Library › St Gregory of Tours › History of the Franks
History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 9, 32. Of the Enmity Between Childebert and Guntram
King Guntram, enraged at this disaster, commanded all roads in his kingdom to be closed1 so as to prevent the passage of all persons from Childebert’s kingdom through his territory. For he said: ‘It is through his wickedness in making a treaty with the king of Spain that my army hath been destroyed; if the cities refuse to submit to my dominion, his instigation is the cause.’ His bitterness was fanned to flame through yet another cause, that King Childebert now proposed to send his elder son Theudebert to Soissons.2 This awakened suspicion in King Guntram’s mind, for he thus reasoned: ‘My nephew is sending his son to Soissons only that he may next make his entry into Paris, and seek to deprive me of my kingdom.’ If it be permitted me to say it, such an idea had never entered the head of Childebert. The king further vented many reproaches at Queen Brunhild, maintaining that in all these things her son was acting on her advice, even adding that she had once tried to marry the son of Gundovald.3 He therefore ordered a council of the bishops to assemble on the first day of November. Many bishops hastening to this assembly from the uttermost parts of Gaul turned back because Queen Brunhild cleared herself of the charge by oath. King Guntram now suffered the roads again to be opened, and allowed free passage to all who sought access to King Childebert.
Notes
- Cf. VI. 11, and the clause in the Pact of Andelot, above, p. 392.
- Cf. below, ch. 36.
- Cf. above, ch. 28.