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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 4, How Chilperic Made a Treaty with Guntram, and of the Death of His Son Theudebert

My mind is filled with grief as I relate the story of these civil wars. After the lapse of a year, Chilperic once more sent envoys to his brother Guntram, with this message: ‘Let my brother come to me, and let us see each other; let us be reconciled and march against Sigibert, our common enemy.’ His wish was granted; and after they had met and exchanged gifts of honour, Chilperic levied an army and advanced as far as Reims, burning and devastating everything in his path. At news of this Sigibert once more summoned the tribes of whom I have above spoken,¹ and coming to Paris, prepared to march against his brother. He also sent envoys to the people of Châteaudun and Tours, ordering them to march against Theudebert. When they neglected to come, he sent the dukes Godigisel and Guntram in command; they raised an army and marched against him. Though forsaken by the bulk of his men, the prince stood his ground with the few that remained, and did not shrink from going out to battle. In the encounter Theudebert was vanquished and struck down on the field; his lifeless body, pitiful to relate, was despoiled by the enemy. But afterwards he was taken up by a certain Aunulf, washed and arrayed as beseemed his rank, and buried at Angoulême. Chilperic, learning that Guntram and Sigibert were now once more reconciled, withdrew within the walls of Tournai with his consort and his sons, and fortified himself there.

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