Historical Figures

Brunehaut(534 - 613)

Daughter of the Visigoth king, she married Sigebert I. Beautiful and cultured woman, she is very influential on her husband, she convinces him to oppose Chilpéric who murdered his sister. Although the vendetta had turned to Austrasia's advantage, Sigebert was assassinated, Brunehaut left with her son Childebert, whom she had proclaimed king of Austrasia. She will marry the son of Chilperic which will make the king mad with rage, she returns to Austrasia where she governs alongside Childebert. It maintains the fight between Neustria and Austrasia by opposing Frédégonde. Gifted with the qualities of head of state, she governed under the name of her grandsons (Théodebert II and Thierry II) whom she encouraged to attack Neustria. She gets angry with Théodebert who signs peace with Clotaire II (Neustria) and puts him to death. On the death of his grandsons, Brunehaut was still at the head of Austrasia. She clashes with the mayor of the palace Pépin de Landen and is captured by Clotaire II, aged 80, she is tortured and then tied to the tail of a horse.