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Kilde: Austrasia

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Austrasia, homeland of the Franks (darkest green), and subsequent conquests (other shades of green).

Battles of the Frankish civil war of 715–718
Compiègne Cologne Amblève Vincy Soissons
Austrasia formed the northeastern section of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and Cologne.
Contents [hide]
1 Etymology
2 History
3 Rulers
3.1 Merovingian kings
3.2 Mayors of the palace
4 References
Etymology[edit]

The origin of the name Austrasia is Germanic, meaning "eastern land". The latinisation is confusing as German "Ost" is "east", but Latin "auster"/ "australis" is "south". The same can be seen with the name Austria.
History[edit]



Ancient basilica of Saint-Pierre-aux-Nonnains from the 4th century in Metz, capital of the kingdom of Austrasia

After the death of the Frankish king Clovis I in 511, his four sons partitioned his kingdom amongst themselves, with Theuderic I receiving the lands that were to become Austrasia. Descended from Theuderic, a line of kings ruled Austrasia until 555, when it was united with the other Frankish kingdoms of Chlothar I, who inherited all the Frankish realms by 558. He redivided the Frankish territory amongst his four sons, but the four kingdoms coalesced into three on the death of Charibert I in 567: Austrasia under Sigebert I, Neustria under Chilperic I, and Burgundy under Guntram. These three kingdoms defined the political division of Francia until the rise of the Carolingians and even thereafter.

From 567 to the death of Sigbert II in 613, Neustria and Austrasia fought each other almost constantly, with Burgundy playing the peacemaker between them. These struggles reached their climax in the wars between Brunhilda and Fredegund, queens respectively of Austrasia and Neustria. Finally, in 613, a rebellion by the nobility against Brunhilda saw her betrayed and handed over to her nephew and foe of Neustria, Chlothar II. Chlothar then took control of the other two kingdoms and set up a united Frankish kingdom with its capital in Paris. During this period the first majores domus or mayors of the palace appeared. These officials acted as mediators between king and people in each realm. The first Austrasian mayors came from the Pippinid family, which experienced a slow but steady ascent until it eventually displaced the Merovingians on the throne.

In 623, the Austrasians asked Chlothar II for a king of their own and he appointed his son Dagobert I to rule over them with Pepin of Landen as regent. Dagobert's government in Austrasia was widely admired. In 629, he inherited Neustria and Burgundy. Austrasia was again neglected until, in 633, the people demanded the king's son as their own king again. Dagobert complied and sent his elder son Sigebert III to Austrasia. Historians often categorise Sigebert as the first roi fainéant or do-nothing king of the Merovingian dynasty. His court was dominated by the mayors. In 657, the mayor Grimoald the Elder succeeded in putting his son Childebert the Adopted on the throne, where he remained until 662. Thereafter, Austrasia was predominantly the kingdom of the Arnulfing mayors of the palace and their base of power. With the Battle of Tertry in 687, Pepin of Heristal defeated the Neustrian king Theuderic III and established his mayoralty over all the Frankish kingdoms.

This was even regarded by contemporaries as the beginning of his "reign". It also signaled the dominance of Austrasia over Neustria which would last until the end of the Merovingian era. In 718, Karl Martel, with Austrasian support in his war against Neustria - each territory struggling to unite Francia under their hegemony -appointed one Chlothar IV to rule in Austrasia. This was the last Frankish ruler who did not rule over all the Franks. In 719, Francia was united permanently under Austrasian hegemony.

Under the Carolingians and subsequently, Austrasia is sometimes used as a denominator for the east of their realm, the Carolingian Empire. It has been used as a synonym for East Francia, though this is somewhat inaccurate.
Rulers[edit]

Merovingian kings

Theuderic I, 511–533
Theudebert I, 533–548
Theudebald, 548–555
Chlothar I, 555–561
Sigebert I, 561–575
Childebert II, 575–595
Theudebert II, 595–612
Theuderic II, 612–613
Sigebert II, 613
Chlothar II, 613–623
Dagobert I, 623–634
Sigebert III, 634–656
Childebert the Adopted, 656–661
Chlothar III, 661–662
Childeric II, 662–675
Dagobert II, 675–679
Theuderic III, 679–691
Clovis IV, 691–695
Childebert III, 695–711
Dagobert III, 711–715
Chilperic II, 715–717
Chlothar IV, 717–720
Chilperic II, 720–721 (again)
Theuderic IV, 721–737
Childeric III, 743–751

Mayors of the palace
Parthemius, until 548
Gogo, c.567–581
Wandalenus, from 581
Gundulf, from 600
Landric, until 612
Warnachar, 612–617
Hugh, 617–623
Pepin I, 623–629
Adalgisel, 633–639
Pepin I, 639–640 (again)
Otto, 640–643
Grimoald I, 643–656
Wulfoald, 656–680
Pepin II, 680–714
Theudoald, 714–715
Charles Martel, 715–741
Carloman, 741–747
Pepin III, 747–751
References[edit]

Charles Oman. The Dark Ages 476–918. London: Rivingtons, 1914.
Thomas Hodgkin. Italy and Her Invaders. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1895.

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