Childebert the Adopted

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When King Sigebert III died in 656, Grimoald the Elder had Sigebert's son Dagobert II shorn of hair and packed off to an Irish monastery and then proclaimed his own son, Childebert the Adopted (or Adoptivus), king of Austrasia.

Grimoald, his son, and perhaps his brother-in-law Ansegisel were finally seized and turned over to the king of Neustria, Clovis II, who had them killed. There are two differing accounts of his death, however. Either Clovis and his mayor of the palace, Erchinoald, captured and executed him in 657 or Clotaire III of Neustria annexed Austrasia in 661, deposing the young usurper and executing them both the next year.

The family reappeared in politics with the rise of Ansegisel's son, Pepin II of Herstal.

Preceded by
Sigebert III
King of Austrasia
656-661
Succeeded by
Clotaire III