Gundoald

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Gundoald, Gundowald, Gundovald, or Gondovald (in French, Gombaud) was an usurper king of Aquitaine in either 584 or 585. He claimed to be an illegitimate son of Clotaire I and, with the financial support of the Emperor Maurice, took some major cities in southern Gaul, such as Poitiers and Toulouse, which belonged to Guntram, king of Burgundy, a legitimate son of Clotaire. Guntram marched against him, calling him nothing more than a miller's son and named him 'Ballomer', a Frankish (possibly offensive) word of which the meaning is not known. Gundowald fled to Comminges and Guntram's army set down to besiege the citadel (now known as Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges). They couldn't take it, but didn't need to: Gundowald's followers gave him over and he was executed.

[edit] Further reading

• Bachrach, Bernard S. The Anatomy of a Little War: A Diplomatic and Military History of the Gundovald Affair (568–586). Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1994.

Preceded by none

King of Aquitaine 584/585

Vacant Title next held by Charibert II