gutram

Gutram, also known as Gutramnus or Guntram, was a Frankish king of the Kingdom of Burgundy. He was born around 545 and died on March 28, 592. Gutram was a son of Chlothar I, the king of the Franks, and his third wife, Chunsina. He was one of the four sons who inherited their father's kingdom upon his death in 561, leading to a division of the Frankish realm.

Gutram initially ruled over the northern part of Burgundy. His reign was marked by frequent conflicts and shifting alliances with his brothers, Sigebert I of Austrasia and Chilperic I of Neustria. A significant event during his reign was his prolonged dispute with his brother Chilperic over the city of Tours. Gutram also engaged in wars against the Lombards in Italy and the Visigoths in Septimania.

Despite the ongoing warfare, Gutram was known for his piety and was a patron of churches and monasteries. He was deeply troubled by the internal strife of the Frankish kingdoms and made efforts to reconcile with his brothers, though these efforts were not always successful. In his later years, Gutram became increasingly concerned about the succession to his throne. He eventually adopted his nephew, Childebert II of Austrasia, as his heir, intending to unite his kingdom with that of his brother Sigebert.

Gutram's death in 592 led to the absorption of his kingdom of Burgundy into Childebert II's territories. His reign, though often overshadowed by the more dramatic events involving his brothers, played a role in the complex political landscape of the early Merovingian period.