Childéric II, King of the Franks in Austrasia

CHLODOVECH [Clovis], son of DAGOBERT I King of the Franks & his second wife Nantechildis (633-[Oct/Nov] 657). He succeeded his father in [638/39] as CLOVIS II King of the Franks in Neustria, under the regency of his mother and maior domus Aega.
m (648) BATHILDIS, daughter of --- (-convent of Chelles [680], bur convent of Chelles, église Sainte-Croix).
King Clovis II & his wife had three children:

1. CHLOTHACHAR [Clotaire] ([650]-[10 Mar/9 May] 673, bur église Notre-Dame de l'abbaye de Chelles).
2. THEODERICH ([651]-[2 Sep 690/12 Apr 691], bur Arras, basilique Saint-Vaast). He succeeded his brother in 673 as THEODERICH III King of the Franks in Neustria and Burgundy.
3. CHILDERICH (-murdered forest of Lognes, near Chelles [18 Oct/10 Nov] 675, bur Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés). The Liber Historiæ Francorum names (in order) "Chlotharium, Childericum atque Theudericum" as the three sons of "Chlodoveus…ex Balthilde regina eius"[446]. "Theuderici regis" names "germano nostro Childerico quondam rege" in his deed dated 681[447]. He is named avunculus of King Clovis III in the Cartulaire of Saint-Bertin[448]. He was installed in [18 Oct/9 Dec] 662 as CHILDERICH II King of the Franks in Austrasia by his mother after the death of maior domus Grimoald, under the regency of his aunt Queen Chimnechildis. "Childericus rex Francorum et Chinechildis regina…Bertuino comiti et Bertelando vicario" donated property "villam…Barisiacum…in pago Laudunensi" to "Amando episcopo" by charter dated to [1 Aug 661][449]. "Childericus rex Francorum, Bonifacio duci" donated property on the advice of "Emhilde regine" to the monastery of St Gregory in Vosges by charter dated to [660/62][450]. "Childericus rex Francorum" donated property on the request of "Amelrico, Bonefacio ducibus" and the advice of "Emnehildæ reginæ" by charter dated to [664/66][451]. The Liber Historiæ Francorum records that "Childericum…alium fratrem eius [Chlotharii regis]" reigned in Austrasia with "Vulfoaldo duce", and that after his brother King Theoderich III was deposed he became King of the Franks, also backed by Wulfoald[452]. According to the Continuator of Fredegar, King Childerich was "altogether too light and frivolous", aroused "scandal and contempt…among the Frankish people" and was murdered with his pregnant queen by Bodilo[453]. The Liber Historiæ Francorum also records that "Childericum" and his pregnant wife were murdered by Bodilo[454].
m ([664/6 Sep 667]) BILICHILDIS, daughter of [SIGEBERT III King of the Franks & his wife Chimnechildis] (-murdered forest of Lognes, near Chelles [18 Oct/10 Nov] 675, bur Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés). "Childericus rex Francorum, Emnehildis et Bilihildis…reginæ…" confirmed the property of the monastery of Stablo and Malmedy by charter dated 6 Sep 667[455]. The Passio Leudegarii states that it was reported that "Childericum" married "filia sui…avunculi", the editor of this edition assuming that this means that she was the daughter of King Sigebert[456]. Given that avunculus normally indicates maternal uncle, this text appears insufficiently clear to conclude that the wife of King Childerich II was the daughter of King Sigebert III or, if she was, that she was his legitimate daughter. No other source has been found which corroborates the origin of Queen Bilichildis. However, contemporary Merovingian charters frequently use "avunculus" to include paternal uncle, which suggests that this may have been a general localised usage at the time. The fact that she and her supposed mother are named together in the charter dated 6 Sep 667 of "Childericus rex Francorum, Emnehildis et Bilihildis…reginæ…" confirming the property of the monastery of Stablo and Malmedy[457] suggests that Chimnechildis ["Emnehildis"] & Bilihildis may have been mother and daughter. The Liber Historiæ Francorum records that "Childericum" and his pregnant wife were murdered by Bodilo[458]. King Childerich II & his wife had [three] children:

a) DAGOBERT (-murdered forest of Lognes, near Chelles [18 Oct/10 Nov] 675, bur Paris, Saint-Germain-des-Prés).
b) CHILPERICH (-Noyon early 721, bur Noyon)
c) [daughter ... m REOL, son of ---. Bishop of Reims.]

https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/MEROVINGIANS.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childeric_II

Childeric II (c. 653 – 675) was the king of Austrasia from 662 and of Neustria and Burgundy from 673 until his death, making him sole King of the Franks for the final two years of his life. He was the second eldest son of Clovis II. His elder brother Chlothar III was briefly sole king from 661, but gave Austrasia to Childeric the next year. He was still a mere child when he was raised on the shields of his warriors and proclaimed king in Austrasia.

Bodilo adjusting his culottes after corporal punishmentAfter the death of Chlothar in 673, Theuderic III, his youngest brother, inherited his kingdoms, but a faction of prominent Burgundian nobles led by Leodegar and Eticho invited Childeric to become king in Neustria and Burgundy. He soon invaded his brother's kingdom and displaced him, becoming sole king. He made his Austrasian mayor of the palace, Wulfoald, mayor also in Neustria and Burgundy, displacing Ebroin of Neustria and upsetting his supporters in Burgundy who did not wish to see functionaries active in a kingdom other than their native one. In March 675, Childeric had granted him honores in Alsace to Eticho with the title of dux. This grant was most probably the result of Eticho's continued support for Childeric in Burgundy, which had often disputed possession of Alsace with Austrasia.

The final straw for the magnates of Neustria, however, was Childeric's illegal corporal punishment of the noble Bodilo. Bodilo and his friends Amalbert and Ingobert conspired to assassinate the king, who was killed, along with his wife Bilichild, while hunting in the forest by Livry. He was buried in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, near Paris, where the tombs of he, Bilichild, and his infant son Dagobert were discovered in 1645; the contents were pilfered.

Childeric II

Merovingian Dynasty

Born: 653 Died: 675

Preceded by

Clotaire III King of Austrasia

662–675 Succeeded by

Clovis III

Preceded by

Theuderic III King of Neustria and Burgundy

673–675 Succeeded by

Theuderic III

Vacant

Title last held by

Clotaire III King of the Franks

673–675 Vacant

Title next held by

Theuderic III

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This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

Gregory of Tours, a writer of the sixteenth century, relates in several passages of his "History of the Franks," that they exhibited the same repugnance to compulsory taxation as the Germans of the time of Tacitus. The Leudes considered that they owed nothing to the treasury, and to force them to submit to taxation was not an easy matter. About the year 465, Childéric I., father of Clovis, lost his crown for wishing all classes to submit to taxation equally. In 673, Childéric II., King of Austrasia, had one of these Leudes, named Bodillon, flogged with rods for daring to reproach him with the injustice of certain taxes. He, however, was afterwards assassinated by this same Bodillon, and the Leudes maintained their right of immunity.