Nantéchilde

Nanthild (c. 610 – 642) (also known as Nantéchilde, Nanthechilde, Nanthildis, Nanthilde, or Nantechildis) was the second or third of many wives of Dagobert I, king of the Franks (629-639).

She was of Saxon lineage, born about 608 or 610. The Lexikon des Mittelalters calls her ein Mädchen aus dem Dienstpersonal ("a maiden of the royal [ Austrasian ] household"). Her elevation to consort may have given importance to her relatives: her brother Lanthegisel was an important landowner in the Limousin and a relation of Aldegisel. Dagobert set aside his wife Gomatrud to marry her, ca. 629; to her was born Clovis II, second eldest of Dagobert's surviving sons and the one who succeeded him in Neustria and Burgundy. After Dagobert's death in January 639, she was initially regent for her son, accompanied by Aega, mayor of the Neustrian palace and an opponent of the powerful contingent of nobles headed by Burgundofaro whose seat was at Meaux.

In the interest of reducing noble Burgundian independence of the Merovingian palace, she married her niece Ragnoberta to the Frank Flaochad and had the magnates and bishops of the realm of Burgundy acclaim him mayor of the palace at Orléans in 642. Soon she died at Landry in what was then Burgundy, where she had long resided; her body was translated to the Saint Denis Basilica. Her untimely death allowed her son to fall under the influence of the nobility, who abhorred a strong royal hand.

DAGOBERT m secondly ([629/30]%29 NANTECHILDIS, sister of LANDEGISEL, landowner in Limousin, daughter of --- (-[645]). According to Fredegar, Nantechildis was "a maiden of the bed-chamber" whom the king made queen[392]. The Liber Historiæ Francorum names "regina sua [=Dagoberti rex] Nanthilde de genere Saxonorum"[393]. The Gesta Dagoberti records the death of "germanus Nanthildis regina…Landegiselus" and his burial at Saint-Denis[394]. According to Fredegar, the king on his deathbed commended "his Queen Nantechildis and Clovis his son" to Aega[395]. She acted as regent for her son jointly with maior domus Aega[396]. After the death of the latter, Queen Nantechildis retained control. "Chlodovius rex Francorum" names "genitoris nostri Dagobercthi regis…genetrix nostra domna Nantechilda", the latter also subscribing the document, in his donation of property to the abbey of St Denis dated to [645][397]. Fredegar records that she appointed Flaochad as maior domus in Burgundy, and died later the same year[398]. ...

King Dagobert I & his second wife had [four] children:

• CHLODOVECH [Clovis] (633-[Oct/Nov] 657). The Liber Historiæ Francorum names "Sighiberto et Chlodovecho" as the two sons of "Dagobertus rex…ex regina sua Nanthilde"[420]. He succeeded his father in [638/39] as CLOVIS II King of the Franks in Neustria, under the regency of his mother and maior domus Aega.
• [REGINTRUDIS . The De Rebus Treverensibus sæculi VIII-X Libellus names "Ludewicum et tres filias…Regindrudim, Irminam, Adelam" as the children of King Dagobert and "regina…Nantilde", specifying that Regintrudis was married but giving no details about her husband[421]. A charter dated 1 Apr 685, classified as spurious in the collection, of "Adela…abbatissa Dagoberti regis quondam filia" purports to record her donation to the monastery "in villa Palatiolo in ripa Mosellæ" and names "germana mea Regentrude"[422]. No reference to the three supposed sisters Regintrudis, Irmina and Adela, or to their supposed parentage, has yet been found in near contemporary sources. There must be some doubt whether they were historical figures or, if they were, that they were the children of King Dagobert & his second wife. m ---.]
• [IRMINA . The De Rebus Treverensibus sæculi VIII-X Libellus names "Ludewicum et tres filias…Regindrudim, Irminam, Adelam" as the children of King Dagobert and "regina…Nantilde", specifying that Irmina was a nun at Trier[423]. A charter dated 26 Aug 646, classified as spurious in the collection, of "Dagobertus…rex…regina Nantildis" purports to record a donation to the monastery "Horreensi in Treverica urbe" stated to have been founded by "Irmina filia nostra" and also names "sponso suo Herimanno…comite"[424]. Four charters 698, classified as spurious in the collection, of "Ermina…abbatissa" purport to record her donations, although none refers to her supposed parentage[425]. No reference to the three supposed sisters Regintrudis, Irmina and Adela, or to their supposed parentage, has yet been found in near contemporary sources. There must be some doubt whether they were historical figures or, if they were, that they were the children of King Dagobert & his second wife. m HERMANN, son of ---.]
• [ADELA . The De Rebus Treverensibus sæculi VIII-X Libellus names "Ludewicum et tres filias…Regindrudim, Irminam, Adelam" as the children of King Dagobert and "regina…Nantilde", specifying that Adela founded a monastery "in villa Palciolum…Kal Apr anno 12 regni Theoderici regis" where she became the first abbess[426]. A charter dated 1 Apr 685, classified as spurious in the collection, of "Adela…abbatissa Dagoberti regis quondam filia" purports to record her donation to the monastery "in villa Palatiolo in ripa Mosellæ" and names "germana mea Regentrude"[427]. No reference to the three supposed sisters Regintrudis, Irmina and Adela, or to their supposed parentage, has yet been found in near contemporary sources. There must be some doubt whether they were historical figures or, if they were, that they were the children of King Dagobert & his second wife.] http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/MEROVINGIANS.htm#_Toc184188205