Basina, daughter of Chilperic I
Encyclopedia
Basina was the daughter and youngest child of Chilperic I
, king of Soissons
(later Neustria
), and his first wife, Audovera
.
In 580
, an epidemic
of dysentery
swept through Gaul
and afflicted her father as well as killing all his remaining children, except Basina and her brother Clovis. The jealous third wife of their father, Fredegund
, tried to remove the impediment to her children's succession by sending Clovis to Berny
, where the epidemic was strong. This failed to kill him and she had him assassinated along with his mother, the repudiated Audovera
. For her own safety, Basina, not yet 7 years old, was sent to the Holy Cross convent at Poitiers
. Before that, she was raped by Fredegund's soldiers. The Convent of the Holy Cross at Poitiers was founded by St. Radegund, an enslaved Thuringian princess who later became the wife of Clotaire I
. The childless Radegund left her husband to pursue a religious life, enjoying ecclesiastic support.
In 589
, Basina joined her first cousin, Clotilda, daughter of Charibert I
, in rebellion against the abbess
of their convent. Clotilda led a secession of nuns to the church of Saint Hilary there and proceeded to garner a following of men, mostly criminals. She ordered them to abduct the abbess. The kidnapped abbess was imprisoned under Basina's watch. Eventually, however, she was freed by one Flavian.
When Clotilda became too arrogant for her cousin's liking, Basina made peace with the freed abbess. Things did not return to normal with this, however. The violence continued and, in Gregory of Tours
' words, scarcely a day passed without a murder, or an hour without a quarrel, or a moment without tears http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/gregory-hist.html. This caused King Childebert II
of Austrasia
to propose to his uncle Guntram
of Burgundy
that they send joint embassies of their bishop
s to deal with the incident in accordance with Canon law
. Gregory, bishop of Tours, the chronicler, was ordered to go, along with Ebregisel, bishop of Cologne; Maroveus, bishop of Poitiers; and Gundegisel, bishop of Bordeaux, to the commotion, but Gregory demanded that Macco, count of Poitou, quell it with the arm of the law first. The secular answer being inadequate, the bishops gathered in Poitiers and pronounced a judgement which reinstated the abbess and declared her innocent of any crimes of which the rebels had accused her. The cousins were excommunicated.
In 590
, both Clotilda and Basina were pardoned by the king, and Basina—but not her cousin—returned to her monastery and lived, until her death, in obedience.
Chilperic I
Chilperic I was the king of Neustria from 561 to his death. He was one of the sons of the Frankish king Clotaire I and Queen Aregund....
, king of Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
(later 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...
), and his first wife, Audovera
Audovera
Audovera was the first wife or mistress of Chilperic I, king of Neustria.They had four children.*Theudebert, died in the war of 575*Merovech , married the widow Brunhilda and became his father's enemy*Clovis, assassinated by Fredegund in 580...
.
In 580
580
Year 580 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 580 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* Ethelbert becomes king of Kent.* The Roman...
, an epidemic
Epidemic
In epidemiology, an epidemic , occurs when new cases of a certain disease, in a given human population, and during a given period, substantially exceed what is expected based on recent experience...
of dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...
swept through Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
and afflicted her father as well as killing all his remaining children, except Basina and her brother Clovis. The jealous third wife of their father, Fredegund
Fredegund
Fredegund was the Queen consort of Chilperic I, the Merovingian Frankish king of Soissons.All her wealth and power came to her through her association with Chilperic...
, tried to remove the impediment to her children's succession by sending Clovis to Berny
Berny-Rivière
Berny-Rivière is a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...
, where the epidemic was strong. This failed to kill him and she had him assassinated along with his mother, the repudiated Audovera
Audovera
Audovera was the first wife or mistress of Chilperic I, king of Neustria.They had four children.*Theudebert, died in the war of 575*Merovech , married the widow Brunhilda and became his father's enemy*Clovis, assassinated by Fredegund in 580...
. For her own safety, Basina, not yet 7 years old, was sent to the Holy Cross convent at Poitiers
Église Sainte-Radegonde-de-Poitiers
The Église Sainte-Radegonde-de-Poitiers is a church in Poitiers, France.The church was named after Sainte Radegonde, who was buried in the church.-Source:*, Poitiers' town hall website...
. Before that, she was raped by Fredegund's soldiers. The Convent of the Holy Cross at Poitiers was founded by St. Radegund, an enslaved Thuringian princess who later became the wife of Clotaire I
Clotaire I
Chlothar I , called the Old , King of the Franks, was one of the four sons of Clovis. He was born circa 497, in Soissons .-Life:...
. The childless Radegund left her husband to pursue a religious life, enjoying ecclesiastic support.
In 589
589
Year 589 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 589 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Europe :* October 17 – The Adige River...
, Basina joined her first cousin, Clotilda, daughter of Charibert I
Charibert I
Charibert I was the Merovingian King of Paris, the second-eldest son of Chlothar I and Ingund. His elder brother was Gunthar, who died sometime before their father's death....
, in rebellion against the abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of their convent. Clotilda led a secession of nuns to the church of Saint Hilary there and proceeded to garner a following of men, mostly criminals. She ordered them to abduct the abbess. The kidnapped abbess was imprisoned under Basina's watch. Eventually, however, she was freed by one Flavian.
When Clotilda became too arrogant for her cousin's liking, Basina made peace with the freed abbess. Things did not return to normal with this, however. The violence continued and, in Gregory of Tours
Gregory of Tours
Saint Gregory of Tours was a Gallo-Roman historian and Bishop of Tours, which made him a leading prelate of Gaul. He was born Georgius Florentius, later adding the name Gregorius in honour of his maternal great-grandfather...
' words, scarcely a day passed without a murder, or an hour without a quarrel, or a moment without tears http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/gregory-hist.html. This caused King 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.-Childhood:When his father...
of Austrasia
Austrasia
Austrasia formed the northeastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising parts of the territory of present-day eastern France, western Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Metz served as its capital, although some Austrasian kings ruled from Rheims, Trier, and...
to propose to his uncle Guntram
Guntram
Saint Guntram was the king of Burgundy from 561 to 592. He was a son of Chlothar I and Ingunda...
of Burgundy
Kingdom of Burgundy
Burgundy is a historic region in Western Europe that has existed as a political entity in a number of forms with very different boundaries. Two of these entities - the first around the 6th century, the second around the 11th century - have been called the Kingdom of Burgundy; a third was very...
that they send joint embassies of their bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s to deal with the incident in accordance with Canon law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
. Gregory, bishop of Tours, the chronicler, was ordered to go, along with Ebregisel, bishop of Cologne; Maroveus, bishop of Poitiers; and Gundegisel, bishop of Bordeaux, to the commotion, but Gregory demanded that Macco, count of Poitou, quell it with the arm of the law first. The secular answer being inadequate, the bishops gathered in Poitiers and pronounced a judgement which reinstated the abbess and declared her innocent of any crimes of which the rebels had accused her. The cousins were excommunicated.
In 590
590
Year 590 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 590 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Summer – Maurice agrees to...
, both Clotilda and Basina were pardoned by the king, and Basina—but not her cousin—returned to her monastery and lived, until her death, in obedience.