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Forfatter | Wikipedia |
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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. |