Clotaire IV
Encyclopedia
Chlothar IV king of Austrasia
(717–18), was installed by the mayor of the palace, Charles Martel
, as an ally during the civil war that was then raging.
In 717, Charles, returning to Neustria
with an army to assault King Chilperic II
and his mayor Ragenfrid
, confirmed his supremacy with a victory at Vincy
, near Cambrai
. He chased the fleeing king and mayor to Paris
before turning back to remove his other opponent Plectrude
from Cologne
. On succeeding there, he proclaimed one Clotaire king of Austrasia in opposition to Chilperic, who supported Ragenfrid, not Charles, for the mayoralty. In 718, Chilperic was again defeated, at Soissons
, by Charles. The king fled with his ally Odo the Great, duke of Aquitaine
, to the duke's territory. Soon Odo gave up on Chilperic and sued for peace. In exchange for recognising his kingship over all the Franks, Chilperic surrendered his kingdom to the mayoralty of Charles, who gained a monopoly on power and royal offices.
In 718, it seems, Clotaire died. In 719, Chilperic was raised on the shield as king and it may have been the result of Clotaire's death that Charles was willing to recognise Chilperic. It is possible that Chlotaire survived on and died in 719, 720, or even 721.
It is also possible that Clotaire was a son (or grandson) of Childebert III
or, perhaps, not even a Merovingian at all, and merely a convenient puppet
or place-man who served Charles Martel's political purposes at the time. His reign, if it can be called that, was completely inconsequential in and of itself, for he had no real power whatsoever.
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...
(717–18), was installed by the mayor of the palace, Charles Martel
Charles Martel
Charles Martel , also known as Charles the Hammer, was a Frankish military and political leader, who served as Mayor of the Palace under the Merovingian kings and ruled de facto during an interregnum at the end of his life, using the title Duke and Prince of the Franks. In 739 he was offered the...
, as an ally during the civil war that was then raging.
In 717, Charles, returning 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...
with an army to assault King 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. He was the last Merovingian dynast to exercise any authority on his own....
and his mayor Ragenfrid
Ragenfrid
Ragenfrid was the mayor of the palace of Neustria and Burgundy from 715, when he filled the vacuum in Neustria caused by the death of Pepin of Heristal, until 718, when Charles Martel finally established himself over the whole Frankish kingdom.His original centre of power was the Véxin...
, confirmed his supremacy with a victory at Vincy
Battle of Vincy
The Battle of Vincy was fought at Vincy, near Cambrai, in the modern département of Nord. It was a contest between Charles Martel and the Austrasians on one side and the king of the Franks, Chilperic II, and his mayor of the palace, Ragenfrid, on the other.Chilperic and Ragenfrid returned defeated...
, near Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
. He chased the fleeing king and mayor to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
before turning back to remove his other opponent Plectrude
Plectrude
Plectrude was the wife of Pepin of Herstal, the mayor of the palace and duke of the Franks, from about 670. She was the daughter of Hugobert, seneschal of Clovis IV, and Irmina d'Oeren....
from Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
. On succeeding there, he proclaimed one Clotaire king of Austrasia in opposition to Chilperic, who supported Ragenfrid, not Charles, for the mayoralty. In 718, Chilperic was again defeated, at 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...
, by Charles. The king fled with his ally Odo the Great, duke of Aquitaine
Duke of Aquitaine
The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....
, to the duke's territory. Soon Odo gave up on Chilperic and sued for peace. In exchange for recognising his kingship over all the Franks, Chilperic surrendered his kingdom to the mayoralty of Charles, who gained a monopoly on power and royal offices.
In 718, it seems, Clotaire died. In 719, Chilperic was raised on the shield as king and it may have been the result of Clotaire's death that Charles was willing to recognise Chilperic. It is possible that Chlotaire survived on and died in 719, 720, or even 721.
It is also possible that Clotaire was a son (or grandson) of Childebert III
Childebert III
Childebert 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...
or, perhaps, not even a Merovingian at all, and merely a convenient puppet
Puppet
A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by an entertainer, who is called a puppeteer. It is used in puppetry, a play or a presentation that is a very ancient form of theatre....
or place-man who served Charles Martel's political purposes at the time. His reign, if it can be called that, was completely inconsequential in and of itself, for he had no real power whatsoever.