Brunhilda of Austrasia

Brunhilda (in German) or Brunehaut (in French) (534-613) was a Frankish queen who ruled the East Frankish kingdoms of Austrasia and Burgundy in the names of her sons and grandsons.{{Inote|Encyclopedia Britannica (2004)|EB2004}} Initially known as a liberal ruler of great political acumen she became notorious for her cruelty and avarice. In some histories she is known as Brunhilde, or Brunechildis.

Downfall

When Theodoric died in 613 Brunehaut, now in her middle sixties, proclaimed one of her great-grandsons as king, but the nobles of Austrasia and Burgundy objected, rising in revolt against her, and called on Clotaire II, son of Fredegund, and king of most of France to help them. Brunehaut fled East, hoping to enlist the aid of the German tribes along the Rhine, but she was betrayed by the last of her followers, and delivered into the hands of her nephew and mortal enemy, Clotaire. Before a gathering of the nobility at Renève, Burgundy, he had her accused of causing many deaths, including those of ten kings and Desiderius, as well as several other churchmen. Brunehaut was condemned to death, and Clotaire brought the full force of his hatred and that of his deceased mother against their old foe: Brunehaut was put to slow torture, being stretched on the rack for three long days, before finally being chained between four horses and torn limb from limb, or, as some later stories would have it, tied to the tail of a wild mare and dragged to her death. According to the Liber Historiae Francorum:

Related Topics:
613 - Clotaire II - Renève - Rack - Liber Historiae Francorum

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:"Then the army of the Franks and Burgundians joined into one, all shouted together that death would be most fitting for the very wicked Brunhilda. Then King Clotaire ordered that she be lifted on to a camel and led through the entire army. Then she was tied to the feet of wild horses and torn apart limb from limb. Finally she died. Her final grave was the fire. Her bones were burnt."

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One legend has her being dragged by a wild mare down the Roman road La Chaussée Brunehaut at Abbeville.{{Inote|Chalmin|Chalmin}}

Related Topics:
Roman road - Abbeville

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Many scholars have sought to see Brunhilda as inspiration for the character Brynhildr in Norse mythology, called Brünnhilde in the Nibelungenlied, and to have thus formed the basis for aspects of Wagner's Brunhilde.{{Inote|Brunhild|Brunhild}}

Related Topics:
Brynhildr - Norse mythology - Wagner

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