Kingdom of Metz (Sigebert)

This article is about the specific polity Kingdom of Metz (Sigebert) and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics

Was one of the many Frankish Teilreiche (polities emerging from the hereditary divisions of the Frankish Kingdom that repeatedly divided and reunited) of the Merovingian Dynasty. It originated with the division of the Empire at the death of King Chlothar I.

Establishment

November 561: The Frankish King Chlothar I died at the end of 561, leaving his kingdom to his four sons. Sigebert received the kingdom of Metz with its capital Reims and Metz.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Frankish Partitions

The Frankish Kingdom was partitioned and reuinited several times as the Frankish rulers used to divide their territories equally among their heirs. This lead also to a number of wars and revolts.

1.1.Partition of the Frankish Kingdom (561)

The Frankish King Chlothar I died at the end of 561, leaving his kingdom to his four sons.

1.2.War between Chilperic and Sigebert

Was a war between two Teilreiche (polities emerging from the hereditary divisions of the Frankish Kingdom that repeatedly divided and reunited) of the Frankish Kingdom.

January 563: After defeating the Avars, Sigebert marched against Chilperic, managing to occupy Soissons, the capital of Chilperic's kingdom, and to capture Theodebert, his eldest son, who was returned to him, in good health, the following year.

February 563: After defeating the Avars, Sigebert marched against Chilperic, managing to occupy Soissons, the capital of Chilperic's kingdom, and to capture Theodebert, his eldest son, who was returned to him, in good health, the following year.

1.3.Partition of the Kingdom of Paris

After the death of Charibert King of the Teilreich (polities emerging from the hereditary divisions of the Frankish Kingdom that repeatedly divided and reunited) of Paris, his kingdom was partitioned between his brothers.

January 568: The Kingdom of Paris, in the absence of legitimate male heirs, was divided between the Gontrano brothers (who had the greater part), Sigebert I and Chilperico I .

1.4.Sigebert´s Invasion of the Kingdom of Soissons

Was the invasion of a Frankish Teilreich (polities emerging from the hereditary divisions of the Frankish Kingdom that repeatedly divided and reunited) by another Frankish Teilreich.

January 574: In 573, Sigebert took possession of Poitiers and Touraine, and conquered most of his kingdom. Chilperic then hid in Tournai. He was succeeded by his son Childebert under the regency of Brunhilda. Brunhilda and Childebert quickly put themselves under the protection of Guntram, who eventually adopted Childebert as his own son and heir. With Brunhilda he had two daughters: Ingund and Chlodosind.

1.5.Assassination of Sigebert

The Frankish subking was assassinated and his reign invaded by his relatives.

January 576: At Sigebert's moment of triumph, when he had just been declared king by Chilperic's subjects at Vitry-en-Artois, he was struck down by two assassins working for Fredegund.

1.6.Chilperic´s Invasion of the Kingdom of Metz

Was the invasion of a Frankish Teilreich (polities emerging from the hereditary divisions of the Frankish Kingdom that repeatedly divided and reunited) by another Frankish Teilreich.

January 577: Chilperic retrieved his position, took from Austrasia Tours and Poitiers and some places in Aquitaine, and fostered discord in the kingdom of the east during the minority of Childebert II.

1.7.Treaty of Andelot

Was a treaty between Gontran and Childebert II, both Frankish subkings, about the extent of their domains.

November 587: Childebert II was recognized, with the exception of the Duchy of Dentelin (i.e. Paris), the possessions of his father Sigebert I: Meaux, Tours, Poitiers, Avranches, Aire-sur-Adour, Couserans, Labourd and Albi.

1.8.Merge of the kingdoms of Metz and of Orleans

After the death of Gontan of Orleans, the Frankish subking of Metz, Childebert II, merged the Kingdoms of Orleans and Metz.

January 593: On the death of Guntram, in 592, the kingdom of Burgundia and the region of Orléans passed to Childebert II, without meeting any opposition, and thus the kingdoms of Austrasia and Burgundy were unified under the crown of Childebert II.

1.9.Death of Childebert II

After the death of Frankish subking Childebert II, the kingdom of Metz was partitioned between his two sons.

January 594: Frankish sub-king Childebert II and his young wife Faileuba were poisoned to death in 596. He had two young sons: the older, Theudebert II, inherited Austrasia with its capital at Metz, and the younger, Theuderic II received Guntram's former kingdom of Burgundy, with its capital at Orléans.

2. Lombard Invasion of Italy

Was the invasion of the italian Peninsula, recently reconquered by the Eastern Romans from the Ostrogoths, by the Germanic people of the Lombards.

2.1.Rule of the Dukes

Was an interregnum in the Lombard Kingdom of Italy during which Italy was ruled by the Lombard dukes of the old Roman provinces and urban centres.

2.1.1.Frankish Invasion of Italy (585)

The Byzantines paid the Franks to invade the Kingdom of the Lombards.

January 585: From 582, Byzantine Emperor Maurice sought Frankish intervention against the Lombards in Northern Italy. In 583, an embassy was sent to King of Metz Childebert II with 50,000 gold solidi. The Frankish king invaded in 584.

February 585: The Frankish king invaded Childebert II withdrew from northern Italy after being paid off by the Lombard dukes.