From Wikitree-
Although Sigimareus (or Sigimer) figures in many family genealogies, both contemporary and historic, as a son of "Clodion, le Chevelu," an early [ca. 400 CE] Merovingian King of the Franks, little if any documentation exists that "proves" his existence, let alone his biography. The surname given here: "Merovingian" is inaccurate, especially as he was purportedly a brother, not a descendant, of King Merovee / Merovech, whose name has been used to label this mysterious dynasty of warrior-priest-chiefs of a Germanic people who emerged from the forests of northern central Europe just as the Roman Empire in the West was faltering and who became the rulers, under Clodion's grandson, King Clovis I, of most of what has become the modern-day nation of France (whose name derives from the tribe's name: the Franks). The "current name" of d'Auvergne reflects his supposed life as the Bishop of Auvergne (France).
It's very doubtful that Sigimaerus, son of Clodion, became Sigimberus I, Roman Catholic (Christian) Bishop of Auvergne. The Franks during Merovee's time, in fact until Clovis I was baptized by St. Remy at Reims in 496 CE, were pagan sun-worshippers, not Christians. It's even more doubtful that if, by some chance, a son of Clodion actually did become a Catholic bishop, that he was married with children. Although many of the lower clergy lawfully married during the early centuries of the Catholic Church (until the 15th Century in some cases), Bishops and Cardinals were supposed to follow Christ's (supposed) example and forego the "distractions" of a wife and children (thereby neatly eliminating them from competition for lands and thrones). On the other hand, some cases of married Bishops do exist in Europe before about 800 CE.
This profile is therefore highly tentative and it is included here mainly because so many genealogies use the "facts" of this man's life to back their claims to royal and even semi-divine ancestry. His existence allowed medieval biographers to link the Carolingian dynasty (which is claimed to have descended from Sigimer's son, Ferreol) to its usurped predecessors, the Merovingians, giving them a bloodline "Divine Right" legitimacy to rule the Holy Roman Empire and France. Ultimately, for some, this bloodline goes much-further back in time, to the purported descendants of Jesus, the Nazarene, Jewish High Priest and King, and the self-proclaimed "Son of God."[1]
According to most genealogies, Clodion le Chevelu, king or chief of one of the main branches of the Frankish tribes, lived from 390 to 446 CE. He married a princess from Thuringia (Rhineland, Germany), and they had two sons:
Mérovée / Merovech, b: ca. 415 CE, proclaimed King of the Franks in 448 CE in Tournai on Clodion's death
Sigimaerus, b: 419 CE; became Bishop of Auvergne but also married the daughter of Ferreolus Titanius, a Roman Consul or Senator, Commander of Roman forces in the Moselle / Rhineland.
As a 2nd son, medieval biographers decided Sigimareus / Sigimer must have been in the Clergy and, given that he was the son of a King, clearly he must have been a bishop. Why Auvergne, where the Franks only ruled after 507 CE (in the 5th Century it was held by the Visigoths, who were Arian Christians, not Catholic), is anyone's guess but that's where he is said to have had his Holy See.[2] Auvergne was, of course, an ancient land and home of the Gauls, whom the Romans had defeated back in 067 BCE, creating Roman Gaul, whose territory was largely coterminous with France, which the Franks and Visigoths divided in the 5-6th Centuries.
As his life was to serve as a link between Charlemagne and Mérovée, Sigimer was conveniently married to the daughter of a Roman Consul: Tonantius Ferreolus. He has been called "Duke of Moselle". His daughter's first name has been lost ("Tonantia" was the feminine spelling of her father's name). They must have married about 447 CE, before Mérovée was acclaimed as the overall Frankish chief/king in 448 CE at Tournai and most-likely in the Moselle-Rhineland district, whose capital was Metz (later: Austrasia, then Lorraine, now in France).
The couple are said to have had 3 sons:[3]
Ansbertus Ferreolus (Ferréol) de Moselle, b: ca. 450 CE
Sigimareus (Sigimer) II de Moselle, b: ca. 465 CE
Munderic de Moselle, b: ca. 467 CE
It's highly-likely that Sigimareus never actually set foot in Auvergne, ruled by Arian Christans, not Catholics, until Clovis conquered it in 507 CE. If he lived, he lived in what became Austrasia, likely in Metz, on the Moselle River in modern-day Lorraine (France). Even his death date is unproven. Some genealogies that were merged into others here on WikiTree state that he died at 30 years old in 449 CE. However, some of the same genealogies also say that his sons were born between 460 and 469 CE. Others have said he died around 469 CE and, as that date accounts for his sons being born during his lifetime, it is the date adopted here. Nothing is known of the fate of his wife. As stated above, if he actually lived and died, it was in the Moselle-Rhineland region of West Germany or Lorraine (Eastern France).
Sources
↑ For the best-researched works that support this "Fisher-Kings" hypothesis, see: "Genesis of the Grail Kings," by Sir Laurence Gardner, Boston: 2000, Element Books, part of a trilogy that also includes his "Bloodline of the Holy Grail," and "Realm of the Ring Lords". They contain genealogical charts that include "Sigimer" and his progeny as ancestors of Pepin II d'Herstel, Charlemagne's great-grandfather. See: "Realm of the Ring Lords," pp. 356-358.
↑ No "Sigimberus" figures in the authoritative list of Roman Catholic Bishops of "Arvernis" or Clermont during this period. See: (Saint) Namatius, bishop of Clermont: 446-462 CE article on Wikipedia
↑ No daughters are mentioned. It goes without saying that all of these dates are very tentative. See: Sigimerus I "Duke of the Eastern Franks" on Our family histories for a representative contemporary genealogy that describes this family. Remember: all the dates are tentative.
Sigimaerus Bishop of Auvergne on Geni.com
"Tree of Saints," by Brian D. Starr, 2005; pg. 182.
Source S-2024265470 Repository: #R-2024265400. "The Royal Line," by Albert F. Schmuhl, March 1929: New York, NY; revised ed, March 1980. Genealogical lineages may not always be from father to son, especially Houses of Kings. [from a merged profile]
