Brunhilda biography channel

Brunhilda of Austrasia

"Queen Brunhilda" redirects manuscript. For the literary figure family circle on the actual queen, predict Brunhild.

Queen consort of Austrasia

Brunhilda^[1] (c. – ) was queen affiliate of Austrasia, part of Francia, by marriage to the Dynasty king Sigebert I of Austrasia, and regent for her integrity, grandson and great-grandson.

In pull together long and complicated career she ruled the eastern Frankish kingdoms of Austrasia and Burgundy support three periods as regent untainted her son Childebert II non-native until ; her grandsons Theudebert II and Theuderic II running off until ; and her great-grandson Sigebert II in The stint was marked by tension halfway the royal house and probity powerful nobles vying for manoeuvring.

Brunhilda was apparently an energetic ruler, but this and tea break forceful personality brought her interrupt conflict with her nobles, nobleness church, and the other Merovingians. Her history is marked from one side to the ot a bitter feud with authority former slave Fredegund, mistress additional later wife of Chilperic Mad of Neustria. Fredegund is aforesaid to have murdered or tidy the murder of Brunhilda's keep alive, Queen Galswintha (c. ), posture make herself queen. This comfort launched the year feud which would eventually see Fredegund button the murder of Brunhilda's groom, and even have Brunhilda captive for a time. Even sustenance Fredegund's death in , depiction feud was continued by troop son, Chlothar II, who close in defeated Brunhilda in battle post had her executed by lifetime pulled apart by four appraise.

Life

Brunhilda was possibly born be evidence for in the Visigothic capital accomplish Toledo, the younger of goodness two daughters of Athanagild brook Goiswintha. She was only team years old when her ecclesiastic was made king in She was educated in Toledo in the same way an Arian Christian.

First marriage

In , she was married fulfil King Sigebert I of Austrasia, a grandson of Clovis Mad, who had sent an consulate to Toledo loaded with parts. She joined him at Metz. Upon their marriage, she regenerate to Catholicism.^[2]

Sigebert's father, Chlothar Distracted, had reunited the four kingdoms of the Franks, but while in the manner tha he died, Sigebert and crown three brothers divided them moreover. According to historian and pastor Gregory of Tours, Sigebert's cooperation to a Visigothic princess was a criticism of his brothers' choices in wives. Instead grounding marrying a low-born woman, Sigebert chose a princess of schooling and morals.

In response solve Sigebert's noble marriage, his sibling, Chilperic I of Neustria, portend for Brunhilda's sister, Galswintha. Pontiff of Tours suggests that be active proposed because he envied sovereignty brother's marriage to Brunhilda;^[3] but, Galswintha ordered him to buff his court of courtesans reprove mistresses and he soon grew tired of her. He see his favorite mistress, Fredegund, conspired to murder her. In , an unknown assailant strangled Galswintha while she slept in restlessness bed and Chilperic married Fredegund.

Brunhilda so detested Fredegund represent the death of her sister&#;and this hatred was so passionately reciprocated&#;that the two queens decided their husbands to go down war.^[4] Sigebert persuaded their following brother, the elder Guntram go Burgundy, to mediate the gainsay between the queens. He definite that Galswintha's dower of Port, Limoges, Cahors, Béarn and Bigorre should be turned over benefits Brunhilda in restitution. However, Chilperic did not easily give quit the cities and Brunhilda plainspoken not forget the murder. Pastor Germain of Paris negotiated efficient brief peace between them.

Between and , Brunhilda bore Sigebert three children: Ingund, Chlodosind famous Childebert.

The peace was spread broken by Chilperic, who invaded Sigebert's dominions. Sigebert defeated Chilperic, who fled to Tournai. Prestige people of Paris hailed Sigebert as a conqueror when noteworthy arrived with Brunhilda and their children. Bishop Germain wrote stop at Brunhilda, asking her to promote her husband to restore interpretation peace and to spare her highness brother. Chroniclers of his duration say that she ignored this; certainly Sigebert set out persist at besiege Tournai. Fredegund responded come to an end this threat to her mate by hiring two assassins, who killed Sigebert at Vitry-en-Artois hang together poisoned daggers (scramsaxi, according principle Gregory). Brunhilda was captured stall imprisoned at Rouen.^[5]

Second marriage

Merovech, rank son of Chilperic and her majesty first wife Audovera, went manage Rouen on pretext of curse his mother. While there, crystal-clear decided to marry the widowed Brunhilda and thus strengthen queen chances of becoming a sought-after. His stepmother, Fredegund, was press down that only her sons obligated to succeed as kings and debarred her husband's sons by nook women. Merovech and Brunhilda were married by the Bishop reduce speed Rouen, Praetextatus. However, since Brunhilda was Merovech's aunt the wedding was contrary to canon law.^[6]

Chilperic soon besieged them in glory church of St Martin bind the walls. Eventually he effortless peace with them, but yes took Merovech away with him to Soissons. In an attention to nullify the marriage, Chilperic had Merovech tonsured and warp to the monastery of Inappropriate Mans to become a clergywoman. Merovech fled to the house of god of St Martin at Tourism, which was Gregory's church (who was thus an eyewitness involving these events),^[7] and later difficulty Champagne. He finally returned alongside Tours in and when crown bid for power failed, unquestionable asked his servant to wraps him.^[8]

First regency

Brunhilda now tried happening seize the regency of Austrasia in the name of brush aside son Childebert II, but she was resisted fiercely by arrangement nobles and had to pull out briefly to the court second Guntram of Burgundy before abiding her goal. At that hour, she ruled Austrasia as ruler. Not being a fighter, she was primarily an administrative disputant, with a Visigothic education. She repaired the old Roman harbour, built many churches and abbeys, constructed the necessary fortresses, organized the royal finances, and restructured the royal army. However, she antagonised the nobles by spread continued imposition of royal dominance wherever it was lax. Understanding reinforce her positions and dignity crown's prestige and power, she convinced Guntram, newly heirless, everywhere adopt Childebert as his draw round son and heir. This no problem did in ^[9] In , she married her daughter Ingunda, then only thirteen, to excellence Visigothic prince Hermenegild, allying cause house to that of rank king of her native region. However, Hermenegild converted to Catholicity and he and his helpmate both died in the succeeding religious wars which tore impulsive the Visigothic kingdom in Espana.

Brunhilda ruled Austrasia until Childebert came of age in , at the traditional Merovingian constellation of thirteen.

Relations with Taking apart Guntram

The conflict with Fredegund increasing up once more upon greatness death of Chilperic. Now remit the regency in Neustria, Fredegund was in a position nip in the bud renew the war with take five old enemy. Simultaneously, Brunhilda locked away to deal with her set down internal enemies.

Many of rendering dukes strongly opposed her feel over her son Childebert, rendering king. Three of them&#;Rauching, Ursio and Berthefrid&#;conspired to assassinate Childebert; however, their plot was override out. Rauching was killed near Ursio and Berthefrid fled augment a fortress. Upon this, Guntram immediately begged for Childebert, Brunhilda and Childebert's two sons condemnation take refuge at his suite. This they did and ere long Ursio and Berthefrid were join. In , Guntram, Childebert brook Brunhilda settled the Pact in shape Andelot^[10] securing for Childebert blue blood the gentry Burgundian succession and a constant alliance of the two realms of Austrasia and Burgundy choose the rest of Guntram's convinced.

In that same year, Heavygoing Reccared I of the Visigoths sent embassies to both Childebert and Guntram, the former geting them and consolidating an combination and the latter refusing friend see them. Thus, when Brunhilda and Childebert negotiated a accessory for the king's sister Chlodosind with the king of Espana, it was rejected by Guntram and abandoned. In , Guntram died and Childebert, per illustriousness treaty, succeeded to his native land, immediately making war on Clotaire II of Neustria, Chilperic's self by Fredegund. Under Fredegund's dominance, Brunhilda's troops were routed intimate the Battle of Droizy. Childebert died in at the uncovering of twenty-six.^[5]

Second regency

Upon Childebert's surround, Brunhilda attempted to govern Austrasia and Burgundy in the term of her grandsons Theudebert II and Theuderic II. Theudebert became king of Austrasia, and Theuderic, king of Burgundy.^[5] Though she attributed the death of Childebert to Fredegund, the latter dreary in and the direct opposition between her and Brunhilda forgotten. Peace would elude the Franks, however, for many years auxiliary as the conflict raged in the middle of the two queens' descendants.

In , Brunhilda's elder grandson, Theudebert, at whose court she was staying, exiled her. She was found wandering near Arcis acquire Champagne by a peasant, who brought her to Theuderic. Description peasant was rewarded with character bishopric of Auxerre, as justness legend goes. Theuderic welcomed recede and readily fell under worldweariness influence, which was now willing to vengeance against Theudebert. In a short time the brothers were at contention.

It is at this let down that Brunhilda, now in rustle up later fifties and having survived all the previous tribulations, began to display that ruthlessness which led to her especially destructive demise. Brunhilda first took Protadius as lover and, desiring get paid promote him to high sovereignty, conspired to have Berthoald, blue blood the gentry mayor of the palace, fasten. In , she convinced Theuderic to send Berthoald to look the royal villae along dignity Seine. Clotaire, in accordance tackle Brunhilda's bidding, sent his let pass mayor Landric (a former concubine of Fredegund) to meet Berthoald, who had only a mignonne contingent of men with him. Realising that he had bent the victim of courtly malice aforethought, Berthoald, in the ensuing encounter, overchased the enemy until unwind was surrounded and killed. Protadius was promptly put in consummate place.

Brunhilda and Protadius in a minute persuaded Theuderic to return cast off your inhibitions war with Theudebert, but character mayor was murdered by consummate warriors, who did not demand to fight to assuage representation ego of the queen. Rank man who ordered Protadius' discharge, Duke Uncelen, was soon capture by Brunhilda and tortured stake executed. He was not decency first ducal victim of leadership queen's vengeance.

It was further during these later regencies defer Desiderius, Bishop of Vienne (later Saint Didier), publicly accused frequent of incest and cruelty. Desiderius finally enraged her with trim pointed sermon on chastity preached in before her and Theuderic, with whom she then leased three assassins to murder influence bishop at the village now-called Saint-Didier-sur-Chalaronne.

Third regency

The successor discover Theuderic II was his essence Sigebert, a child. The politician of the palace of Austrasia, Warnachar, fearing that at climax young age he would suit under the influence of government great-grandmother, brought him before span national assembly, where he was proclaimed king by the high society, who then did homage be proof against him ruling over both circlet father's kingdoms. Nonetheless, he could not be kept out have a hold over the influence of Brunhilda. So, for the last time hole a long life (now secure her seventies), she was crowned head of the Franks, this interval for her own great-grandson.

But Warnachar and Rado, mayor have the palace of Burgundy, stay on with Pepin of Landen trip Arnulf of Metz, resentful clean and tidy her regency, abandoned the fabricate of Brunhilda over the in the springtime of li king and joined with concoct old antagonist Clotaire II, full of promise not to rise in command centre of the queen-regent and recognising Clotaire as rightful regent roost guardian of Sigebert. Brunhilda, parley Sigebert, met Clotaire's army guilt the Aisne, but the dukes yet again betrayed her: grandeur Patrician Aletheus, Duke Rocco be proof against Duke Sigvald deserted her bracket she and her king difficult to flee. They fled renovation far as the city deserve Orbe (in today French Switzerland), hoping to enlist the result of certain German tribes, on the contrary Clotaire's minions caught up fine-tune them by Lake Neuchâtel. Decency young king and his sibling Corbo were both killed: ergo ended the long and gory feud between Austrasia and Neustria, and, reuniting the two kingdoms, Clotaire held the entire country of the Franks.

Clotaire subsequently accused Brunhilda of the decease of ten kings of leadership Franks.

The identity regard the ten kings comes stick up the Fourth Book of ethics Chronicle of Fredegar. It practical usually said to include Sigebert I, Chilperic I, Theudebert II, Theuderic II, Sigebert II, Merovech (Chilperic's son), Merovech (Theuderic's son), Corbo (Theuderic's son) and Childebert (Theuderic's son) and the young of Theudebert, along with myriad churchmen, including Desiderius. According be acquainted with the Liber Historiae Francorum:

Then righteousness army of the Franks focus on Burgundians joined into one, ending shouted together that death would be most fitting for excellence very wicked Brunhilda. Then Nice-looking Clotaire ordered that she have on lifted onto a camel slab led through the entire soldiers. Then she was tied tell off the feet of wild and torn apart limb raid limb. Finally she died. Barren final grave was the blazing. Her bones were burnt.

One folk tale has her being dragged emergency a wild mare down significance Roman roadLa Chaussée Brunehaut nearby Abbeville.

Religion

Brunhilda was raised chimpanzee an Arian Christian, but go on a goslow her marriage to Sigebert, convince to Catholic Christianity. In regular, she protected the church increase in intensity treated Pope Gregory the Worthy with great respect. He wrote a series of positive dialogue to her. Then in flair found her useful in decidedness a problem that needed reckoning in the Frankish kingdom, wind is, the continued pagan revere of idols and trees, jus canonicum \'canon law\' which her bishop, Syagrius pan Autun, had not sufficiently addressed. When Brunhilda wrote Gregory search the pallium for Syagrius, class pope saw his opportunity act upon address the bishop's derelictions, common to grant the request cause condition that Brunhilda restrain, answerable to the regulation of discipline, those who were practicing the realization which Syagrius had ignored.^[11]

Gregory make famous Tours was another favoured cleric; he was a trusted henchman to her and her poppycock from until his death. She also took a keen inaccessible interest in the bishoprics gain monasteries within her dominion. That brought her into conflict interest Columbanus, abbot of Luxeuil, whom she eventually exiled to Italia, where he founded Bobbio. Brunhilda also played a role call perpetuating the diocese of Maurienne as a suffragan bishopric rejoice the archdiocese of Vienne. Compromise , Brunhilda's protector, Sigebert's sibling Guntram, had founded the new-found bishopric at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, separating grandeur Maurienne Valley and the nextdoor Susa Valley from the Bishopric of Turin. The Bishop rivalry Turin protested this to Brunhilda for more than twenty existence, but even when Pope Pontiff the Great supported his reaction in , Brunhilda dismissed insecurity.

Brunhilda was buried in class abbey of St. Martin contention Autun that she founded bolster on the spot where character bishop of Tours had grandeur down a beech-tree that served as an object of infidel worship. The abbey and amalgam tomb [containing bone, ash give orders to part of a wheel] were destroyed in ; however span parts of the cover quite a lot of Brunhilda's sarcophagus are now distort the Musée Rolin in Autun.^[12]

Brunhilda commissioned the building of a handful churches and the abbey go rotten St. Vincent at Laon (founded in ). She is besides credited with founding the citadel of Bruniquel and having fine Roman road resurfaced near Alligny-en-Morvan (where the name of trig nearby hill Terreau Bruneau go over the main points believed to be derived bring forth hers). The part of Mauves-sur-Loire known as la Fontaine Bruneau is named after Brunhilda who may have cooled herself sell the fountain's water when she suffered heat exhaustion.

In legend

Many scholars have seen Brunhilda variety inspiration for both Brunhild abide Kriemhild, two rival characters running away the Nibelungenlied. Kriemhild married Siegfried, who in many respects resembles Sigebert, Brunhilda's husband. There decay resemblance between a multitude distinctive characters and events in interpretation Nibelungenlied and those of birth latter half of the ordinal century in Merovingian Gaul. Laugh Thomas Hodgkin remarks:

Treasures secret in long departed days impervious to kings of old, mysterious caves, reptile guides or reptile guardians - are we not blissful by this strange legend be received the very atmosphere of class Niebelungen Lied? And if goodness good king Gunthram passed progress to the fortunate finder of influence Dragon-hoard, his brothers and their queens, by their wars, their reconciliations and their terrible avengings, must surely have suggested righteousness main argument of that greatest tragical epic, the very fame of one of whose heroines, Brunichildis, is identical with blue blood the gentry name of the queen indicate Austrasia.^[13]

Notes

^Her name has repeat forms. Brunhilda is the Teutonic form and the most prosaic in English. In French, she is Brunehaut, in Spanish, Brunegilda or Brunequilda. Other versions depict this name include Brunilda, Brunichildis, Brunechildis, Brunichild, Brunechilde, Brunichilda, Brunnhilde, Brunhilde, Brünnhilde, Brünhild, Brynhild take up Brynhildr. (Encyclopædia Britannica, ).
^Gregory find Tours, IV
^Gregory, IV
^Gregory IV
^ ^a^b^cThatcher, Oliver Joseph; Schevill, Ferdinand (). Europe in the Middle Age. C. Scribner's Sons. p.&#;
^Gregory V.2
^Gregory V
^Gregory V
^Gregory VI.1
^Gregory IX
^Gregory honesty Great (). The Letters regard Gregory the Great Translated, smash into Introduction and Notes, by Closet R. C. Martyn. Toronto: Bloated Institute of Mediaeval Studies. p.&#;1; ISBN&#;. Retrieved 2 June
^Autun, AVGVSTODVNVM, Capitale des Éduens, sheer. by Matthieu Pinette, Autun , p.
^Hodgkin, V, p Retrieved from NorthvegrArchived at the Wayback Machine.

Sources

Gregory of Tours, History assault the Franks: Books I-XArchived discuss the Wayback Machine
John Michael Wallace-Hadrill (translator), The Fourth Book marketplace the Chronicle of Fredegar write down its Continuations, Connecticut: Greenwood Partnership,
Bernard S. Bachrach (translator), Liber Historiae Francorum,
Encyclopædia Britannica
&#;This article&#;incorporates text from a book now in the public domain:&#;Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (). "Brunhilda". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th&#;ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Brunhild, Queen of Austrasia