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Austrasia (rarely Austria, both meaning "eastern land") formed the north-eastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks
Franks

The Franks or Frankish people were a West Germanic ethnic group first identified in the 3rd century as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River....
, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
, western Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
, Belgium
Belgium

* A small German-speaking Community of Belgium exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political and cultural conflicts are reflected in the history of Belgium and a complex Communities and regions of Belgium....
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg

Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a small landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany....
 and the Netherlands
Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands is located in North-West Europe, and bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east....
. Metz
Metz

Metz is a city in the northeast of France, capital of the Lorraine R?gion in France and prefecture of the Moselle Departments of France.It is located at the confluence of the Moselle River and the Seille rivers....
 served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier
Trier

Trier is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle River. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC. Trier is not the only city claiming to be Germany's oldest, but it is the only one that bases this assertion on having the longest history as a city, as opposed to a mere settlement or army camp....
, and Cologne
Cologne

Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants....
 also. Austrasia was also used as a term for northeast Italy
Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia....
, as opposed to Neustria
Neustria

The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities....
, which meant the northwest.

r the death of the Frankish king Clovis I
Clovis I

Clovis was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Franks under one king. He succeeded his father Childeric I in 481 as King of the Salian Franks, one of the Frankish tribes who were then occupying the area west of the lower Rhine, with their centre around Tournai and Cambrai along the modern frontier between France and Belgium, in an...
 in 511
511

Events...
, his four sons partitioned his kingdom amongst themselves, with Theuderic I receiving the lands that were to become Austrasia.






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Timeline

511   Frankish kingdom split in four after the death of Clovis I: Childebert I becomes king of Paris; Clotaire I king of Soissons; Chlodomer king of Orlιans, and Theuderic I king of Reims and Austrasia.

533   Theodebert I becomes king of Austrasia.

547   Theodebald becomes king of Austrasia (or 548).

548   Theodebald becomes king of Austrasia (or 547).

561   Clotaire I dies, and the Frankish kingdom is divided; Sigebert I becomes king of Austrasia, Chilperic I becomes king of Neustria, Charibert becomes king of Paris, and Guntram becomes king of Burgundy.

562   Sigebert I repels an attack on Austrasia by the Avars.

567   Sigebert I, king of Austrasia, marries Brunhilda, and Chilperic I marries Galswintha, both daughters of the Visigothic king Athanagild.

568   Sigebert I of Austrasia repels an attack from the Avars.

575   Childebert II becomes king of Austrasia.

595   Theudebert II becomes king of Austrasia.







Encyclopedia


Austrasia (rarely Austria, both meaning "eastern land") formed the north-eastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks
Franks

The Franks or Frankish people were a West Germanic ethnic group first identified in the 3rd century as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River....
, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
, western Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
, Belgium
Belgium

* A small German-speaking Community of Belgium exists in eastern Wallonia. Belgium's linguistic diversity and related political and cultural conflicts are reflected in the history of Belgium and a complex Communities and regions of Belgium....
, Luxembourg
Luxembourg

Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a small landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany....
 and the Netherlands
Netherlands

The Netherlands is a country that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands is located in North-West Europe, and bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east....
. Metz
Metz

Metz is a city in the northeast of France, capital of the Lorraine R?gion in France and prefecture of the Moselle Departments of France.It is located at the confluence of the Moselle River and the Seille rivers....
 served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier
Trier

Trier is a city in Germany on the banks of the Moselle River. It is the oldest city in Germany, founded in or before 16 BC. Trier is not the only city claiming to be Germany's oldest, but it is the only one that bases this assertion on having the longest history as a city, as opposed to a mere settlement or army camp....
, and Cologne
Cologne

Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants....
 also. Austrasia was also used as a term for northeast Italy
Italy

Italy , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia....
, as opposed to Neustria
Neustria

The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities....
, which meant the northwest.

History

After the death of the Frankish king Clovis I
Clovis I

Clovis was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Franks under one king. He succeeded his father Childeric I in 481 as King of the Salian Franks, one of the Frankish tribes who were then occupying the area west of the lower Rhine, with their centre around Tournai and Cambrai along the modern frontier between France and Belgium, in an...
 in 511
511

Events...
, 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
555

Events...
, when it was united with the other Frankish kingdoms of Chlothar I, who inherited all the Frankish realms by 558
558

Events...
. He redivided the Frankish territory amongst his four sons, but the four kingdoms coalesced into three on the death of Charibert I
Charibert I

Charibert I was the Merovingian List of Frankish kings, the second-eldest son of Chlothar I and Ingund, wife of Clotaire I. His elder brother was Gunthar, son of Chlothar I, who died sometime before their father's death....
 in 567
567

Events...
: Austrasia under Sigebert I
Sigebert I

Sigebert I was the king of Austrasia from the death of his father in 561 to his own death. He was the third surviving son out of four of Clotaire I and Ingund....
, Neustria under Chilperic I
Chilperic I

File:Chilperic I & Fredegunde00.jpgChilperic I was the king of Neustria from 561 to his death. He was one of the sons of Clotaire I, sole king of the Franks, and Aregund....
, and Burgundy under Guntram
Guntram

Saint Guntram was the king of Kingdom of Burgundy from 561 to 592. He was a son of Chlothar I and Ingunda. On his father's death , he became king of a fourth of the kingdom of the Franks, and made his capital at Orl?ans....
. 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
613

Events...
, Neustria and Austrasia were almost constantly at odds, with Burgundy playing the peacemaker between them. These struggles reached their climax in the wars between Brunhilda and Fredegund
Fredegund

Fredegund or Fredegunda was the Queen consort of Chilperic I, the Merovingian Frankish king of Soissons.Originally a servant, Fredegund became Chilperic's mistress after he had murdered his wife and queen, Galswintha ....
, 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
Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
. It was during this period that 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 were drawn from the Pippinid
Pippinid

The Pippinids or Arnulfings are the members of a family of Frankish nobles whose select scions served as Mayor of the Palace, de facto rulers, of the Frankish kingdoms of Neustria and Austrasia that were nominally ruled by the Merovingians....
 family, which was to experience a slow, but steady ascent until it eventually displaced the Merovingian on the throne.

In 623
623

Events...
, the Austrasians asked Chlothar II for a king of their own and he appointed his son Dagobert I
Dagobert I

File:Dagobert_I_Triens_UZES_629_639_gold_1240mg.jpgDagobert I was the king of Austrasia , King of the Franks , and king of Neustria and Burgundy ....
 to rule over them with Pepin of Landen as regent. Dagobert's government in Austrasia was widely admired. In 629
629

Events...
, he inherited Neustria and Burgundy. Austrasia was again neglected until, in 633
633

Events...
, the people demanded the king's son as their own king again. Dagobert complied and sent his elder son Sigebert III
Sigebert III

Sigebert III was the king of Austrasia from 634 to his death probably on 1 February 656, or maybe as late as 660. He was the eldest son of Dagobert I....
 to Austrasia. Sigebert is widely regarded by historians as the first roi fainιant
Roi fainιant

Roi fain?ant is a French language phrase meaning "do-nothing king". It is primarily used to refer to the later kings of the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties, after they seemed to have lost their initial energy....
 or do-nothing king of the Merovingian dynasty. His court was dominated by the mayors. In 657
657

Events...
, the mayor Grimoald the Elder
Grimoald the Elder

Grimoald I , called the Elder was the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia from 643 to 656. He was the son of Pepin of Landen and Itta.With the death of Pepin of Landen in 640, Grimoald became the head of his household, the most powerful in Austrasia....
 succeeded in putting his son Childebert the Adopted
Childebert the Adopted

When King Sigebert III died in 656, Grimoald the Elder had Sigebert's son Dagobert II shorn of hair and packed off to an Ireland monastery and then proclaimed his own son, Childebert the Adopted , king of Austrasia....
 on the throne, where he remained until 662
662

Events*The regent Grimuald usurps the kingship of the Lombards, driving Perctarit into exile and killing Godepert.*Emperor Tenji of Japan orders Abe no Hirafu to escort Buyeo Pung to Baekje, where he is made to take up the succession to the dignity....
. Thereafter, Austrasia was predominantly the kingdom of the Arnulfing mayors of the palace and their base of power. With the Battle of Tertry
Battle of Tertry

The Battle of Tertry was an important engagement in Merovingian Gaul between the forces of Austrasia on one side and those of Neustria and Burgundy on the other....
 in 687
687

Events...
, Pepin of Heristal defeated the Neustrian king Theuderic III
Theuderic III

Theuderic III was the king of Neustria on two occasions and king of Austrasia from 679 to his death in 691. Thus, he was the king of all the Franks from 679....
 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 was to last until the end of the Merovingian era. In 718
718

Events...
, Charles Martel
Charles Martel

Charles "The Hammer" Martel was proclaimed Mayor of the Palace and ruled the Franks in the name of a Titular ruler. Late in his reign he proclaimed himself Duke of the Franks and by any name was de facto ruler of the Frankish Realms....
, with Austrasian support in his war against Neustria, each 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
719

Events...
, 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
Carolingian Empire

Carolingian Empire is a historiography term sometimes used to refer to the Francia under the Carolingian dynasty. This dynasty is seen as the founders of France and Germany....
. It has been used as a synonym for East Francia, though this is somewhat inaccurate.

Rulers


Merovingian kings

  • Theuderic I
    Theuderic I

    Theuderic I was the Merovingian king of Metz, Rheims, or Austrasia ? as it is variously called ? from 511 to 533 or 534.He was the son of Clovis I and one of his earlier wives or concubines....
    , 511–533
  • Theudebert I
    Theudebert I

    File:Theodebert_I_534_548_king_of_Metz.jpgTheudebert I was the Merovingians king of Austrasia from 533 to his death in 548. He was the son of Theuderic I and the father of Theudebald....
    , 533–548
  • Theudebald
    Theudebald

    Theudebald or Theodebald , son of Theudebert I and Deuteria, was the king of Metz, Rheims, or Austrasia—as it's variously called—from 547 or 548 to 555....
    , 548–555
  • Chlothar I, 555–561
  • Sigebert I
    Sigebert I

    Sigebert I was the king of Austrasia from the death of his father in 561 to his own death. He was the third surviving son out of four of Clotaire I and Ingund....
    , 561–575
  • Childebert II
    Childebert II

    Childebert II was the Merovingian king of Austrasia, which included Provence at the time, from 575 until his death in 595, the eldest and succeeding son of Sigebert I, and the king of Burgundy from 592 to his death, as the adopted and succeeding son of his uncle Guntram....
    , 575–595
  • Theudebert II
    Theudebert II

    Theudebert II , King of Austrasia , was the son and heir of Childebert II. He received the kingdom of Austrasia plus the cities of Poitiers, Tours, Vellay, Bordeaux, and Ch?teaudun, as well as the Champagne, France, the Auvergne , and Alamannia, on the death of his father in 595, but was dominated by his grandmother Brunhilda of Austrasia,...
    , 595–612
  • Theuderic II
    Theuderic II

    Theuderic II , king of Kingdom of Burgundy and Austrasia , was the second son of Childebert II. At his father's death in 595, he received Guntram's kingdom of Burgundy, with its capital at Orl?ans, while his elder brother, Theudebert II, received their father's kingdom of Austrasia, with its capital at Metz....
    , 612–613
  • Sigebert II
    Sigebert II

    Sigebert II was king of Kingdom of Burgundy and Austrasia . Bastard son of Theuderic II of Austrasia, he succeeded his father in 613; but the mayor of the palace of Austrasia, Warnachar, feared that at his young age he would fall under the influence of his great-grandmother Brunhilda of Austrasia....
    , 613
  • Chlothar II, 613–623
  • Dagobert I
    Dagobert I

    File:Dagobert_I_Triens_UZES_629_639_gold_1240mg.jpgDagobert I was the king of Austrasia , King of the Franks , and king of Neustria and Burgundy ....
    , 623–634
  • Sigebert III
    Sigebert III

    Sigebert III was the king of Austrasia from 634 to his death probably on 1 February 656, or maybe as late as 660. He was the eldest son of Dagobert I....
    , 634–656
  • Childebert the Adopted
    Childebert the Adopted

    When King Sigebert III died in 656, Grimoald the Elder had Sigebert's son Dagobert II shorn of hair and packed off to an Ireland monastery and then proclaimed his own son, Childebert the Adopted , king of Austrasia....
    , 656–661
  • Chlothar III, 661–662
  • Childeric II
    Childeric II

    Childeric II was the king of Austrasia from 662 and of Neustria and Kingdom of Burgundy from 673 until his death, making him sole King of the Franks for the final two years of his life....
    , 662–675
  • Dagobert II
    Dagobert II

    Dagobert II was the List of Frankish Kings , the son of Sigebert III and Chimnechild of Burgundy. He was the last of the Merovingian dynasty to rule independently in Austrasia, with the exception of Charles Martel's dubious candidate Clotaire IV....
    , 675–679
  • Theuderic III
    Theuderic III

    Theuderic III was the king of Neustria on two occasions and king of Austrasia from 679 to his death in 691. Thus, he was the king of all the Franks from 679....
    , 679–691
  • Clovis IV
    Clovis IV

    Clovis IV , son of Theuderic III, was the sole king of the Franks from 691 until his death. Although Clovis IV is called "King of the Franks", he was really a puppet ruler?a roi fain?ant?of Pepin II, mayor of the palace of Austrasia....
    , 691–695
  • Childebert III
    Childebert III

    File:Childebert_III_694_711.jpgChildebert III, called the Just , son of Theuderic III and Clotilda and sole king of the Franks , he was seemingly but a puppet of the mayor of the palace, Pepin of Heristal, though his placita show him making judicial decisions of his own will, even against the Arnulfing clan....
    , 695–711
  • Dagobert III
    Dagobert III

    Dagobert III was Merovingian king of the Franks .He was a son of Childebert III and Edonne. He succeeded his father as the head of the three Frankish kingdoms—Neustria and Austrasia, unified since Pippin's victory at Tertry in 687, and the Kingdom of Burgundy—in 711, at the age of twelve....
    , 711–715
  • Chilperic II
    Chilperic II

    Chilperic II , born Daniel, the youngest son of Childeric II, was king of Neustria from 715 and sole king of the Franks from 718 until his death....
    , 715–717
  • Chlothar IV, 717–720
  • Chilperic II
    Chilperic II

    Chilperic II , born Daniel, the youngest son of Childeric II, was king of Neustria from 715 and sole king of the Franks from 718 until his death....
    , 720–721 (again)
  • Theuderic IV
    Theuderic IV

    Theuderic IV or Theuderich, Theoderic, or Theodoric; in French language, Thierry was the Merovingian List of Frankish Kings from 721 until his death....
    , 721–737
  • Childeric III
    Childeric III

    Childeric III was the last king of the Franks in the Merovingian dynasty from 743 to his deposition in 751.The throne had been vacant for seven years when the mayor of the Palace, Carloman, son of Charles Martel and Pepin the Short, decided in 743 to recognize Childeric as king....
    , 743–751


Mayors of the palace

  • Parthemius
    Parthemius

    Parthemius or Parthenius was the mayor of the palace of Austrasia during the reign of Theudebert I. He was very unpopular with the people for the tributes he exacted....
    , until 548
  • Gogo, c.567–581
  • Wandalenus, from 581
  • Gundulf, from 600
  • Landric
    Landric

    Landric or Landeric was the mayor of the palace of Neustria. According to the Vita Aldegundis, he and his probable brother Gundoland were uncles of Saint Aldegunda....
    , until 612
  • Warnachar, 612–617
  • Hugh
    Hugh of Austrasia

    Hugh, Chucus, or Chugus was the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia from 617 to 623. He was the predecessor to Pepin of Landen and father of Hugobert....
    , 617–623
  • Pepin I
    Pippin of Landen

    Pepin of Landen , also called the Elder or the Old, was the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia under the Merovingians king Dagobert I from 623 to 629....
    , 623–629
  • Adalgisel
    Adalgisel

    Adalgisel or Adalgis was a Frankish dux and the mayor of the palace of Austrasia. He assumed that office in December 633 or January 634 at the same time that Sigebert III assumed the kingship....
    , 633–639
  • Pepin I
    Pippin of Landen

    Pepin of Landen , also called the Elder or the Old, was the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia under the Merovingians king Dagobert I from 623 to 629....
    , 639–640 (again)
  • Otto, 640–643
  • Grimoald I, 643–656
  • Wulfoald
    Wulfoald

    Wulfoald was the mayor of the palace of Austrasia from 656 or 661, depending on when Grimoald I was removed from that office , to his death and mayor of the palace of Neustria and Kingdom of Burgundy from 673 to 675....
    , 656–680
  • Pepin II, 680–714
  • Theudoald
    Theudoald

    Theudoald or Theodald was the mayor of the palace, briefly unopposed in 714 until Ragenfrid was acclaimed in Neustria and Charles Martel in Austrasia by the nobles, after the death of his grandfather, Pepin of Heristal....
    , 714–715
  • Charles Martel
    Charles Martel

    Charles "The Hammer" Martel was proclaimed Mayor of the Palace and ruled the Franks in the name of a Titular ruler. Late in his reign he proclaimed himself Duke of the Franks and by any name was de facto ruler of the Frankish Realms....
    , 715–741
  • Carloman
    Carloman, son of Charles Martel

    Carloman was the eldest son of Charles Martel, major domo or mayor of the palace and duke of the Franks, and his wife Chrotrud. On Charles' death , Carloman and his brother Pippin the Short succeeded to their father's legal positions, Carloman in Austrasia, and Pippin in Neustria....
    , 741–747
  • Pepin III, 747–751


Sources

  • Charles Oman
    Charles Oman

    Sir Charles William Chadwick Oman was a British Military history of the early 20th century. His reconstructions of medieval battles from the fragmentary and distorted accounts left by chroniclers were pioneering....
    . The Dark Ages 476–918. London: Rivingtons, 1914.
  • Thomas Hodgkin
    Thomas Hodgkin (historian)

    Thomas Hodgkin , United Kingdom historian, son of John Hodgkin , barrister and Recorded Minister, and Elizabeth Howard .In 1861 he married Lucy Ann and subsequently they had three sons and three daughters ....
    . Italy and Her Invaders. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1895.