Goiswintha facts for kids

Goiswintha was an important queen of the Visigoths, a powerful group of people who lived in ancient Hispania (modern-day Spain) and Septimania (part of modern-day France). She was married to two different kings: Athanagild and Liuvigild.

From her first marriage, Goiswintha had two daughters, Brunhilda and Galswintha. These daughters later married two kings from another powerful family, the Merovingians, who ruled parts of what is now France. Brunhilda married Sigebert I of Austrasia, and Galswintha married Chilperic, king of Neustria.

Life as a Queen

After her first husband, King Athanagild, died in 567, Goiswintha married Liuvigild. He was the brother of the next king, Liuva I. Soon after, Liuvigild became king of the Visigoths, and Goiswintha was queen again. She also became the stepmother to Liuvigild's sons, Hermenegild and Reccared I.

Goiswintha was a very influential person in the royal court. This means she had a lot of say in how things were done in the palace.

Family and Faith

In 579, Goiswintha's stepson Hermenegild married her granddaughter, Ingund. Ingund was the daughter of Goiswintha's daughter Brunhilda and the Frankish king Sigebert I.

As queen, it was Goiswintha's job to welcome the young Ingund to the court. At first, Goiswintha was very kind to the new princess. However, Goiswintha strongly believed that Ingund should change her religion to the Arian faith. Ingund, who was only twelve years old, firmly refused to change her beliefs.

A Royal Conflict

Because of this disagreement, or perhaps because King Liuvigild wanted to make sure his own sons would become kings, he sent Hermenegild and Ingund away. They were sent to Seville to rule a part of his kingdom.

While in Seville, Hermenegild was influenced by his wife and a religious leader named Leander of Seville. He decided to change his religion to Chalcedonian Christianity, which was different from his father's Arian faith. Hermenegild then rebelled against his father, the king. Sadly, Hermenegild was later defeated and died in 585.

Later Years

After King Liuvigild died in 586, his younger son, Reccared, became king. King Reccared quickly changed his religion to Catholicism.

In late 588, Goiswintha, along with an Arian bishop named Uldila, tried to organize a plan against King Reccared. However, their plan was discovered, and the bishop was sent away from the kingdom.

See also

In Spanish: Gosuinda para niños