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Birth:           526 
Death:           575 

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigebert_I
Sigebert I (c. 535 – c. 575) was the Germanic king of Austrasia from the death of his 
father in 561 to his own death. He was the third surviving son out of four of Clotaire I 
and Ingund. His reign found him mostly occupied with a successful civil war against 
his half-brother, Chilperic.

When Clotaire I died in 561, his kingdom was divided, in accordance with Frankish 
custom, among his four sons: Sigebert became king of the northeastern portion, 
known as Austrasia, with its capital at Rheims, to which he added further territory on 
the death of his brother, Charibert, in 567 or 568; Charibert himself had received the 
kingdom centred on Paris; Guntram received the Kingdom of Burgundy with its capital 
at Orléans; and the youngest son, the aforementiond Chilperic, received Soissons, 
which became Neustria when he received his share of Charibert's kingdom. Incursions 
by the Avars, a fierce nomadic tribe related to the Huns, caused Sigebert to move his 
capital from Rheims to Metz. He repelled their attacks twice, in 562 and c. 568.

About 567, he married Brunhilda, daughter of the Visigothic king Athanagild. 
According to Gregory of Tours:
Now when king Sigebert saw that his brothers were taking wives unworthy of them, 
and to their disgrace were actually marrying slave women, he sent an embassy into 
Spain and with many gifts asked for Brunhilda, daughter of king Athanagild. She was a 
maiden beautiful in her person, lovely to look at, virtuous and well-behaved, with good 
sense and a pleasant address. Her father did not refuse, but sent her to the king I 
have named with great treasures. And the king collected his chief men, made ready a 
feast, and took her as his wife amid great joy and mirth. And though she was a 
follower of the Arian law she was converted by the preaching of the bishops and the 
admonition of the king himself, and she confessed the blessed Trinity in unity, and 
believed and was baptized. And she still remains catholic in Christ's name.[1][not in 
citation given]

 


 The assassination of Sigebert by Jean Fouquet, from the fifteenth century Grandes 
Chroniques de France.
Upon seeing this, his brother Chilperic sent to Athanagild for his other daughter's 
hand. This daughter, Galswintha, was given him and he abandoned his other wives. 
However, he soon tired of her and had her murdered in order to marry his mistress 
Fredegund. Probably spurred by his wife Brunhilda's anger at her sister's murder, 
Sigebert sought revenge. The two brothers had already been at war, but their hostility 
now elevated into a long and bitter war that was continued by the descendants of 
both.

In 573, Sigebert took possession of Poitiers and Touraine, and conquered most of his 
kingdom. Chilperic then hid in Tournai. But at Sigebert's moment of triumph, when he 
had just been declared king by Chilperic's subjects at Vitry-en-Artois, he was struck 
down by two assassins working for Fredegund.

He was succeeded by his son Childebert under the regency of Brunhilda. Brunhilda 
and Childebert quickly put themselves under the protection of Guntram, who 
eventually adopted Childebert as his own son and heir.[2] With Brunhilda he had two 
daughters: Ingund and Chlodosind.

Parents
____ Clothaire I (Clotaire I) (Chlotar) (ABT  497 -  561)
____ Chrusine (Ingonde) (ABT  499 - )

Siblings
____ Charibert (ABT  517 - Dec  567)
____ Siegbert I ( 526 -  575)

Marriage To OF AUSTRASIA Brunhild (ABT  535 -  613)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
____ Athanagild (ABT  517 - Dec  567)
____ Goiswintha ()

Children by OF AUSTRASIA Brunhild ABT  535 -  613
OF THE FRANKS Chodoswintha (ABT  550 - )
____ Childebert II (ABT  570 -  595)

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