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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 10, 27. Of Those Whom Fredegund Caused to Be Slain

Among the Franks of Tournai there arose no slight feud because the son of one of them often angrily rebuked the son of another, who had married his sister, because he neglected her for light loves. When the offender failed to amend his ways, ill feeling grew so bitter that the brother fell upon him and slew him, together with many of his people. He was himself laid low by the other’s following, and at last there was none left of either party, save one sole survivor for whom no adversary remained. In consequence of this quarrel their kinsmen took up the feud, and were more than once admonished by Queen Fredegund to cease from enmity and be reconciled, lest from this obstinate dispute yet greater evil should grow. But when she failed to calm them with conciliatory words she rid herself of both with the axe. At a banquet to which she had invited many guests, she placed the three enemies¹ on the same bench. The meal was prolonged until night covered the earth. The table was removed after the Frankish fashion, and they were left on the bench where they had been set. They drank on until not only they themselves but the servants were drunken, and these men lay sleeping helplessly in the corners where they had dropped. Then three men with axes, obeying the queen’s orders, took their stand behind the three enemies. While these went on with their talk, they swung their axes and striking, so to speak, as one man, cut the victims down; whereupon the feast broke up. The names of the slain were Harivald, Leudovald, and Waldin. When the news of this reached their kinsmen, they kept a close watch on Fredegund and sent messengers to King Childebert demanding that she should be arrested and put to death. The men of Champagne were called out; but, as the king delayed, she was got away by the aid of her own people and escaped into another place.

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