Munderich

Munderich (* around 500; † 532/533) was possibly a son of the Rhine Franconian king Chloderich and related to the Merovingian royal family.

Life

Around 532 he laid claim to the title of king and gathered a following around him. King Theuderic I of Austrasia appeared to have accepted Munderich's demands and invited him to a meeting. Munderich rightly suspected a trap and refused to come, whereupon Theuderich I prepared his army. Munderich withdrew to the fortified place castrum victoriacum (possibly Vitry-en-Perthois or Vitry-le-François ), where he was besieged by Theuderich I for a week without result. Theuderich I sent his courtier Aregyselus to the city as a negotiator to persuade Munderich to give up by making false promises. Since there was barely enough food in the besieged city to continue the fight, Munderich consented to his submission and left the city with Aregyselus. At a signal from Aregyselus, the Austrasians stormed forward. Munderich killed the traitor before he himself succumbed to superiority and fell.

The historicity of the episode described only by Gregory of Tours is not in doubt even in modern research. Munderich's children are also mentioned in the Merovingian Vita Gundulfi , although Gregor does not report anything about them. One of these children may have been Gundulfus, a great-uncle of Gregory.

swell

Gregory of Tours , Historiae (Ten Books of Stories), Book III, chap. 14th

literature

Stefan Krautschick : Munderich. In: Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde (RGA). 2nd Edition. Volume 20, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2001, ISBN 3-11-017164-3 , p. 382.

Web links

Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book III Chap.14 (English)

Remarks

↑ Cf. Heike Grahn-Hoek: Gundulfus subregulus - a genealogical bridge between Merovingians and Carolingians? . In: German Archive for Research into the Middle Ages 59 (2003), pp. 1ff.

personal data
SURNAME	Munderich
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Frankish king
DATE OF BIRTH	around 500
DATE OF DEATH	at 532
Place of death	castrum victoriacum (Vitry / France)

[1] Cf. Heike Grahn-Hoek: Gundulfus subregulus - a genealogical bridge between Merovingians and Carolingians? . In: German Archive for Research into the Middle Ages 59 (2003), pp. 1ff.