Childebert II was born in 570 AD. as the only son of King Sigibert I and his Visigoth Queen Brunhilde. Childebert was only five years old when his father was murdered, After the assassination of his father, he was taken to Metz and there recognised on 25 Dec 575 as Childebert II King of the Franks. The Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica names “Childebertus filius ipsius” , he became King, and thanks to the interference of his mother he was accepted as his father’s successor. 

Because Childebert was too young to rule by himself 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 Burgundy and temporarily stay in exile there. 

His government was characterised 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 on her 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 AD.

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 AD. Gontran was also appointed as successor of Chilperik, whose marriage until then had remained childless.