Chilpéric Ier
King of the Franks · 561-584 · died on 27 September 584
Son of Chlothar I, Chilperic I ruled Neustria, the western part of the Frankish kingdom, with Soissons as his capital. Often presented by Gregory of Tours as a cruel tyrant and a bad king, he waged an almost permanent war against his brother Sigebert I.
He repudiated his first wife to marry the beautiful Fredegund, a former servant who became his mistress. The murder of Sigebert I in 575 is traditionally attributed to her, and her influence fuelled the dark memory of the reign. Chilperic left a very bad reputation.
He was murdered in 584, near Chelles, during a hunting party. His son, Chlothar II, still a baby, succeeded him under Fredegund’s protection: Neustria then remained the heart of resistance to Austrasia.
In the tree of power
- Era: Merovingians
- Predecessor: Clotaire Ier (511-561)
- Successor: Clotaire II (584-629)