Childebert I facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Childebert I |
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Coin of Childebert I with his profile
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| King of Paris | |
| Reign | 511–558 |
| Predecessor | Clovis I |
| Successor | Chlothar I |
| King of Orléans | |
| Reign | 524–558 |
| Predecessor | Chlodomer |
| Successor | Chlothar I |
| Born | c. 496 Reims |
| Died | 13 December 558 (aged 61–62) |
| Spouse | Ultragotha |
| Issue | Chrodoberge Chrodesinde |
| Dynasty | Merovingian |
| Father | Clovis I |
| Mother | Clotilde |
| Religion | Chalcedonian Christianity |
Childebert I (born around 496, died December 13, 558) was an important Frankish King. He belonged to the Merovingian dynasty, a famous family of Frankish rulers. Childebert was the third of four sons of Clovis I, a very powerful king.
When his father Clovis I died in 511, the kingdom of the Franks was divided among his sons. Childebert became the King of Paris. He ruled Paris from 511 to 558. Later, he also became King of Orléans from 524 to 558. His mother was Saint Clotilda.
Contents
Becoming King and Dividing the Land
After King Clovis I passed away, his kingdom was split among his four sons. Childebert received the city of Paris as his share. His land stretched north to the Somme River and west to the English Channel. It also included the Armorican peninsula, which is modern-day Brittany.
His brothers also became kings in different parts of the Frankish lands. Theuderic I ruled in Metz, Chlodomer in Orléans, and Chlothar I in Soissons. This division meant each brother had his own part of the kingdom to govern.
Wars and Expanding the Kingdom
In 523, Childebert joined his brothers in a war against Godomar of Burgundy. During this war, his brother Chlodomer died in a battle in 524. Chlodomer had three young sons who were supposed to inherit his kingdom of Orléans.
However, Childebert and his brother Chlothar wanted to take over Orléans for themselves. They managed to gain control of the kingdom. Childebert then added the cities of Chartres and Orléans to his own lands.
Childebert continued to fight in other wars against the Burgundy kingdom. In 532, he attacked Autun. By 534, he and his brother Chlothar, along with their nephew Theudebert I, had conquered Burgundy. Childebert received the cities of Mâcon, Geneva, and Lyons as his share of the victory.
Gaining New Territories
In 535, the king of the Ostrogoths, Witiges, gave Provence to the Franks. Childebert and his brothers agreed that he would receive the important cities of Arles and Marseille. With help from his brother Clotaire, Childebert fully took control of Provence by the winter of 536–537. This greatly expanded his kingdom.
Helping His Sister and Other Expeditions
In 531, Childebert received a plea for help from his sister, Chrotilda. She was married to King Amalaric of the Visigoths in Hispania (modern Spain). Chrotilda was a Catholic, but her husband followed a different Christian belief called Arianism. She claimed he was treating her very badly because of her faith.
Childebert led an army to help his sister. He defeated the Gothic king Amalaric, who then fled to Barcelona and was later killed. Sadly, Chrotilda died on her way back to Paris.
Childebert also led other expeditions against the Visigoths. In 542, he captured Pamplona with his brother Clotaire's help. They also tried to capture Zaragoza but had to retreat. From this expedition, Childebert brought back a special religious item to Paris: the tunic of Saint Vincent. To honor this relic, he built a famous monastery outside Paris. This monastery was first called Sainte-Croix-et-Saint-Vincent, but later became known as St-Germain-des-Prés.
Later Life and Legacy
Childebert I died on December 13, 558. He was buried in the abbey he had founded, St-Germain-des-Prés. This abbey became a royal burial place for kings from the Neustrian kingdom until 675.
Childebert had two daughters, Chrodoberge and Chrodesinde, with his wife Ultragotha. He was known for being a king who wanted to expand his lands. He fought in more foreign wars than any of his brothers, including battles in Burgundy, Spain, and Provence. He was also a very religious king. He worked with his brothers, rescued his sister, and built the famous monastery of Saint Vincent to keep his important religious items.
Sources
- Gregory of Tours. The History of the Franks. 2 vol. trans. O. M. Dalton. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1967.
- Geary, Patrick J. Before France and Germany. Oxford University Press: 1988.
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Childebert I
Born: 496 Died: 558 |
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| Preceded by Clovis I |
King of Paris 511–558 |
Succeeded by Clotaire I |
