Clotaire I

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Merovingian Dynasty
Kings of All the Franks
Kings of Neustria
Kings of Austrasia
Pharamond 410-426
Clodio 426-447
Merowig 447-458
Childeric I 458-481
Clovis I 481 - 511
  Childebert I 511-558
  Clotaire I 511-561
  Chlodomer 511-524
  Theuderic I 511-534
    Theudebert I 534-548
    Theudebald 548-555
Clotaire I 558-561
  Charibert I 561-567
  Chilperic I 561-584
    Clotaire II 584-629
  Guntram 561-592
    Childebert II 592-595
    Theuderic II 595-613
    Sigebert II 613
  Sigebert I 561-575
    Childebert II 575-595
    Theudebert II 595-612
    Theuderic II 612-613
    Sigebert II 613
Clotaire II 613-629
  Dagobert I 623-629
Dagobert I 629-639
  Charibert II 629-632
    Chilperic 632
  Clovis II 639-658
    Clotaire III 658-673
    Theuderic III 673
    Childeric II 673-675
    Theuderic III 675-691
  Sigebert III 634-656
     Childebert the Adopted      656-661
    Clotaire III 661-662
     Childeric II 662-675
     Clovis III 675-676
     Dagobert II 676-679
Theuderic III 679-691
Clovis IV 691-695
Childebert III 695-711
Dagobert III 711-715
Chilperic II 715-720
  Clotaire IV 717-720
Theuderic IV 721-737
Childeric III 743-751

Clotaire I (also Chlothar or Chloderic, sometimes called le Vieux or the Old) (497561), a king of the Franks, was one of the four sons of Clovis. He was born about 497 in Soissons (now in Aisne département, Picardie, France).

On the death of his father in 511, he received, as his share of the kingdom, the town of Soissons, which he made his capital; the cities of Laon, Noyon, Cambrai, and Maastricht; and the lower course of the Meuse River. But he was very ambitious, and sought to extend his domain.

He was the chief instigator of the murder of his brother Chlodomer's children in 524, and his share of the spoils consisted of the cities of Tours and Poitiers. He took part in various expeditions against Burgundy and, after the destruction of that kingdom in 534, obtained Grenoble, Die, and some of the neighbouring cities.

When the Ostrogoths ceded Provence to the Franks, he received the cities of Orange, Carpentras, and Gap. In 531, he marched against the Thuringii with his brother Theudebert I and in 542, with his brother Childebert I against the Visigoths of Spain. On the death of his great-nephew Theodebald in 555, Clotaire annexed his territories. On Childebert's death in 558 he became sole king of the Franks.

He also ruled over the greater part of Germany, made expeditions into Saxony, and for some time exacted from the Saxons an annual tribute of 500 cows. The end of his reign was troubled by internal dissensions, his son Chram rising against him on several occasions. Following Chram into Brittany, where the rebel had taken refuge, Clotaire shut him up with his wife and children in a cottage, which he set on fire. Overwhelmed with remorse, he went to Tours to implore forgiveness at the tomb of St Martin, and died shortly afterwards.

[edit] Family

Clotaire's first marriage was to Guntheuc, widow of his own brother Chlodomer, sometime around 524. They had no children.

His second marriage, which occurred around 532, was to Radegund, daughter of Bertachar, King of Thuringia, whom he and his brother Theuderic defeated. She was later canonized. They had no children.

His third and most successful marriage was to Ingund, by whom he had five sons and a daughter:

His next marriage was to a sister of Ingund, Aregund, with whom he had a son:

His last wife was Chunsina (or Chunsine), with whom he had one son:

  • Chram, who became his father's enemy and predeceased him

[edit] References

[edit] See also

Merovingian Dynasty
Born: 497; Died: 561
Preceded by:
Clovis I
King of Soissons
511558
Succeeded by:
Chilperic I
Preceded by:
Chlodomer
King of Orleans
524558
Succeeded by:
Guntram
Preceded by:
Theudebald
King of Reims
555558
Succeeded by:
Sigebert I
Moved to Metz
Preceded by:
Childebert I
King of Paris
558
Succeeded by:
Charibert I
Vacant
Title last held by
Clovis I
King of the Franks
558561
Vacant
Title next held by
Clotaire II