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Name: Kingdom of Soissons (Chilperic I)

Type: Polity

Start: 561 AD

End: 613 AD

Nation: kingdom of soissons (chilperic)

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Kingdom of Soissons (Chilperic I)

This article is about the specific polity Kingdom of Soissons (Chilperic I) 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. Chilperic received the territories north of the kingdom of Soissons.

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.Chilperic´s Submission of the Bretons

In 578, Frankish subking Chilperic sent an army to fight the Breton ruler Waroch II of the Bro-Wened along the Vilaine.

January 579: In 578, Chilperic sent an army to fight the Breton ruler Waroch II of the Bro-Wened along the Vilaine. The Frankish army consisted of units from the Poitou, Touraine, Anjou, Maine, and Bayeux. The Baiocassenses (men from Bayeux) were Saxons and they in particular were routed by the Bretons. The armies fought for three days before Waroch submitted, did homage for Vannes, sent his son as a hostage, and agreed to pay an annual tribute.

1.8.Chilperic´s Campaign in Aquitaine

Was the invasion of the Frankish Teilreich (polities emerging from the hereditary divisions of the Frankish Kingdom that repeatedly divided and reunited) of Gontran by his brother King Chilperic I who annexed parts of Aquitania.

January 582: Austrasia then approaches the kingdom of Soissons. The disappearance of the sons of Chilpéric indeed gives Childebert II, successor of Sigebert, the possibility of finding himself heir to two teilreich. Egidius negotiates a pact with Chilpéric: Childebert II becomes legatee of all the goods belonging to him. This diplomatic change arouses disputes between Austrasians and Burgundians. Chilpéric took the opportunity to enlarge his Aquitaine domains by seizing Saintes, Angoulême, Périgueux and Agen, cities under Burgundian domination. The following year, Gontran recognizes the conquests of Chilpéric in order to negotiate a peace with him.

1.9.Chilperic´s Invasion of Burgundy

Was the invasion by Frankish sub-King Chilperic I of the Burgundian domains of his brothers.

September 583: In the spring or summer of 583, Chilperic's troops attacked from the north. They seize Melun. To the south, the Duke of Toulouse Didier commands the troops from Aquitaine, to which are joined the troops of Duke Bladaste from Novempopulania. They enter Berry where they face those of Gontran near the fortified town of Châteaumeillant. The resulting battle turns into a massacre. The invaders emerge victorious. They seize the stronghold of Argenton. Then they establish the seat of Bourges. For his part, Gontran marches north. A battle takes place between Étampes and Orléans from which Gontran emerges victorious. The next day, a peace is concluded by exchange of ambassadors.

October 583: In the spring or summer of 583, Chilperic's troops attacked from the north. They seize Melun. To the south, the Duke of Toulouse Didier commands the troops from Aquitaine, to which are joined the troops of Duke Bladaste from Novempopulania. They enter Berry where they face those of Gontran near the fortified town of Châteaumeillant. The resulting battle turns into a massacre. The invaders emerge victorious. They seize the stronghold of Argenton. Then they establish the seat of Bourges. For his part, Gontran marches north. A battle takes place between Étampes and Orléans from which Gontran emerges victorious. The next day, a peace is concluded by exchange of ambassadors.

1.10.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.

November 587: The Treaty of Andelot, signed in 587 between Gontran I, King of Burgundy, and his nephew Childebert II, King of Austrasia, was to ensure perpetual peace between the two kingdoms. Recognized in Gontran the possessions of Châteaudun, Vendôme and the fortifications of the region of Chartres and Etampes.

January 588: In 587, Gontrand compelled obedience from Waroch II, the Breton ruler of the Vannetais.

1.11.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.

1.12.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.

2. Frisian-Frankish Wars

Were a series of conflict between the Kingdom of Frisia and the Frankish Kingdom. Frisia was finally inglobated into the Frankish domains.

2.1.Establishment of the Kingdom of Frisia

The Kingdom of Frisia emerged in ca. 600 AD.

January 601: The Kingdom of Friesland, also known as Magna Frisia, was a kingdom in what is now the Netherlands and northern Germany, established around the year 600.

3. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

January 601: At the end of the 6th century, the Frisians occupied the coast up to the mouth of the Weser. In doing so, they assimilated or expelled the Chauken tribe. In the south, Frisians founded the settlement of Dorestad in the 7th century and from there they extended the Frisian sphere of influence to Bruges.