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Childebert I

Type Figure Region Frankish Kingdom Time c. 497–558 Also known as Childebert I

Childebert I (c. 497–558) was a Frankish Merovingian king, son of Clovis I and Clotilde;…

Timeline

  1. c. 497–511Paris · Île-de-FranceChildebert I was a son of Clovis I and Queen Clotilde, and grew up as a Frankish prince at the court of northern Gaul. After his father Clovis died in 511, the Frankish Kingdom was divided according to Merovingian custom, and Childebert received the western kingdom centered on Paris.
  2. 511–540Orléans · Central GaulDuring his reign Childebert I repeatedly campaigned jointly with his brothers Chlodomer and Chlothar I. He took part in the campaign against Burgundy in 524; in 531–532 he joined Chlothar in attacking the Visigoth remnants in Spain, seeking to free their imprisoned sister Clotilde. In 534 he assisted the final annexation of the Kingdom of Burgundy. After bringing back Saint Rémy (relics of Saint Vincent) from Spain, he built the Abbey of Saint-Vincent in Paris (later known as Saint-Germain-des-Prés).
  3. c. 540–558Paris · Île-de-FranceIn his later years Childebert I devoted himself to consolidating church foundations in his kingdom, supporting the development of monasteries and episcopal institutions. When he died in 558 he left no legitimate heir, and his Kingdom of Paris was merged into the domains of his only surviving brother Chlothar I, who temporarily unified the entire Frankish Kingdom.

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