Kingdom of Orleans (Theuderic II)

This article is about the specific polity Kingdom of Orleans (Theuderic II) 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 Childebert II.

Establishment

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.

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.Death of Childebert II

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

1.2.War with 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 597: Fredegonda and Clotaire II, in 596, occupied Paris, then marched against Theodoric II and Theodebert II, on which they reported a clear victory in the battle, which took place in the forest of Leucofao (near the town of Dizy-le-Gros).

January 605: Under the urging of his grandmother, Theodoric in 604 routed Clotaire's troops near Étampes, freed Orléans besieged and occupied Paris, but failed to eliminate Clotaire, to whose aid Theodebert II had come; the onerous peace of Compiègne was stipulated, which Clotaire was forced to accept.

1.3.War between Theudebert and Theuderic

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 603: During their reigns, Theudebert and Theuderic campaigned successfully in Gascony, where they had established the Duchy of Gascony and brought the Basques to submission (602). This original Gascon conquest included lands south of the Pyrenees, namely Biscay and Gipuzkoa.

January 611: In 610, Theudebert II, the King of Metz, took control of the Duchy of Alsace from Theuderic II, the King of Burgundy. This event was part of the power struggles between the Merovingian kings in the region during that time.

January 613: Biscay and Gipuzka conquered by Kingdom of the Visigoths.

January 613: Brunhilda, who, angered over her expulsion from Theudebert's court, convinced Theuderic to unseat him and kill him. In 612 he did and the whole realm of his father Childebert was once again ruled by one man.

1.4.Chlothar´s conquest of Burgundy and Austrasia (Unification of Francia)

Subking Chlothar II was able to conquer all the other Frankish realms, thus reuniting the Frankish Kingdom.

January 614: In 613 Frankish sub-king Chlothar II defeated Brunhilda (who was regent of the Kingdom of Orleans for her great-grandson Sigebert II) in battle. After having her and Sigebert II executed, Chlothar II reunited all Frankish realms.