Chimnechild of Burgundy | |
---|---|
Queen of Austrasia | |
Tenure | 647 - |
Died | af. 676 |
Spouse | Sigebert III |
Issue | Bilichild Dagobert II |
Chimnechild of Burgundy (also Himnechildis) (7th-century – fl. 662) was a Frankish queen consort by marriage to king Sigebert III the King of Austrasia. [1]
Initially, their marriage was childless, and the manager (or 'mayor') of their palace, Grimoald, convinced them to adopt his son, Childebert. Afterwards, Chimnechild and Sigebert III had two children: a daughter, Bilichild, and a son and heir, Dagobert II (though some scholars, such as Wood, question whether Dagobert was Chimnechild's biological child).[2][3]
In 656 CE, Sigebert III died, and the small child Dagobert II was placed on the throne, with Chimnechild and Grimoald apparently in power behind the scenes. A few years later, c. 660, Grimoald executed a coup to seize power and place his son, Childebert the Adopted, on the throne.[4] They had Dagobert II tonsured and forced to go on pilgrimage to Ireland, while Chimnechild and her daughter Bilichild fled.[5]
Following Childebert's death a mere year into his reign, she began manoeuvring. She opposed the succession of Theuderic III and of Dagobert II, and instead arranged a marriage between her daughter Bilichild and Childeric II, whose succession she supported.[6] Apparently as part of the agreement for Childeric to take the throne, she was appointed to act as regent; she remained regent until 675 CE.[7][8]
References
[edit]- ^ Christian Bouyer, Dictionnaire des Reines de France, Librairie Académique Perrin, 1992 (ISBN 2-262-00789-6)
- ^ Wood, Ian (2012). Królestwa Merowingów 450 – 751. Władza – społeczeństwo – kultura (in Polish). Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN. pp. 245–246, 373. ISBN 978-83-01-16943-5.
- ^ Offergeld, Thilo (2001). Reges pueri: das Königtum Minderjähriger im frühen Mittelalter (in German). Hahnsche Buchhandlung. ISBN 978-3-7752-5450-2.
- ^ Gerberding, Richard A. (1987). The Rise of the Carolingians and the Liber Historiae Francorum. Clarendon Press. ISBN 978-0-19-822940-7.
- ^ Peritia. Medieval Academy of Ireland. 2003.
- ^ Ubl, Karl (2008-12-10). Inzestverbot und Gesetzgebung: Die Konstruktion eines Verbrechens (300-1100) (in German). Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-021068-2.
- ^ Wood, Ian (2014-06-23). The Merovingian Kingdoms 450 - 751. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-87116-3.
- ^ Commire, Anne (2000). Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Yorkin Publications. ISBN 978-0-7876-4066-8.