#but god how i was totally turhan's team every single time humasah was in the place...

[queenfredegund]

MEROVINGIAN REGINAE | Beretrudis Regina († 619)

Chief wife of Chlothacar II Rex, to whom she bore at least two sons, Dagobert I Rex and the unnamed Prince C Rex, and perhaps a daughter, Bertha II Regina (if the woman is really a royal daughter like some historians think so). According to Fredegar, she was his most beloved consort.

“Bertedrudis regina, mater Dagoberti, [...] quam unico amore Chlotharius dilexerat [...].

[...] the queen Bertrude, mother of Dagobert, whom Chlothar had loved with a unique love.”

Gesta Dagob., c. 5. De morte matris Dagoberti

Her origin is uncertained, but based on a later fragment saying that Dagobert was a parent of the Maior Palatii Erchinoald through his mother’s side, she could have been the sister of Gariberga, mother of Erchinoald, and thus the daughter of the patricius Richomer, a burgundian aristocrat.

“Post discessum Aegane Erchynoaldus maior domus, qui consanguaeneus fuerat de genetrici Dagoberto, maior domi palacium Chlodouiae effecetur.

After Aega’s death, the mayor domus Erchinoald, who was from Dagobert’s mother’s family, became mayor of the palace under Clovis.”

Chron, IV, 84. De inicium ascinsus Erchynoaldo maiorem domo

As Chlothacar’s wife, she may have lived in Parisius (Paris), Sexonas (Soissons), Clippiacum (Clichy) and other cities of the regnum. According to Fredegar, she was very popular among the nobiles, who praised her for being a gentle and sensible woman.

“[...] omnes leudis bonitate eius cernentes uehementer amauerant .

[...] all the leudes, who were aware of her kindness, had loved her dearly.”

Chron, IV, 46. De morte Bertrude regini

In 614, she was accompanying Chlothacar on a royal travel in the Austrasian part of the regnum, in the villa of Marilegio (Marlenheim). There, she received in audience the bishop Leudemund, who tried to convince her of taking a part in a conspiration led by the patricius Aletheus, in order to dethrone and kill Chlothacar. But she firmly opposed to the project, and eventually had it exposed, leading Aletheus to be killed for treason.

“Leudemundus quidem episcopus Seduninsis ad Bertetrudem reginam ueniens, sigricius consilio Aletheo patricio uerba ignominiosa dixit, quod Chlotharius eodem anno omnimodis migraret de seculo, ut thinsauris quantum potebat secretisseme ad Sidonis suam ciuitatem transferrit, eo quod esse locum tutissimum : Aletheos esset paratus suam relinquens uxorem Bettethrudem reginam acceperit ; eo quod esset regio genere de Burgundionibus, ipse post Chlotharium possit regnum adsumere. Regina Beretrudis cum haec audisset, uerens ne ueritatem subsisterit lacrimas prorumpens abiit in cobiculum. [...] Chlotharius Masolaco uilla cum procerebus resedens Aletheum ad se uenire precepit. Huius consilium iniquissimum conpertum est : gladium trucidare iussit.

In any case, Leudemond, bishop of Sion, went to Queen Bertetrude. In secret, on the advice of Patrice Alethius, he made ignoble remarks: that, Chlothar would not spend the year; that she had to secretly send all she could of the treasures to his city of Sion, which was a very safe place; that Alethius was ready to take Queen Bertetrude for his wife and to leave his own wife; that since Burgundian royal blood was flowing in his veins, he could succeed to Chlothar on the throne. Queen Bertetrude, after hearing these words, feared that this was true; she burst into tears and retired to her room. [...] [Chlothar] ordered Alethius to come find him. As his criminal plan was exposed, he ordered him to perish by the sword.”

Chron, IV, 44. De Leudemundo episcopo et Bertrude regina

She died in 619 and was buried in the Basilica Sainte-Croix-et-Saint-Vincent, in the actual St-Germain-des-Prés Abbey, where the emplacement of her grave is marked by a 13th-century gisant. According to the sources, she was publicly mourned by the rex and deeply missed by the court. After her death, she was replaced in her duties by a secondary consort, Sichildis Regina.

“Post cuius obitum Chlotharius rex aliam accepit uxorem nomine Sichildem, de qua habuit filium nomine Hairbetum.

Following her death, Chlothar took an other wife, named Sichilde, whose gave him a son named Charibert.”

Gesta Dagob., c. 5. De morte matris Dagoberti