Timeline Middle Frankish 496 – 639 AD

Sources

Most of the events recorded here come from two primary sources for the Merovingian period, ‘The History of the Franks’ by Gregory of Tours and the ‘Chronicles of Fredegar by Fredegar of Burgundy. The former can be found online in English, however, The Chronicles of Fredegar I found only a French versions or brief citations in English by modern authors. The work of Gregory ends in 591 and that of Fredegar in 642 which cover the Merovingian period well enough to produce a timeline and to improve its clarity, especially regarding dates, I found The Merovingian Kingdoms 450 – 751 by Ian Wood and The Dark Ages 476 – 918 by Sir Charles Oman useful . The Merovingian government is well covered in Oman, pages 121 - 127.  

The timeline is by no means complete, but it does fulfil this wargamer’s need. The civil wars of the Merovingian period are too numerous to duplicate on the game table, but the incursions by the Avars, Saxons, Visigoths and Byzantines will add spice to the campaign game. 

After the death of Clovis I, the Frankish kingdoms are named after their ruling city; Paris, Soissons, Reims and Metz with Burgundy becoming included in 532 AD. The territories take on a stable form after the unification of Francia by Chlothar II and are renamed Neustria, Austrasia, Aquitania, Provence and Burgundy (632).

Map: The Division of Gaul in 511AD

511       

Death of Clovis, kingdom is divided among his sons. Childebert I rules from Paris, Chlothar I rules from Soissons, Chlodomer from Orleans, and Theuderic from Reims.
515
Theuderic begins expanding toward inner Germany which begins a long struggle against the Thuringians while Childebert I and Chlodomer bring their attention to Burgundy. Operations in Germany were delayed by piratical raids led by King Hygelac of the Danes. 

516       

Death of Gundobad, king of Burgundy and rule is passed to Sigismund. He is later replaced by Godomar.

523       

With his brothers, Childebert wages war against Godomar of Burgundy.

524       

Chlodomer dies in the Battle of Vezeronce. His three sons inherit the realm, but Childebert I and Chlothar I conspire to oust them. The Franks eventually leave Burgundy, Godomar resumes rule until 534.

531    

Hermanafrid, king of the Thuringian offers part of his kingdom for Frankish assistance to depose his brother, Baderic. Theuderic accepts. Chlothar continues the campaign as Theuderic sustains injuries in an early battle. With the death of Hermanafrid, the campaign continues as a conquest of Thuringia. Southern Thuringia comes under the rule of Theuderic while Northern Thuringia is overrun by the Saxons. 

532       

Second Burgundian war, Childebert I and Chlothar I seize Autun (Burgundy). The death of Althalaric (successor to Theodoric the Great) of the Ostrogoths was followed by a crisis of succession. Lacking Ostrogoth support, Burgundy fell in 534.

534       

First Visigothic War was meant to recover lost territory from the Spanish Visigoths. Chlothar I sent his eldest sons to reclaim the lost territories. The strongholds of Dio-et-Valquières and Cabrières are taken.

536       

Civil war erupts between Chlothar I and Theuderic. Theuderic dies and Theudebert (eldest son) continues the struggle and with the aid of Childebert I a peace is made.

537       

To secure a neutral Francia in the upcoming war with the East Roman Empire, Witiges the Ostrogoth cedes Provence to the Frankish kings and secures the help of 10,000 Franks to assist with the seizure of Milan.

538       

Conquest of Thuringia and marriage between Chlothar I and Radegund (princess of Thuringia).
539
With the forces of Witiges and Belisarius locked in their struggle, Theudebert brings a large army to sack Genoa and plunder the Po Valley reaching Venetia. The Frankish army is struck by disease forcing their return to Francia. 
541
Theudebert campaigns against Duke Garibald of Bavaria and in four years successfully adds the southern realm to his kingdom. 

542       

Childebert I leads an expedition against the Visigoths in northern Spain, seizes Pamplona and besieges Zaragoza. He is defeated before the walls of Zaragoza by King Theudis and forced to retreat over the Pyrenees. 
552
A Frankish army led by Alemmani generals, Buccelin and Chlothar, invaded Italy while King Baduila was engaged with the Byzantines under Narses. 
553
Having dealt with Baduila, Narses confronts Buccelin and defeats him at Casilinum. Chlothar and his army perish possibly through the plague in Apulia. 

555       

Acquisition of Metz gains an alliance with the Lombard. A Saxon rebellion is suppressed by Chlothar I. Auvergne submits to Frankish rule. Chlothar I sends his son Chram to take possession of the area. Chram declares independence from his father leading to war. Chlothar I sends his Charibert and Guntram to seize Chram, but a rumour announcing the death of Chlothar I in the Saxon war sends both sons marching back to Burgundy.

556       

A second Saxon revolt, perhaps instigated by Childebert I lead to a brutal confrontation. Peace is made between the Saxon and Franks.

558       

Childebert I dies childless giving Chlothar I the opportunity to unite the Frankish kingdoms. Chram flees to the Bretons and with their help wages war against Chlothar I. Chram is captured and executed in 560.

561       

Chlothar I dies and succession is divided among his four surviving sons; Charibert (the former kingdom of Childebert I - Neustria), Guntram (Burgundy), Sigebert I (kingdom of Metz - Austrasia), and Chilperic I (kingdom of Soissons).

562       

Chilperic I waged war against Sigebert I over the division. Defeated, Theudebert, the eldest son of Chilperic is imprisoned.

567       

Following the death of Charibert, Chilperic I invaded Sigebert’s new lands, but is defeated.  Marriage of Sigebert I to Brunhilda, daughter of the Visigothic king Athanagild.

568    

Chilperic I marries Galswintha, the sister of Brunhilda. The suspicious death of Galswintha instigates more wars between Sigebert I and Chilperic I. Brunhilda and Fredegund continue the feud long after the death of their kings.

569

The Lombard invasion of Gaul prompt Chilperic I and Sigebert I to cease their feud and assist Guntram. The conflict lasts four years with Mummolus, a Gallo-Roman patrician serving Guntram, finally defeating the Lombards.

573       

Chilperic I allies with Guntram against Sigebert I, but Guntram changes sides ensuring another defeat for Chilperic.

575       

Following the assassination of Sigebert I Brunhilda rules the kingdom (Austrasia). Chilperic I wages war against her protector, Guntram of Burgundy while seizing Tours and Poitiers from Austrasia.

578       

Chilperic I attacks the Breton ruler, Waroch II. The army of Chilperic came from Touraine, Anjou, Maine and Bayeux; the latter are Saxons. Following a three day battle, Waroch submits giving his son as hostage and agrees to pay an annual tribute.

580

A plague sweeps through Gaul claiming two sons of Chilperic I.

583

Two campaigns in northern Italy by the Austrasian army are beaten back by the Lombards. Following a major setback against King Autauri, Austrasia signs a peace treaty.

584       

Chilperic I is murdered following a hunting expedition.

593

Following the death of Guntram, his nephew, Childebert is now ruler of Burgundy and Aquitaine. Freed from Guntram’s restraints, Brunhilda coerces Childebert to invade Neustria. Despite their loss at Droisy, the war continues.  

594

Childebert suppresses a rebellion beyond the Rhine in Swabia (Warni).

596

The death of Childebert (26 years) suspends military operations. His young sons, Theuderic II and Theudebert II now become heirs under the regency of Brunhilda. 

597       

Following the death of Fredegund, Chlothar II becomes king of Neustria and continues the feud with Queen Brunhilda of Austrasia.

Map: Kingdom of Chlothar II at start of reign.

599       

Battle of Dormelles, Chlothar II is defeated by Theuderic II (Burgundy) and Theudebert II (Austrasia).

605       

Theuderic II and Theudebert II took up arms against one another giving Chlothar II an opportunity to invade Burgundy. Unable to subdue Burgundy, the conflict lasted for nearly a decade.

610       

War between Austrasia and Burgundy, Theudebert II won initial victory forcing Theuderic II to seek an alliance with Chlothar II. Together they defeat Theudebert II at the battles of Toul and Talbiac in 612, near Cologne.

611       

Chlothar II reunites the Frankish realm.

613       

War between Chlothar II and an Austrasian Burgundian alliance. Neustria is invaded but Theuderic II of Burgundy dies essentially ending the campaign. Charged with the murder of ten members often Neustrian royal family, Queen Brunhilda is put to death ending the long standing ‘royal feud’. Chlothar II unifies the Frankish kingdoms.

614       

The Edict of Paris changes several aspects of appointments and administration of the kingdom.

617       

The role of Mayor of the Palace becomes a life time appointment.

623       

Dagobert I, son of Chlothar II, is made king of Austrasia at the behest of the nobles of that region.

629       

Chlothar II dies and is buried the Saint Vincent Basilica in Paris. Dagobert I inherits the Neustrian and Burgundian kingdoms.

631    

Eliminating potential rivals, Dagobert I strengthens his position to become a respected ruler of the west. Waged war against the Slavs, but is defeated at Wogastisburg.

632       

Rebellion by the nobles of Austrasia led by the mayor of the palace force Dagobert I to place his son, Sigebert III, thereby ceding power to the eastern realm.

634       

Dagobert I places a second son, Clovis II as king of Neustria and Burgundy.

649       

Death of Dagobert I effectively ending Merovingian rule over the Frankish kingdoms.

Map: The Division of Gaul in 511AD

By Romain0 - Travail personnel sur un fond de carte de historicair : Image:Blank map of Gaul 1st century BC.svg. D'après Paul Vidal de La Blache, Gaule à la mort de Clotaire (561) Image:Division of Gaul - 561.jpg, Atlas général d'histoire et de géographie (1894), Frédéric Armand, Chilpéric Ier, La Louve éditions, 2008, p. 77 et Bruno Dumézil, La reine Brunehaut, éditions Fayard, 2008, p. 536., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9732597

Map: Kingdom of Chlothar II at start of reign.

By Paul Vidal de La Blache - Paul Vidal de La Blache, Atlas général d'histoire et de géographie (1894)., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3330432

Recommended reading.

Much information can be found on the internet by searching for the individual kings but the following books are recommended for readers wishing more detail.

Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks

Fredegar, The Chronicle of Fredegar

Oman, C. W. C., The Dark Ages 476 – 918 AD

Wood, Ian, The Merovingian Kingdoms 450 - 751 AD