Library › St Gregory of Tours › History of the Franks

History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 9, 12. Of the Slaying of Ursio and Berthefred

Now King Childebert assembled an army and commanded it to march upon the place where Ursio and Berthefred had shut themselves up. In the district of the Woëvre there was an estate¹ commanded by a precipitous hill, upon the summit of which a church had been erected in honour of the holy and blessed Martin. Tradition said that in old days it had been fortified, but in the present day it was strong rather by nature than by art. In this church the two men had shut themselves, with their wives, their servants and effects. So Childebert, after levying his army, ordered it to advance upon the place. But the men on their way thither committed to fire and rapine everything belonging to Ursio and Berthefred which they could find, whether houses on his lands or other property. When they reached the spot, they scaled the hill and encircled the church with an armed force; their leader was Godegisel, son-in-law of Duke Lupus. When they failed to get the besieged men out of the church, they tried to set the building on fire. Seeing what they were about, Ursio sallied forth, and made such slaughter of the besiegers that of those who came within his range not a man might defend his life. There fell Trudulf, count of the royal palace,² and many soldiers of the army. But when Ursio was seen to be spent by the slaughter, he was himself struck in the thigh, and fell helpless to the ground; they rushed in upon him, and he was slain. When Godegisel saw it, he cried: ‘Let there now be peace, for behold the greatest foe of our lords is fallen; let Berthefred have his life.’ While he was speaking, and the men were all intent on plundering the things amassed in the church, Berthefred mounted his horse and made for Verdun, believing that he would be safe in the oratory of the church house, more especially as Bishop Ageric was living there. When news was brought to King Childebert that Berthefred had escaped, he was sore at heart and said: ‘If this man escape alive, then shall not Godegisel escape from my hands;’ he was unaware that Berthefred had taken refuge in the church house, but thought that he had fled into some other part of the country. Godegisel was alarmed; he once more moved his force and surrounded the bishop’s house with armed men. When the bishop not only declared himself unable to surrender Berthefred, but even sought to protect him, the men climbed upon the roof and did him to death by crushing him with the tiles and materials covering the oratory; so he died with three of his servants. The bishop was filled with grief, not only because he had been unable to afford protection, but also because he had seen polluted with human blood the place where he was wont to pray and where relics of the saints were gathered together. King Childebert sent him gifts to distract him from his grief, but he would not be comforted. At this time many fled into other regions from fear of the king. Certain dukes were deprived of their dignity, and others were promoted in their room.

Previous · Contents · Next