Merowech II.

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Merowech II (also Merovech, Meroweus ; * around 550 , † 577 ) was a son of King Chilperich I of Neustria from the Merovingian and Audovera family .

Life

Chilperich I sent his son Merowech with an army to Pictavis ( Poitiers ) around 576 , but instead Merowech marched to Tours , where he spent Easter. Then he moved on to Rouen , where he visited his mother Audovera, who had been exiled to a monastery. In Rouen he met his widowed aunt Brunichild of Austrasia . Both were married by Bishop Praetextatus, contrary to canon law. Brunichild apparently wanted an ally with Merowech against his stepmother Fredegunde, her worst opponent, win. Chilperich hurried to Rouen and tried to separate the newlyweds. A few days later he took Merowech with him to Soissons and placed him under guard.

Then Chilperich had his son Merowech's long hair cut off, ordained a priest and sent him to the Anninsola monastery ( Saint-Calais ) near Le Mans . On the way Merowech was freed by Gunthram Boso and brought to St. Martin's Church in Tours, where he found asylum with Bishop Gregory of Tours . Chilperich came to Tours with his army in 577 and threatened to burn the whole region down, but Gregor declared the church asylum inviolable. Leudast , the comes (count) of Tours, a follower of Fredegunde, pursued Merowech, but could only kill his servant. Marileif, Chilperich's personal physician, was beaten up as revenge and plundered on his return from the court on Merowech's instructions; it was only with difficulty that he, too, was able to find protection in church asylum. Eventually Merowech left Tours with Gunthram Boso and an entourage of 500 men, possibly to be recognized as Brunichilde's consort by the Austrasians as Sigibert's successor . At Auxerre , Merowech was captured by Erpo, a dux (duke) of King Guntram I of Burgundy, who was allied with Chilperich , but was able to escape and gain asylum in the basilica of St. Germanus of Auxerre. After two months he fled to Brunichild, but could not assert himself in Austrasia either as king or as regent for the 8-year-old Childebert II. Chilperich tried in vain with his army to catch his son Merowech in Champagne .

The Austrasian nobility formed an alliance with King Guntram of Burgundy, who adopted the young Childebert as their son and heir.

In a show trial, Bishop Praetextatus was banished from Rouen by King Chilperic. When the rumor arose that Merowech had fled again to the sanctuary of St. Martin's Church in Tours, Chilperich had all the entrances to the cathedral guarded. Indeed, Merowech was hiding in the Champagne near Reims. Bishop Egidius von Reims and Gunthram Boso, who were allied with Fredegunde, forged a plot against Merowech: The inhabitants of Tarabennenses ( Thérouanne ) pretended to want to join him. When Merowech came, they surrounded the courtyard in which he was staying with armed men and sent messengers to Chilperich. Merowech saw no way out and allowed his confidante Gailen to kill him with the sword in order not to be exposed to the "thirst for revenge of his enemies". Some contemporaries claimed that Fredegunde had their stepson Merowech murdered. Fredegunde then had Gailen tortured to death. Other followers of Merowech, such. B. Grindio and Ciucilo were executed.

King Guntram of Burgundy had the body of his murdered nephew buried by Bishop Pappolus of Chartres in Saint Vincent Cathedral in Paris in 585.

swell

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Gregory of Tours, Historiae V, 2
  2. ↑ a b c d e f ADB: Merowech II.
  3. ^ Gregory of Tours, Historiae V, 14
  4. ^ Gregory of Tours, Historiae V, 17
  5. ^ Gregory of Tours, Historiae V, 18
  6. ^ Gregory of Tours, Historiae VIII, 10
personal data
SURNAME Merowech II.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Merovech; Meroweus
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Merovingian prince
DATE OF BIRTH around 550
DATE OF DEATH 577