in Austrasia. Childebert took matters into his own hands in the mid-1980s.

His government was characterized by war and chaos. Important conquests no longer occurred, because the family troubles required too much time and energy. His uncle Chilperik (whose wife Fredegonde had a hand in the death of his father) had still not given up his attempts to annex Austrasia. It was Childebert’s other uncle, Gontran of Burgundy, who protected him from the invasions of Chilperik. Since Gontran himself had no heirs, he adopted his young cousin in 577.

On several occasions, however, the two compete for cities in the disputed area between Burgundy and Austrasia (including Poitiers and Tours). The arguments were eventually settled again. In 581 he was also appointed as successor by Chilperik, whose marriage until then had remained childless. On the death of Chilperik in 584 (stabbed by order of his loving wife), Fredegonde had since given birth to a son, Chlotharius II, who succeeded him. Because he was too young to rule himself, Fredegonde ruled
in his name. She made several attacks on Childebert’s life because she wanted Burgundy to fall to her son. Although Fredegonde usually made short work of her enemies, this time she was unsuccessful. In 585 Childebert fought against the Lombards together with the Byzantine Emperor (who pays him 50,000 gold pieces for this). A series of unsuccessful campaigns followed. In 590, he invaded Italy for the last time to eventually make peace with the Lombards.

Meanwhile, Austrasia was rumbling where the nobility rebelled against Childebert. However, with the help of his uncle Gontran, he managed to survive.
When Gontran died in 592, Childebert annexed Burgundy and immediately tried to add the areas of Chlotarius II to his empire. In 593 he invaded Neustria, but was defeated at Soissons. In 595, at the age of 25, Childebert II was poisoned by a group of Austrasian nobles. His two young sons Theodebert II and Theodorik II became King of Austrasia and Burgundy respectively. Because they were too young to rule themselves, their grandmother Brunhilde once again acted as regent.

Theodebert II was born in 585 as the illegitimate son of Childebert II and Faileuba. Theodebert was only 10 years old when his father died. Theodebert and his brother Theodorik succeeded their father together. Theodebert got most of Austrasia (with Metz as its capital) and Theodorik Burgundy. Because Theodebert was too young to rule, his grandmother Brunhilde acted as regent and thus actually held power. Theodebert married Bilichild and his grandmother Brunhilde demanded, jealous of the young Queen, and saw her as a competitor, demanding that he dissolve the marriage. Theodebert was not interested in this, however, after which Brunhilde left his court in 603. She left for Burgundy where she received a warm welcome at the court of Theodorik, Theodebert’s brother, two years younger. Initially, the brothers worked together to increase their power.

In 600 they joined forces against Chlotarius II (the son of Chilperik I and Fredegonde) when he invaded Austrasia and Burgundy. In 602 they marched together against the Basques. In 604 they defeated Chlotarius and captured his son. However, Brunhilde, who completely dominated her grandson Theodorik II, put the brothers against each other. By 610 the mutual rivalry had taken on such forms that the brothers went to battle against each other. Theodebert conquered Alsace (an area of his brother). Theodorik did not accept this and made a mean case with Chlotarius II. Together they defeated Theodebert in 612 at the battle of Toul and Zülpich. Theodebert was captured along with his sons and killed shortly thereafter on the orders of his brother (or rather Brunhilde?). He was buried in Cologne.

After the victory, Chlotarius claimed part of Theodorik’s territory as payment for services rendered. He was not at all interested in this and declared war to Chlotarius, but died shortly afterwards in 613 in Metz of dysentery. After the unexpected death of Theodorik, Brunhilde tried to put his underage son Sigebert II on the throne. In practice, this would mean that she ruled on his behalf. However, her attempt to re-seize power was thwarted by the Church in the person of Bishop Arnulf of Metz and the Austrasian nobility led by Pippin van Landen (an ancestor of the Carolingians who will take power later).

They sought revenge for the death of their King Theodebert. The thought of so much power in the hands of a woman will also have played a role in this (according to early Christian views, a woman had no status whatsoever). The Austrasian nobility therefore invited Chlotarius II to take over the kingdoms of Austrasia and Burgundy.

Chlotarius II was born in 584 as the son of Chilperik I, king of Neustria, and Fredegonde. Chlotarius’ father had been dead for several months during his birth. Killed by knife stabs. It is generally believed that Chlotarius’ mother, Fredegonde, had a hand in this murder. Fredegonde ensured that her newborn son was appointed successor to Chilperik I. As long as he was a minor, she ruled on his behalf. Fredegund protected the kingdom of Chlotarius against invasions from the Austrasian King Childebert II. Fredegonde had several attacks on the life of Childebert II, but without result. She eventually defeated him in 593 at Soissons.

Childebert II was poisoned in 595 by the Austrasian nobility, who was tired of his reign. However, this did not solve the problems for Fredegonde and Chlotarius. Childebert was succeeded by his two sons, Theodebert and Theodorik, who use their joint power against Neustria. Fredegonde died in 596 at the age of 53. From then on, Chlotarius (only 12 years old) was left alone. His newly acquired independence did him no good. In 604 he was defeated by brothers Theodebert and Theodorik, losing almost all of his territory.

After their victory over Chlotarius II, the brothers Theodebert and Theodorik clashed with each other. Theodorik sought the support of Chlotarius which resulted in the death of Theodebert in 612. Chlotarius II demanded in exchange for his help areas that Theodorik refused to give him. a year later, in 613, Theodorik also died. Brunhilde, Theodorik’s grandmother, tried to put Sigebert II (Theodorik’s son) on the throne. He was a young child and in practice Brunhilde would rule on his behalf. The Austrasian nobility, led by Pippin van Landen, did not like this. They therefore asked Chlotarius II to take power. Chlotarius had Brunhilde and the sons of Theodoric II captured and murdered.

Brunhilde, now very old, died a horrific death. She was tortured for three days and rode on a camel at the head of the troops, after which she was tied with an arm and a leg to the tail of a wild horse and dragged around on the rough roads until death followed. Chlotarius II was now ruler of the entire Frankish Empire. However, he had to make many concessions to the Austrasian nobles, who had helped put him in power. In 614 he concluded a treaty with them whereby it was agreed, among other things, that the three parts of the Frankish empire, Austrasia, Neustria and Burgundy, would each have their own government under the leadership of so-called ‘Hofmeijers’
(an hereditary office, comparable to the position of a prime minister).

Formally, the Merovingians were still King, but their power was broken for good and a new era in Western European history began. Although Chlotarius was also called “the Great”, he was a weak King. The murder of Brunhilde and Theodorik’s sons was needlessly cruel and certainly not an act of strength but of weakness. During his reign, the country was in fact run by Pippijn van Landen, who held the position of Hofmeijer. Chlotarius II died in 629 and is succeeded by his sons Dagobert I and Charibert II.

Dagobert I was born about 610/611 as the son of Chlotarius II, King of Neustria and his second wife Bertrude. In 623, when he was about 12 years old, he was proclaimed King of Austrasia by his father (under pressure of the Austrasian nobility). From then on his education was entrusted to Bishop Arnulf of Metz and the Hofmeier of the palace, Pippijn van Landen. Although he was still officially under the care of his father, there is evidence that Dagobert wrestled from this influence at a young age. However, in some cases, such as his forced marriage to Gomatrude in 626, he had to give in to his father. At a meeting in Clichy, following his marriage to Gomatrude, however, he claimed all Austrasia from his father: Brie Champenoise and perhaps also Dantelin came into his possession.

On the death of Chlotarius II in 629, the empire was divided between his two sons, Dagobert I and Charibert II. Dagobert won the lion’s share of the inheritance. Thus he seized Soissons, Burgundy came under his control and he was also recognized in Neustria. His younger brother Charibert was pushed back to the south of Aquitaine, where he got some cities (including Toulouse).
Dagobert settled in Paris around 631. He rejected his wife Gomatrudis and married the Neustrische Nanthilde. In the same year, one of his concubines, Ragnetrude, gave a young Austrasian girl a son, Sigebert III. Dagobert married a total of five times and also had numerous concubines.

In 632, Charibert died and Dagobert I became King of the entire Frankish empire. In 634, however, Dagobert, like his father at the time, was forced by the Austrasian nobility to appoint his young son Sigebert III as King of Austrasia. He himself remained King of Neustria and Burgundy. Unexpectedly, Dagobert’s Queen Nanthilde gave birth to a son named Clovis II a year later, in 635.
As a legal son, he was his father’s official heir.

Dagobert must guarantee the Austrasian nobles that Clovis II will only inherit Neustria and Burgundy and that Austrasia is and will remain of Sigebert III. Dagobert tries to perpetuate his power, assisted by his counselors (Desiderius, Dado, Eligius).

Dagobert I is mostly known in the Lower Countries for being the first to try to convert the Frisians. The Frisians knew that adopting christianity would not just mean a change of faith, but also meant subservience to the Franks. From 650 to 689 the Franks and the Frisians would fight over control of the great rivers in the Lower Countries, until Pepin II would defeat the Frisian king Radbod at Dorestad. Radbod was forced to mary his daughter to a son of Pepin, and he had to tolerate missionary activities in his realm.

A rebellion in Gascony under Duke Aegyna in 638 was met with violence, and in the same year Judicael, Prince of the Domnonee, Brittany, was forced to submit. In the sixteenth year of his reign, Dagobert, forced by ill health, hands over the government of Neustria and Burgundy to his young son Clovis II, who is placed under the care of Queen Nanthilde and the court mayor Aiga.

Dagobert dies on January 16, 638 or 639. King Dagobert was a devout man. His donations to ecclesiastical institutions were numerous and diverse. Dagobert I is known to be “the good King”. For example, he commissioned the construction of a Basilica in Saint Denis. After his death, he was the first French king to be buried here. A tradition that will be maintained for more than eight centuries. The government ensured prosperity and unlike his predecessors, he did not commit atrocities.

This is still reflected today in the French children’s song “le bon Roi Dagobert”. Dagobert’s actions also commanded awe at a foreign level: he concluded treaties with Byzantium, the Longobards and the Saxons and intervened in Spain.