SIGEBERT, son of CLOTAIRE I, King of the Franks.

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

New problems arose between Sigebert and his brother Chilperik when their eldest brother Charibert died in 567 AD.

Peace was then broken by Chilperic, who invaded Sigebert’s dominions. Sigebert defeated Chilperic, who fled to Tournai. The people of Paris hailed Sigebert as a conqueror when he arrived with Brunhilde and their children. Bishop Germain wrote to Brunhilde, asking her to persuade her husband to restore peace and to spare his brother.

The complex division of his legacy led to an outright civil war that would later escalate into a family drama starring both their wives. When Sigebert married the beautiful princess Brunhilde in 567. She was the daughter of the Visigoth King Athanagild, who was from Toledo. She was an Arian Christian but converted to Catholisme upon her marriage in Metz.

Fortunatus’ arrival in the Merovingian palace Metz coincided with the marriage of King Sigebert and Queen Brunhilde, and at the ceremony he performed a celebration poem for the entire court. The chief men of Sigebert’s Kingdom attended the marriage feast.

Following the wedding thousands of Visigoths settled in Lorraine.

The wedding in Metz was fabulous.

King Sigebert & Brunhilde had three children: Ingund, Chlodosind and Childebert.

Brunhilde persuaded her husband Sigebert to go to war against his brother Chilperik to avenge her sister Galswintha’s death. Sigebert had several victories and in 575 AD. driven by the hatred of his Queen, he 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 and her own son Samson.

Nobody doubted the death of Sigibert I, who was killed by knife stabs in Vitry in 575 AD. was the work of Fredegonde, she ruled with an extremely harsh hand.

Some believed that the history of Sigibert and Brunhilde had underpinned the famous ‘Nibelungen Sage’.

After the murder of Sigibert, Chilperik tried to annex Austrasia to his own territory.

Gogo who was one of the foremost members of the Austrasian court. He had been responsible for escorting princess Brunhild from Toledo, Spain, to northern Gaul. He also served in the office of comes, ‘count’ (administrator or palace official).

After King Sigibert’s death, Gogo became nutricius, a guardian or teacher to King Sigibert’s son Prince Childebert II.

Pope Gregory I correspondence with Queen Brunehilde concerning reforms of the Frankish church indicates that she still retained power in Austrasia as late as 602 AD.