Fredegund

Fredegund, also known as Fredegundis, was a Frankish queen consort and influential royal figure in the late Merovingian period. She is best known for her role in Neustrian politics as the wife of Chilperic I and the mother of Clotaire II. Her origins are uncertain in the historic record, and medieval sources describe her as coming from a modest or humble background before entering the royal court as a mistress and later wife.

Fredegund rose to power after Chilperic I’s marriage to her following the death of his first wife, Audovera, around 566. As queen and later queen mother, she exercised political influence at the Neustrian court and worked to advance her own faction. She is most associated with a harsh, oft-cited use of violence and intrigue to eliminate rivals and secure her position. In particular, she is linked to the long-standing feud with Brunhilda of Austrasia, a rivalry that dominated Frankish politics for decades and shaped the balance of power between Neustria and Austrasia.

When Chilperic I was killed in 584, Fredegund retained power as regent for her young son, Clotaire II, and continued to direct policy until her death around 597. Her leadership helped set the stage for Clotaire II’s eventual attempts to reunify the Frankish kingdoms, although she did not live to see the full consolidation.

Fredegund’s reputation largely stems from the accounts of Gregory of Tours and later chroniclers, who portrayed her as a ruthless court intriguer. Modern historians view her as a central figure in Merovingian dynastic politics, illustrating the volatility and violence of the period’s palace power struggles.