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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 6, 12. Of the Army Sent Against Bourges
Now when King Chilperic saw these seeds of discord springing up between his brother and his nephew, he summoned Duke Desiderius1 and bade him deal some malicious blow at his brother. Desiderius marched with an army, put Duke Ragnovald2 to flight, and occupied Périgueux, where he bound the people to Chilperic by an oath; he then went on to Agen. Ragnovald’s wife, learning that by her husband’s flight this city must likewise pass into the power of King Chilperic, betook herself to the church of the holy martyr Caprasius. But she was dragged out, despoiled of her riches and the support of her household, and forced to find sureties before being sent to Toulouse, where once more she made her abode in the church of the holy Saturninus.3 Desiderius took all the cities in that region belonging to King Guntram, and brought them under the sway of King Chilperic.
Duke Berulf,4 hearing that the men of Bourges made much talk of invading the territory of Tours, marched with an army, and established himself in these parts. The districts of Yzeures and Barrou of the region of Tours were cruelly devastated at this time. Afterwards, those5 who were unable to join in this expedition were sentenced without mercy.
Duke Bladast6 marched into the country of the Gascons and lost the greater part of his army.
Notes
- Cf. V. 7 (13), 29 (39).
- Cf. VII. 10.
- Cf. VII. 10.
- Cf. V. 49; VI. 22 (31); VIII. 26.
- i. e. of Tours.
- Cf. ch. (22) 31, below; VII. 29 (28), 34, 37; VIII. 6.