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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 8, How Childebert Sent an Army to Italy; and of the Dukes and Counts Appointed or…
King Childebert, pressed by imperial envoys to surrender the gold given him the preceding year,1 sent an army into Italy. It was also rumoured that his sister Ingund had been removed to Constantinople.2 But the commanders quarrelled among themselves, and returned without winning any advantage. Duke Wintrio3 was driven out by the people of his district, and lost his dukedom; he would have likewise lost his life, had he not saved himself by flight. Later, when the people were appeased, he recovered the dukedom. Nicetius, who was replaced as count of Clermont by the dispatch thither of Eulalius, asked a dukedom of the king, offering immense presents to obtain it. In this manner he was appointed duke of Clermont, Rodez, and Uzès. Though young in years, he was a man of acute insight, and established peace in Auvergne and in the other places under his administration.
Childeric the Saxon,4 who had fallen into disgrace with King Guntram for a reason which had caused the flight of others, as I have above related,5 sought the church of the holy Martin, leaving his wife in Guntram’s dominions. The king had adjured her not to presume to see her husband until such time as he should be restored to the royal favour; but at length, after dispatch of many messengers on Childeric’s behalf, I obtained permission for her to join him, and for both to dwell south of the Loire on the understanding that he should not venture to go over to King Childebert. This notwithstanding, after he had got back his wife, he did pass over privily to that king; and receiving from him the appointment of duke over his cities beyond the Garonne, he betook himself thither.
King Guntram, desiring to govern on his own account the kingdom of his nephew Lothar, son of Chilperic, appointed Theodulf count of Angers. He entered the city, but was ignominiously driven out by the citizens, Domigisel taking a leading part. Upon this, he hastened back to the king, received a second mandate, and after being inducted by Duke Sigulf, exercised his authority as count. Gundovald, named count of Meaux in place of Werpin,6 made his entry, and commenced the business of his jurisdiction. But later, while on his official progress through the territory of the city, he was slain by Werpin on a certain estate. His kinsmen assembled and fell upon the murderer, whom they shut up in the bath chamber of his house. Thus did both of them lose the countship by sudden death.
Notes
- Cf. VI. 28 (42).
- Cf. VI. 26 (40), 29 (43).
- Probably duke of Champagne; cf. X. 3.
- Cf. VII. 3.
- Cf. above, ch. 6. Childeric must have been concerned in Gundovald’s adventure.
- The text has Verpinus, but the name is probably Teutonic.