Saint Doda of Neustria

Theodoric III married Clotilda, a daughter of Ansegisel and Saint Begga of Landen.

They had the following children:

   * Bertrada of Prüm (676–740), married Martin of Laon

   * Clovis IV, king (682–695)

   * Childebert III, king (683–711)

He married Amalberge (Saint Amalaberga) before 674, daughter of Wandregisis and Farahild. They had a daughter:

   * Chrotlind, born about 670, possibly wife of Lambert II of Hesbaye and mother of Robert of Hesbaye.

And possibly:

   * Clovis III, king of Austrasia (675–676)

   * Clotaire IV, king of Austrasia (717–719)

From the French Wikipedia page on Clodilde dite Doda:

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clotilde_dite_Doda

Clotilde (en fait Chrothildis) également nommée Doda († 3 juin 694[1]) est une reine des Francs en tant qu'épouse du roi mérovingien Thierry III (v. 651 † 690-1).

Son nom

Bien que le Liber Historiae Francorum la nomme Clotilde, les chartes et diplômes contemporains le nomment Chrotechildis ou Chrothildis, soit Rothilde, ainsi que l'a montré Karl-August Eckardt[2]. Quand au nom de Doda, il apparaît dans la mention de leur sépulture : «Théodoric, roi des F(rancs et) la reine Doda». L'épitaphe précise également: «Le roi Theodoric (...) repose ici, avec sa femme Doda»[3].

Mariage et enfants

Peu avant 678, elle épouse Thierry III (v. 651 † 690-1), roi francs de Neustrie et de Bourgogne en 673 puis de 675 à 691 et d'Austrasie de 687 à 691. De ce mariage sont nés:

1. Clovis IV (v. 678 † 695), roi des Francs,

2. Childebert IV († 711), roi des Francs.

A ces deux enfants s'ajoutent de manière hypothétique deux autres enfants :

1. Clotaire IV († 718), roi des Francs. La question de la parenté entre Thierry III et Clotaire IV est assez complexe, d'une part parce qu'aucun document contemporain ne la précise, d'autre part parce que les quelques sources tardives qui la mentionne sont souvent contradictoires entre elles et avec les autres données connues. Il semble cependant que, compte tenu de la restitution des différentes confusions qui ont induit ces incohérences, Clotaire IV soit le fils de Thierry III et de Clotilde Dode[4].

2. Bertrade, fondatrice de l'abbaye de Prüm et mère du comte Caribert de Laon[5].

Veuvage

Son époux, bien que roi est sous la coupe des différents maires du palais : Ébroïn (en 673), Leodegar (675-676), Ébroïn de nouveau (676-680), Waratton (680-686) et Berchaire (686-687) lequel est vaincu par Pépin le Jeune, maire du palais d'Autrasie qui réunifie les trois royaumes francs et domine Thierry III.

Ce dernier meurt en 691. Clotilde Doda lui survit et devient régente du royaume au nom de son fils Clovis jusqu'à la date du 5 juin 692, qui est considérée comme celle de son décès. Elle est enterrée auprès de son mari à l'abbaye Saint-Vaast d'Arras[6].

Filiation

Sa filiation n'est pas mentionnée par les textes contemporains. Tout au plus a-t-on la Chronicon d'Adémar de Chabannes qui écrit à la fin du Xe siècle qu'en 717 « Charles Martel (...) s'empare de Plectrude, sa belle-mère (...) et place sur le trône Clotarius, son cousin, fils de Clodoveus, qui était le fils de Dagobert ». Même si la filiation de Clotaire (IV) est erronée et résulte d'une confusion avec Clotaire III, la mention du cousinage entre Clotaire IV et Charles Martel peut être exacte. Comme ni Charles, ni ses parents ne sont des mérovingiens, le lien de parenté passe probablement la mère de Clotaire[7].

D'autres arguments militent dans ce sens :

1. plusieurs parents proches de Bertrade de Prüm, portent des noms mérovingiens[8] ce qui militent pour une parenté entre Bertrade de Prüm et les Mérovingiens.

2. Pépin le Bref et son épouse Bertrade de Laon possédaient chacun la moitié de deux villas, une à Rommersheim, l'autre à Rheinbach et tenaient chacun leur moitié de leur père respectif. Cela suppose un partage de ces propriétés à une génération relativement récente. Caribert, le père de Bertrade de Laon, tenait ses propriétés de sa mère Bertrade de Prüm

Une première explication a été avancé, considérant que Plectrude, belle-mère de Charles Martel, est une parente proche de Bertrade de Prüm, explique qu'il y a eu partage de la villa entre Plectrude et Bertrade, qui seraient sœurs, mais ce raisonnement ne rend pas comte de la transmission des noms mérovingiens, et ne tient pas comte de l'existence d'autres sœurs de Plectrude. Maurice Chaume propose une autre solution, que Bertrade de Laon soit une fille de Thierry III et de Clotilde Dode, elle même fille d'Ansegisel et de Begga, donc sœur de Pépin le Jeune, le père de Charles Martel[9]. Cette proposition explique également le cousinage entre Clotaire IV et Charles Martel, ainsi que la raison pour laquelle Clotilde Dode est devenue régente à la mort de son mari : le maire de palais était son frère.

Mais l'onomastique suggère une variante de cette démonstration légèrement différente : Chrothildis est composée des racines chrot (que l'on retrouve dans Chrodoare, la mère probable de saint Arnoulf) et hildis (qui est le nom de l'épouse de Clodulf). Clotilde Doda serait alors la fille de Clodulf et de Hilda et donc la cousine germaine de Pépin le Jeune, plutôt que la sœur. Quand au nom de Doda, il renvoie à celui de sa grand mère, l'épouse de saint Arnoulf.

Notes et références

1.↑ Settipani 1990, p. 12

2.↑ Karl August Eckhardt, Studia Merovingica, Witzenhausen, 1975, p. 79 .

3.↑ Settipani 1993, p. 114-5.

4.↑ Settipani 1993, p. 116-8.

5.↑ Settipani 1989, p. 29-31.

6.↑ Settipani 1993, p. 113-5.

7.↑ Settipani 1993, p. 117.

8.↑ son fils Caribert de Laon et un comte Thierry un témoin de plusieurs de ses actes. Bertrade semble aussi renvoyer à Bertrude, la mère de Dagobert Ier.

9.↑ Chaume 1929.

Annexes

Bibliographie

Maurice Chaume, « La famille de Saint Guillaume de Gellone », dans Annales de Bourgogne, 1929, p. 28-56

Paule Lejeune, Les reines de France, éd. Vernal et P. Lebaud, Paris, 1989 (ISBN 2-86594-042-X), p. 45-46

Christian Settipani, Les Ancêtres de Charlemagne, Paris, 1989, 170 p. (ISBN 2-906483-28-1), p. 29-31 et 42-3

Christian Settipani, Les ancêtres de Charlemagne - Addenda, Paris, 1990, p. 12

Christian Settipani, La Préhistoire des Capétiens (Nouvelle histoire généalogique de l'auguste maison de France, vol. 1), éd. Patrick van Kerrebrouck, 1993 (ISBN 2-9501509-3-4), p. 113-8

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Translated to English:

Clotilde (actually Chrothildis), also known as Doda (d. 3 June 694) was Queen of the Franks and wife of Merovingian King Thierry III (c.651-690/691).

Her Name

Although the Liber Historiae Francorum called her Clotilde, in contemporary charters and diplomas, she was called Chrotechildis or Chrothildis or Rothilde, as observed by Karl August Eckhardt. The name also appeared upon the name of their graves: "Theodoric, King of the Franks and the Queen Doda". The precise epitaph says: "King Theodoric lies in repose with his wife Doda."

Marriage and Children:

Shortly before 678, she married Thierry III (c.651-690/691), who became King of the Franks of Neustria in 673, King of the Franks in Burgundy in 675, and King of the Franks in Austrasia in 687 (all terms ending at his death in 691). From this marriage was born:

1. Clovis IV (c.678-695), King of the Franks

2. Childebert IV (d. 711), King of the Franks

Two other children are suggested as being born from this marriage:

3. Clotaire IV (d. 718), King of the Franks. The question of kinship between Theirry III and Clotaire IV is rather complicated, partly because no contemporary document specifies its existence, and the few later sources that mention it often conflict with each other, as well as with other known data. It seems that, given the confusion induced by these other inconsistencies, that Clotaire IV would be most easily explained as the son of Thierry III and Clotilde (Dode).

4. Bertrade, founder of the Abbey of Prum and mother of Caribert Comte de Laon.

Widowhood

Her husband, although a king who controlled many Mayors of the Palace - Ebroin (673), Leodegar (675-676), Ebroin again (676-680), Waratton (680-686), and Berchaire (686-687) -, he was nonetheless defeated by Pepin the Younger, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia, who united the three Frankish kingdoms and dominated over Thierry III.

Thierry died in 691. Clotilde (Doda) survived to become regent on behalf of her son Clovis until 5 June 692, the date in which she died. She was buried beside her husband in the Abbey St-Vaast-d'Arras.

Filiation

Her parentage is not mentioned by contemporary texts. The Chronicon of Aldemar de Charbannes wrote at the end of the 10th century that in 717 "Charles Martel seized Plectrude, his stepmother, and ... placed Clotarius, his cousin, on the throne, son of Clodoveus, who himself was son of Dagobert. Although the parentage of Clotaire IV is the result of confusion with Clotaire III, the reference of kinship between Clotaire IV and Charles Martel is seen as accurate. Since neither Charles nor his parents were Merovingian, the relationship probably involves the mother of Clotaire.

Other arguments along this direction:

1. Several close relatives of Bertrade de Prum have Merovingian names, which argues for a relationship between Bertrade de Prum and the Merovingians

2. Pepin and his wife Bertrade de Laon each had half of two villas, one at Rommersheim, and the other at Rheinbach, each of which received their respective halves from their fathers. This implies a sharing of property with a relatively new generation. Caribert, father of Bertrade de Laon, held property with his mother Bertrade de Prum.

One explanation has been advanced, whereas Plectrude, stepmother of Charles Martel, was a close relative of Bertrade de Prum, she shared villas with her, as they were sisters. But this reasoning does not explain the transmission of the name of the Comte to Merovingian names, and does not consider the existence of other sisters of Plectrude.

Maurice Chaume proposed another solution, that Bertrade de Laon was the daughter of Thierry III and Clotilde (Doda), who was herself a daughter of Ansegisel and Begga, and therefore the younger sister of Pepin's father Charles Martel. This proposal also explains the kinship between Clotaire IV and Charles Martel, and why Clotilde (Doda) became regent upon the death of her husband, as the victorious Mayor of the Palace was her brother.

But onomastics suggest a variation of this solution that is slightly different: Chrothildis is composed of the roots "Chrot" (found in Chrodoare, the likely mother of St. Arnulf) and "Hildes" (which is the name of the wife of Clodulf). Clotilde (Doda) would be the daughter of Hilda and Clodulf, and therefore a cousin of Pepin the Younger, rather than his sister. The name Doda may also refer to that of his grandmother, the wife of St. Arnulf.

Ben notes: This is NOT St. Clotilde. St. Clotilde lived about a century before this individual.

Clotilda of Herstal, a daughter of Ansegisel and Saint Begga of Landen, married Theuderic III (or Theuderich, Theoderic, or Theodoric; in French, Thierry) (654 – 691). He was the king of Neustria (including Burgundy) on two occasions (673 and 675 – 691) and king of Austrasia from 679 to his death in 691.

They had the following children:

1. Bertrada of Prüm (676-740), married Martin of Laon

2. Clovis IV, king (682-695)

3. Childebert III, king (683-711

Clotilda is not a proven child of Ansegisel and St. Begga de Landen, but it seemed likely, thus her inclusion on this tree.

From the Wikipedia page on her husband, King Theuderic III of Neustria and Austrasia (or King of the Franks):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theuderic_III_of_the_Franks

He married Clotilda, a daughter of Ansegisel and Saint Begga of Landen.

They had the following children:

1. Bertrada of Prüm (676-740), married Martin of Laon (she is represented on another line)

2. Clovis IV, king (682-695)

3. Childebert III, king (683-711)

And translated from the French Wikipedia page of her father:

Ansegisel and St. Begga hypothetically parented Clotilde Dode, wife of King Thierry III according to Maurice Chaume ("The family of St. William of Gellone" in the Annals of Burgundy from 1948). This assumption is based on the presence of names in the Merovingian family of Caribert of Laon, and considers Bertha de Prum as a daughter of Thierry III and Clotilde Dode.

Then he finds that Pepin and his wife Bertha, Daughter of Caribert, possessed two common properties of Rommersheim and Rheinbach, each a half of their inheritance from the same father, implying a close common ancestor.

A chronical of the late 11th century of Ademar of Chabannes gives King Clotaire IV, probably the son of Thierry III and Dode, as a cousin of Charles Martel. Finally the name of Clotilde Dode is closer to that of St. Dode, wife of St. Arnulf and mother of Ansegisel (according to Settipani - 1989).

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From the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy page on Merovingian nobility:

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/FRANKSMaiordomi.htm

CHROTHECHILDIS [Rotilde] [Doda] (-692 or after).

Settipani approves the theory of Maurice Chaume according to which the wife of King Theoderic III was the daughter of Ansegisel[75]. However, this does not appear to be directly supported by primary source evidence.

"Theudericus rex Francorum" donated property at the request of "regine nostre Chrodochilde…et…Berchario maiorem domos nostre" to the abbey of St Denis by charter dated 30 Oct 688[76]. "Chrotechildis regina" is named mother of King Clovis III in the Cartulaire of Saint-Bertin[77].

She was regent for her son King Chlodovech III until 692.

The epitaph of King Theoderic III and his wife bore the inscription "rex Theodericus…cum coniuge Doda", assumed to be another name by which Rotilde was known[78].

married THEODERIC III King of the Franks in Neustria, son of CLOVIS II King of the Franks in Neustria & his wife Bathildis --- ([651]-[2 Sep 690/12 Apr 691], bur Arras, basilique Saint-Vaast).]

It is not definite that the mother of "Irmina" ou Theodrate abbesse (d' Oeren) was Princess Doda, or simply NN (herself a daughter of Dagobart's mistress - Ragntrude, not his wife, Gomatrude Regintrude.) Spelling is so similar, and there are accounts that seem to substantiate both, making cousin relationships to Theodard etc etc. I prefer the one below for no better reason than that it gives NN a name, and a royal one, at that. It is still something to be further researched, though. Sharon Doubell

http://www.abitofhistory.net/html/rhw/i.htm

Irmina of Neustria – (c644 – 708)

Merovingian religious patron and founder

Irmina was the daughter of Theodard of Oeren (c620 – 673), Bishop of Liege and his wife Princess Doda, the daughter of Dagobert I, king of Neustria and Austrasia (629 – 639) and of his first wife Queen Gomatrude. With the death of her father Irmina’s mother became abbess of St Pierre at Rheims, near Paris.

Parents:

Spouse:

Issue:

Saint Emebert

Saint Reineldis

Saint Pharaildis

Saint Gudula

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalberga_of_Maubeuge

Saint Amalberga was a Lotharingian saint who lived in the 7th century. She is said to have been the sister or niece of Pippin of Landen. She married Count Witger, Duke of Lotharingia and Count of Brabant. She was the mother of Saint Emebert, Saint Reineldis, Saint Pharaildis and Saint Gudula. Amalberga joined the monastic community at Maubeuge Abbey by the end of her life.

Her feast is celebrated on July 10. The translation of her relics from Lobbes to Binche is celebrated on June 10.

Amalberga of Maubeuge is not to be confused with the virgin Amalberga of Temse (venerated in Ghent, Temse and Munsterbilzen) who died in 722, and whose feast day is July 10 or October 27.

Doda's father was Guerin (Warin Warinus) Poiters and her mother was Kunza (Gunza) Metz. Her paternal grandparents were Bodilon Poiters and Sigrada (Sigree) Moselle; her maternal grandparents were St. Clodulf Metz and Sigrade of Alsace. She had two brothers named Lambert I and Leutwinus. She was the oldest of the three children