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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 4, How Sigibert Marched Against the Huns, and How Chilperic Fell Upon His Cities

After the death of King Lothar the Huns attacked Gaul.¹ Sigibert led an army against them, and after a campaign conquered them, driving them to flight. After this, their king sent envoys and obtained terms of friendship. But while Sigibert was occupied with them, his plans were thrown into disorder. His brother Chilperic invaded Reims and took from him other cities of his inheritance, from which action, to make all worse, civil war began between them. Sigibert, returning as victor of the Huns, seized Soissons; there he found Theudebert, son of King Chilperic, whom he took prisoner and banished. He then marched against Chilperic and engaged him, and having overcome him and put him to flight he brought his cities once more under his own authority. Chilperic’s son Theudebert he ordered to be kept a whole year in durance on the domain of Pontion; but being of a merciful nature, he afterwards loaded him with gifts and sent him back in safety to his father, exacting of him an oath that he would never again undertake any enterprise against him. Which oath, of his sinfulness, the prince afterwards broke.²

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