Frankish Queen. Also known as Fredegund. Born a servant, she served at court where she caught the eye of the king. King Chilperic repudiated his first wife, Audovera, and took Fredegund as his concubine. He married his sister-in-law, Galswintha, however, a Visigoth princess c. 568. At Fredegund's instigation, Chilperic strangled his wife after only about a year of marriage. Days after the murder, Chilperic married Fredegund. The late queen's sister, Brunhilde who was married to Chilperic's half brother Sigebert, so hated Fredegund for her role in the death of her sister and the hatred was so fiercely reciprocated, that the two queens instigated a forty year war between their husbands who ruled the east and west Franks respectively. Sigebert defeated Chilperic and conquered most of his kingdom. But Sigebert's victory was brief, just when he had been declared king by Chilperic's subjects, he was murdered by assassins working for Fredegund in 575 and Chilperic retrieved his position. Fredegund also either killed or attempted to kill Guntram, her brother-in-law, king of Burgundy; Childebert II, Sigebert's son; her stepchildren; two bishops; her son Samson; her daughter Rigunth; and Queen Brunhilde. After Chilperic was stabbed to death in September of 584 at Île-de-France, Fredegund took their newborn son, Chlotar II, seized the treasury and took refuge in the cathedral at Paris. Chlotar was proclaimed heir, and Fredegund ruled as his regent. Her reign was marked by war with rival parties for the throne and numerous murders. She finally won the throne for Chlotar against Brunhilde in 597, only to die shortly after.
Frankish Queen. Also known as Fredegund. Born a servant, she served at court where she caught the eye of the king. King Chilperic repudiated his first wife, Audovera, and took Fredegund as his concubine. He married his sister-in-law, Galswintha, however, a Visigoth princess c. 568. At Fredegund's instigation, Chilperic strangled his wife after only about a year of marriage. Days after the murder, Chilperic married Fredegund. The late queen's sister, Brunhilde who was married to Chilperic's half brother Sigebert, so hated Fredegund for her role in the death of her sister and the hatred was so fiercely reciprocated, that the two queens instigated a forty year war between their husbands who ruled the east and west Franks respectively. Sigebert defeated Chilperic and conquered most of his kingdom. But Sigebert's victory was brief, just when he had been declared king by Chilperic's subjects, he was murdered by assassins working for Fredegund in 575 and Chilperic retrieved his position. Fredegund also either killed or attempted to kill Guntram, her brother-in-law, king of Burgundy; Childebert II, Sigebert's son; her stepchildren; two bishops; her son Samson; her daughter Rigunth; and Queen Brunhilde. After Chilperic was stabbed to death in September of 584 at Île-de-France, Fredegund took their newborn son, Chlotar II, seized the treasury and took refuge in the cathedral at Paris. Chlotar was proclaimed heir, and Fredegund ruled as his regent. Her reign was marked by war with rival parties for the throne and numerous murders. She finally won the throne for Chlotar against Brunhilde in 597, only to die shortly after.
Bio by: Iola
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