CHILDEBERT II ap SIGEBERT I
King of the Franks
| BIRTH: 570 in Metz, Austrasia, France DEATH: 595 in France BURIAL: FATHER: Sigebert I ap CLOTAIRE I - Abt 535 in Metz, Austrasia, France MOTHER: Brunhilda verch Athanagild - Abt 539 in Metz, Austrasia, France
MARRIAGE: Abt 585 - Failleuba CHILDREN: 1. Theudebert II ap CHILDEBERT II - Abt 586 in Austrasia, France 2. Theuderic II ap CHILDEBERT II - Abt 587 in Austrasia, France 3. Brunechilde verch CHILDEBERT II - Abt 590 in Austrasia, France |
BIRTH: Abt 570
When Childebert was five years old his father was assassinated in 575. Childebert was taken from Paris by Gundobald, one of his faithful lords, to Metz, where he was recognized as sovereign. During his long minority years the power was disputed between his mother, Brunhilda, and the nobles.
Childebert II had allied with the Byzantine Empire in 585 and fought against the Lombards in Italy in the name of Emperor Maurice.
Chilperic, king at Paris, and King Gontran of Burgundy, sought alliance with Childebert, who was adopted by both in turn. But after the assassination of Chilperic in 584, Childebert allied unreservedly to Gontran because of the dangers to the Frankish monarchy by the expedition of Gundobald in 585.
Childebert was recognized as the heir of Gontran by a pact of Andelot in 587. His uncle then helped him quell the revolts of the nobles and he seized the castle of Woewre. Fredegond made many attempts on his life as she wanted to secure Gontran's inheritance for her son Clotaire II.
After Gontran died in 592 Childebert annexed the kingdom of Burgundy and thought strongly about seizing Clotaire's estates in order to become the sole King of the Franks.
On the death of Gontran in 592 Childebert annexed the kingdom of Burgundy, and even contemplated seizing Clotaire's estates and becoming sole king of the Franks. He died before accomplishing this in 595.