Concubine Fredegunda , I

   Other names for Fredegunda were Fredegund and Fredegonde.

   Ancestral File Number: 8HV7-9H.

   General Notes:

Gisant Effigy in Abbey Church of St Denis.

ABBEY CHURCH OF SAINT-DENIS
Volume II The Royal Tombs, Alain Erlande-Brandenburg, Editions De la Lourelle, 7 Rue Dupuytren 75006 Paris
"3 Fredegund wife of Chilperic I d596. Orig Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Paris. The limestone has been carved, leaving the head, belt and folds in bas-relief. In the hollowed-out areas, the artist placed different sorts of stones and copper filaments. The only existing example of this technique, it was executed around the same time as the gisant of Childebert."

BOOKS
The Story of Civilization, Will Durant, Vol IV, The Age of Faith, Ch IV, Europe Takes Form, BkIII Prelude to France, Sec 2 The Merovingians 511-614, p92:
"From the day of Clovis' marriage the history of France has been bisexual, mingling love and war. Sigebert sent costly presents to Athanagild, Visigothic king of Spain, and askedfor his daughter Burnhilda; Athanagild, fearing the Franks even when they bore gifts, consented; and Brunhilda came to grace the halls of Metz and Reims (566). Chilperic was envious; all that he had was a simple wife, Audovera, and a rough concubine, Fredegunda. He asked Athanagild for Brunhilda's sister; Galswintha came to Soissons, and Chilperic loved her, for she had brought great treasures. But she was older than her sister. Chilperic returned to the arms of Fredegunda; Galswintha proposed to go back to Spain; Chilperic had her strangled (567). Sigebert declared war upon Chilperic, and defeated him; but two slaves sent by Fredegunda assassinated Sigebert...
"Chilperic was stabbed to death in 584, possibly by an agent of Brunhilda. He left an infant son, Chlotar II, in whose stead Fredegunda ruled Neustria with as much skill, perfidy, and cruelty as any man of the time. She sent a young cleric to kill Brunhilda; when he returned unsuccessful she had hishands and feet cut off; but these items too are from Gregory..."

ANCESTRAL FILE
Ancestral File Ver 4.11 8HV7-9H.

   Marriage Information:

Fredegunda married King Chilperic NEUSTRIA, I, son of King Chlotar FRANKS, I and Queen Ingonde FRANKS. (King Chilperic NEUSTRIA, I was born about 519-539 in , , France and died about 561-584 in Dy, Austrasia, France.)