The History of the Franks

Gregory begins this book by reflecting on the recent death of Saint Silvius, who went from being a “layman” (385), to an abbot of a monastery, to a hermit. He had a detailed vision of his own death and ascending to heaven. Gregory notes that his account of Silvius’s vision will “seem quite incredible” (388) to his readers, but he swears that he heard the story from Silvius himself.

Following her husband Chilperic’s assassination, Fredegund fled to Paris. Her officials stole most of the royal treasury and defected to King Childebert. Fredegund had a son who could succeed Chilperic, Lothar, but he was still a small child. She wrote to King Guntram, asking for his protection against Childebert. While in Paris, Childebert tried to capture Fredegund, whom he believed had killed numerous members of his family, but the people of Paris stopped him and Fredegund, who was pregnant again, left for Guntram’s court. Later, she left there and managed to get the nobles of Chilperic’s kingdom to recognize her son as King Lothar II.

After he learned about Chilperic’s death, the nobleman Desiderius detained Rigunth, who was still traveling to Spain for her marriage, and took the wealth she had with her. Conspiring with Mummolus, Desiderius also declared Gundovald a king. However, Gregory notes that an earthquake in Angers that year foretold Gundovald’s death. Meanwhile, a delegation from Childebert led by Guntram Boso demanded the return of some territory Guntram held that he had allegedly promised Childebert, and that he surrender Fredegund for a trial for the murders she was accused of committing. Guntram refused both requests and had dung dumped on the delegates’ heads.

Fredegund had several servants who had allegedly abandoned Rigunth during her trip to Spain punished and had a court official named Nectarius imprisoned, despite the protests of Nectarius’s brother, Bishop Badegisil. Gregory writes, “Fredegund had no fear of God, in whose house she had sought sanctuary, and she was the prime mover in many outrages” (399). Meanwhile, since hearing of a plot to assassinate him, Guntram would never go anywhere without bodyguards. He also sent Fredegund into exile at Rouen while he conducted an investigation into Chilperic’s assassination.

Nonetheless, Fredegund managed to send a cleric to assassinate Queen Brunhild. The cleric pretended to have fled from Fredegund’s court. The plan failed, and when he returned to Fredegund, she had his feet and hands cut off. Fredegund accused her treasurer and would-be lover, Eberulf, who sought sanctuary at the Church of Saint Martin. After an argument with Eberulf over him allowing his servants to act disrespectfully within the church, Gregory had a vision of Eberulf killing Gregory if King Guntram ever forced him out of the church. Eberulf himself confirmed that this vision revealed his intentions. At the same time, Guntram attacked the city of Poitiers, which rebelled against him, and sent an official named Claudius to get Eberulf out of the Church of Saint Martin. Claudius killed Eberulf in the church, and a crowd of people, enraged at the sacrilege committed, likewise killed Claudius and his men.

Meanwhile, Gundovald went around Gaul, trying to raise forces in order to claim a kingdom for himself. He sent envoys to Guntram, demanding a share in Guntram’s territory. Instead, Guntram had Gundovald’s envoys beaten and again declared that Childeric was his heir. Still, Gundovald was able to raise an army and took control of the well-fortified town of Comminges. However, two of his most important supporters, Duke Bladast and Mummolus, abandoned Gundovald. On the promises that there would be a negotiation, Gundovald was brought into Comminges, where Guntram Boso and a mob killed him. Guntram’s army looted and killed many of the people of Comminges. Despite his role in betraying Gundovald, Guntram had Mummolus killed as well.

Back in Tours, Gregory describes a feud that broke out between two local men, Sichar and Austregesil, during a celebration. The feud escalated to the point that both sides had supporters and a number of murders and thefts had been committed. Gregory tried to make peace between Sichar and Chramnesind, who had taken over the leadership of the gang opposed to Sichar, but he failed. The participants in the feud were brought before a court, which demanded payments in compensation from both parties.