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.

Religion

In 576 Sigebert's brother Guntram, King of Burgundy, founded a bishopric that was suffragan of Vienne at Maurienne, which belonged to the Diocese of Turin. The Bishop of Turin protested this to Brunehaut for more than twenty years but even when Pope Gregory the Great supported his complaint in 599 Brunehaut dismissed it. In general, however, she protected the church and treated Gregory with great respect. He wrote a series of positive letters to her; in 597 he wrote to her about interdicting pagan rites such as tree worship. Gregory of Tours was another favoured cleric; he was a trusted courtier to her and her son from 587 until his death. She also took a keen personal interest in the bishoprics and monasteries within her dominion. This brought her into conflict with Columbanus, abbot of Luxeuil, whom she eventually exiled.

Related Topics:
576 - Guntram - Vienne - Maurienne - Diocese - Turin - Bishop of Turin - Pope Gregory the Great - 599 - 597 - Pagan - Tree worship - Gregory of Tours - Columbanus - Abbot - Luxeuil

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Brunehaut was buried in the Abbaye de St. Martin at Autun that she founded in 602 on the spot where the bishop of Tours had cut down a beech-tree that served as an object of pagan worship. The abbey was destroyed in 1793 and Brunehaut's sarcophagus is now in the Musee Lapidaire in Avignon.

Related Topics:
Autun - 602 - 1793 - Sarcophagus - Musee Lapidaire - Avignon

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Brunehaut commissioned the building of several churches and the abbey of St. Vincent at Laon (founded in 580). She is also credited with founding the castle of Bruniquel and having a Roman road resurfaced near Alligny-en-Morvan (where the name of a nearby hill Terreau Bruneau is believed to be derived from hers). The part of Mauves-sur-Loire known as la Fontaine Bruneau is named after Brunehaut who may have cooled herself with the fountain's water when she suffered heat exhaustion.

Related Topics:
Laon - 580 - Bruniquel - Mauves-sur-Loire - Heat exhaustion

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