Polity Kingdom of Metz (Theudebert II)

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here: All Statistics

Was one of the many Frankish Teilreiche (polities emerging from the hereditary divisions of the Frankish Kingdom that repeatedly divided and reunited) of the Merovingian Dynasty. It originated with the division of the Empire at the death of King Childebert II.

Establishment

  • January 594: Frankish sub-king Childebert II and his young wife Faileuba were poisoned to death in 596. He had two young sons: the older, Theudebert II, inherited Austrasia with its capital at Metz, and the younger, Theuderic II received Guntram's former kingdom of Burgundy, with its capital at Orléans.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Frankish Partitions

The Frankish Kingdom was partitioned and reuinited several times as the Frankish rulers used to divide their territories equally among their heirs. This lead also to a number of wars and revolts.

1.1. Death of Childebert II

After the death of Frankish subking Childebert II, the kingdom of Metz was partitioned between his two sons.

  • January 594: Frankish sub-king Childebert II and his young wife Faileuba were poisoned to death in 596. He had two young sons: the older, Theudebert II, inherited Austrasia with its capital at Metz, and the younger, Theuderic II received Guntram's former kingdom of Burgundy, with its capital at Orléans.

1.2. War between Theudebert and Theuderic

Was a war between two Teilreiche (polities emerging from the hereditary divisions of the Frankish Kingdom that repeatedly divided and reunited) of the Frankish Kingdom.

  • January 611: In 610, Theudebert II, the King of Metz, took control of the Duchy of Alsace from Theuderic II, the King of Burgundy. This event was part of the power struggles between the Merovingian kings in the region during that time.
  • January 613: Brunhilda, who, angered over her expulsion from Theudebert's court, convinced Theuderic to unseat him and kill him. In 612 he did and the whole realm of his father Childebert was once again ruled by one man.

2. Frisian-Frankish Wars

Were a series of conflict between the Kingdom of Frisia and the Frankish Kingdom. Frisia was finally inglobated into the Frankish domains.

2.1. Establishment of the Kingdom of Frisia

The Kingdom of Frisia emerged in ca. 600 AD.

  • January 601: The Kingdom of Friesland, also known as Magna Frisia, was a kingdom in what is now the Netherlands and northern Germany, established around the year 600.

3. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

  • January 601: At the end of the 6th century, the Frisians occupied the coast up to the mouth of the Weser. In doing so, they assimilated or expelled the Chauken tribe. In the south, Frisians founded the settlement of Dorestad in the 7th century and from there they extended the Frisian sphere of influence to Bruges.

Disestablishment

  • January 613: Brunhilda, who, angered over her expulsion from Theudebert's court, convinced Theuderic to unseat him and kill him. In 612 he did and the whole realm of his father Childebert was once again ruled by one man.