Brunhilda of Austrasia

Uncommon card · No. 120785

Brunhilda (c. 543 – 613) was queen consort of Austrasia, part of Francia, by marriage to the Merovingian king Sigebert I of Austrasia, and regent for her son, grandson and great-grandson. In her long and complicated career she ruled the eastern Frankish kingdoms of Austrasia and Burgundy for three periods as regent for her son Childebert II from 575 until 583; her grandsons Theudebert II and Theuderic II from 595 until 599; and her great-grandson Sigebert II in 613. The period was marked by tension between the royal house and the powerful nobles vying for power. Brunhilda was apparently an efficient ruler, but this and her forceful personality brought her into conflict with her nobles, the church, and the other Merovingians. Her history is marked by a bitter feud with the former slave Fredegund, mistress and later wife of Chilperic I of Neustria. Fredegund is said to have murdered or ordered the murder of Brunhilda's sister, Queen Galswintha (c. 568), to make herself queen. This event launched...

Read on Wikipedia