Suavegotha of the Burgundians

Ben M. Angel's summary:

Relationships:

Parents:

Sigismond, Roi des Burgondes (d. 523, thrown into a well at Saint-Péravy-la-Colombe in the Orléannais, buried at Agaune)

Ostrogotho of the Ostrogoths, Queen of the Burgondes (475/480 - before 520)

Siblings:

1. Sigeric (d. 522, killed by father at instigation of step-mother)

3. Unknown stepbrother (d. 523, thrown into a well with his mother and father)

Spouse:

Theoderic (485-533), Roi des Francs (511-533)

Children:

1. Theodechildis/Techilde (516/520 - 570/595) m. firstly Hermensigisel, King of the Warnes, m. secondly, his son by an earlier wife Radegis of the Warnes.

Basic information and justifications:

Born: 495 or later - presumed Vienne, Viennensis, Royaume des Burgondes (capital of the post-Roman Kingdom of the Burgundians)

Died: No date, presumed within the Royaume des Francs (likely at Metz or Rheims, but can't say with certainty)

Buried: Unknown.

Wedding: 507/516, location unknown (but I speculate in Franc territory - no backing to assertion). Wedding date seems to be based on an earlier wife who gave birth to Theodebert (b. 499/504)

Occupation: Reine des Francs (516-533), end date presumes that she oulasted him. If this is incorrect, then her death location can probably be presumed as Rheims, her husband's capital.

Alternate names: Suavegotta, Suavegotha regina

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From the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy page on Burgundy Kings (covering her birth family, with section introduction preceding):

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BURGUNDY%20KINGS.htm#Sigismunddied523

INTRODUCTION

The Burgundians, by legend, originated in Scandinavia. They settled east of the river Rhine where their homeland was destroyed by the Huns in [435].

They migrated south and the Romans granted them "Sapaudia", north of Lake Geneva, in the early 440s[1]. The Burgundian kingdom which they established extended its rule to the area south of Lake Geneva, including over the territory what later became Provence. Gingins-la-Sarra observes that the kingdom corresponded approximately to the six Roman provinces of Grande Séquanaise (main town, Besançon), Alpes Graïes et Pennines (Moutier), Lyonnaise I (Lyon), Viennoise (Vienne), and Alpes Maritimes (Embrun), except for the coastal parts of the last two which were already occupied by the Visigoths. Vienne was its capital city[2].

According to Gregory of Tours, Gundioc King of the Burgunds was "of the family of King Athanaric [of the Goths]"[3]. A descent in the male line seems improbable considering the probable migration pattern of the Goths from south-eastern Europe into south-western France via Italy, compared with that of the Burgunds from northern Europe. Athough, as pointed out below, it is possible that one of the early Burgundian kings married a Gothic princess after they established their final settlement around Lake Geneva.

The Burgundian kings were converted to Christianity before the Merovingian Frankish kings, the conversion of the latter being started by Clotilde of Burgundy who married King Clovis I.

Following short-lived alliances between the Franks and the Burgundians against the Visigoths[4], King Clodomir started the Frankish conquest of Burgundy in 523. It was completed by his brother King Childebert I in 534[5].

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SIGISMOND (-murdered 523, bur Agaune).

The Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica names "filius eius Sigismundus rex" when recording that he succeeded after the death of his father[53]. Gregory of Tours names Sigismond as son of Gundobad, when recording his succession to his father, specifying that he founded the monastery of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune[54] in 515[55].

He was co-regent in Burgundy from [501]. He supported the Byzantine emperor and was awarded the title patricius[56].

He converted to Catholicism and visited Pope Symachus in Rome[57].

He succeeded his father in 516 as SIGISMOND King of Burgundy. He issued his law-book, Liber Constitutionem, at Easter 517[58].

Chlodomer King of the Franks invaded Burgundy and captured King Sigismond, who was held prisoner near Orléans but murdered with his wife and children after his brother Gondemar defeated the Franks, their bodies being thrown down a well at Saint-Péravy-la-Colombe in the Orléannais[59]. The Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica records that "Sigimundus rex Burgundionum" was betrayed to the Franks by the Burgundians in 523 and became a monk in France, before being thrown into a well with his wife and children[60].

m firstly ([494/96]%29 OSTROGOTHO of the Ostrogoths, illegitimate daughter of THEODERIC "the Great" King of the Goths in Italy & his concubine --- ([475/80]-before [520]).

Gregory of Tours refers to the first wife of Sigismond as the daughter of Theodoric King of Italy, but does not name her[61]. Iordanes names "unam…Thiudigoto et aliam Ostrogotho" as the two daughters of Theodoric born "ex concubina…in Moesia" before his marriage to Audofledis, specifying that they came to Italy and were married "unam Alarico Vesegotharum et aliam Sigismundo Burgundzonorum"[62].

Her father arranged her marriage as part of his negotiations for an alliance with the Burgundians. According to Settipani[63], this marriage took place soon after Theoderic arrived in Italy. Wolfram suggests[64] that Theodoric's alliance with the Burgundians was settled in 496.

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m secondly --- (-murdered 523).

Gregory of Tours records that Sigismond's second wife incited her husband to kill her stepson but does not name her[65].

Gregory of Tours records that King Sigismond was murdered with his wife and children after his brother Gondemar defeated the Franks[66]. The Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica records that the wife and children of "Sigimundus rex Burgundionum" were thrown into a well[67]. King Sigismond & his first wife had two children:

a) SIGERIC (-murdered 522).

Gregory of Tours names Sigeric as son of Sigismund & his first wife, specifying that he was maltreated by his stepmother who incited his father to have him strangled[68]. The Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica names "Segericus filius Sigimundi regis" when recording that he was unjustly killed in 522 by his own father[69].

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b) SUAVEGOTHA (495 or later-).

Gregory of Tours records that Theoderic King of the Franks married the daughter of Sigismund but does not name her[70]. The primary source which names her has not so far been identified.

Gregory does not name Suavegotha's mother, but chronologically it is more probable that she was born from King Sigismond's first marriage than his second, which is also suggested by the root "-gotha" in her name.

m ([507/16]%29 as his second wife, THEODERIC, son of CLOVIS I [Chlodovech] King of the Franks & his [first wife/concubine] --- ([485]-end 533, bur Metz). He succeeded his father in 511 as THEODERIC I King of the Franks, based at Reims.

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King Sigismond & his second wife had [one/two] children:

c) --- (-murdered 523).

Gregory of Tours records Sigismond's imprisonment "with his wife and sons" by Chlodomer King of the Franks, and their murder with their father[71]. As he implies in an earlier passage that Sigeric was Sigismund's only son by his first marriage, it is assumed that the text means that the king had at least one son by his second marriage. This appears corroborated by the Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica which records that the wife and children of "Sigimundus rex Burgundionum" were thrown into a well[72].

References:

[1] Chronicle of 452, ed. T. Mommsen, Chronica Minora 1, MGH, AA 9, cited in Wood, I. (1994) The Merovingian Kingdoms (Longman), pp. 8-9.

[2] Gingins-la-Sarra, F. de (1851) Les Bosonides (Lausanne), p. 15.

[3] Thorpe, L. (trans.) (1974) Gregory of Tours: The History of the Franks (Penguin), ("Gregory of Tours") II.28, p. 141.

[4] Chronicle of 511, 689 and 690, cited in Wood (1994), p. 48.

[5] Wood (1994), p. 52.

[53] Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica 516, MGH Auct. ant. XI, p. 234.

[54] Gregory of Tours III.5, p. 165.

[55] Wood, I. (1994) The Merovingian Kingdoms (Longman), pp. 51-2.

[56] Wolfram, H. (1998) History Of The Goths (Berkeley, California), p. 312.

[57] Wolfram (1998), p. 313. The conversion must have taken place before 514, when Pope Symachus died.

[58] Wood (1994), p. 51.

[59] Gregory of Tours III.6, pp. 166-7.

[60] Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica 523, MGH Auct. ant. XI, p. 235.

[61] Gregory of Tours III.5, p. 165.

[62] Iordanes Getarum, MGH Auct. ant. V.1, p. 131.

[63] Settipani (1993), p. 61, footnote 97.

[64] Wolfram (1998), p. 311.

[65] Gregory of Tours III.5, p. 165.

[66] Gregory of Tours III.6, p. 166.

[67] Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica 523, MGH Auct. ant. XI, p. 235.

[68] Gregory of Tours III.5, p. 165.

[69] Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica 522, MGH Auct. ant. XI, p. 234.

[70] Gregory of Tours III.5, p. 166.

[71] Gregory of Tours III.6, p. 166.

[72] Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica 523, MGH Auct. ant. XI, p. 235.

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From the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy page on Merovingians:

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/MEROVINGIANS.htm#TheodericIdied533

THEODERICH ([485]-end 533, bur Metz).

Gregory of Tours names Theoderich as son of King Clovis by one of his mistresses, born before his marriage to Clotilde[55]. "Theodorico, Chlomiro, Hildeberto, Hlodario" are named (in order) as sons of "Chlodoveus" in the Regum Merowingorum Genealogia[56]. In 508, he led his father's campaign against the Visigoths, allied with the Burgundians[57], and temporarily occupied Aquitaine.

He succeeded his father in 511 as THEODERICH I King of the Franks, based at Reims, his territory covering the right bank of the Rhine, the Moselle valley and Champagne, the lands which were later to become the kingdom of Austrasia. He helped Hermanfrid King of the Thuringians defeat the latter's brother Baderic, after being promised half his kingdom, a promise which was not kept[58].

Gregory of Tours records that King Theoderich and his half-brother King Clotaire invaded Thuringia in 531, deposed King Hermanfred (who was later killed) and annexed the kingdom[59]. The Liber Historiæ Francorum records that "Theudericus et Theudobertus filius eius et Chlotharius rex" invaded Thuringia and attacked "Ermenfredum regem Toringorum", a marginal addition recording that "Teodericus filius Clodovei ex concubina" threw "Ermenfridum regem" from a wall and killed his two sons[60].

Adam of Bremen names "Hadugato" as the duke of the Saxons to whom "Theodericus rex Francorum" sent legates[61], undated but recorded immediately after the Thuringian invasion of 531.

Gregory of Tours records the death of Theoderich in the 23rd year of his reign[62].

m firstly ---.

The assumed birth date range of King Theoderich's son, Theodebert, indicates that the king's known wife, the daughter of the Burgundian king, could not have been Theodebert´s mother, considering her own estimated birth date. The king must therefore have been married earlier, or at least have had an earlier concubine, although no information has been found about this first partner in any of the primary sources consulted.

Europäische Stammtafeln states that the king´s first wife was named "Suavegotta (died by 566)"[63]. Presumably this is based on Flodoard´s history of Reims, quoted below under the king´s second wife. If this is correct, the king must have repudiated his first wife before marrying the Burgundian king´s daughter. However, no indication has been found in any source about such a repudiation.

It is more natural to assume that, if Suavegotha was indeed the name of one of Theoderich´s wives (which in itself cannot be proved conclusively as discussed further below), she was his second wife.

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m secondly ([507/16]%29 [SUAVEGOTHA] of Burgundy, daughter of SIGISMUND King of Burgundy & his first wife Ostrogotha of the Ostrogoths (495 or later-[after 549]).

Gregory of Tours records that Theoderich King of the Franks married the daughter of Sigismund but does not name her[64]. Gregory does not name the mother of King Theoderich´s wife, but chronologically it is more probable that she was born from King Sigismund's first marriage, which is also suggested by the root "-gotha" in her first name.

Her name is suggested by Flodoard´s history of the church of Reims, dated to the mid-10th century. This source records that "Suavegotta regina" bequeathed one third of "ville Virisiaci" by testament to the church of Reims during the bishopric of Bishop Mapinius, subject to the life interest of "Teudichildi prefate regine filie", adding that the latter later confirmed the donation during the bishopric of Bishop Egidius[65].

The identification of "Suavegotha regina" as King Theoderbert´s wife depends on the identification of "Teudchildi" as his daughter which, as explained in more detail below, is uncertain. The link cannot therefore definitively be made between "Suavegotha" and the daughter of Sigismund King of Burgundy. Nevertheless, the chronology for such a link is favourable, as the editor of the Monumenta Germaniæ Scriptores edition of Flodoard dates Mapinius´s bishopric to "ca 549-573" and Egidius´s to "ca 573-590"[66].

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King Theoderich & his first wife had one child:

a) THEODEBERT ([499/504]-end 547).

Gregory of Tours names Theodebert as son of Theoderich, specifying that he was born before the death of his paternal grandfather[67].

His birth date range is narrowed more precisely to [499/504] on the assumption that he was a young adolescent when he led the Frankish campaign against the Danes, dated to 515: Gregory of Tours records that his father sent him "with a powerful army" to repel the Danish invasion led by Chlochilaich[68]. The Liber Historiæ Francorum records that "Theudericus et Theudobertus filius eius et Chlotharius rex" invaded Thuringia and attacked "Ermenfredum regem Toringorum"[69].

He succeeded his father in 533 as THEODEBERT I King of the Franks at Reims, Gregory of Tours recording that his childless uncle Childebert then adopted him as his heir[70]. Gregory records King Theodebert's campaign in northern Italy, which he appears to date to before the death of Queen Wisigardis which is recorded in the following section[71]. Theodebert subjugated Pannonia and threatened to attack Byzantium across the Danube.

He was killed while hunting[72]. Gregory of Tours records that he died in the fourteenth year of his reign, and 37 years after the death of his paternal grandfather[73]. The Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica records the death in 548 of "Theudebertus rex magnus Francorum"[74].

m firstly ([end 533/early 534]) as her second husband, DEOTERIA, widow of ---, daughter of ---.

Gregory of Tours records that Theodebert seduced Deoteria, wife of an inhabitant of Cabrières near Béziers, after his betrothal to Wisigardis, and in a later passage that he married her after the death of his father[75].

According to Gregory of Tours, Theodebert deserted her after being pressured to marry his previous betrothed, but refused to take her back after his second wife died[76].

m secondly (betrothed before 533, 540) WISIGARDIS, daughter of WACCHO King of the Lombards & his second wife Ostrogotha of the Gepides (-[541/42]).

Paulus Diaconus names "Wisigarda…[et] secunda Walderada" as the two daughters of King Wacho & his second wife, specifying that Wisigarda married "Theodeperto regi Francorum[77]. Gregory of Tours records that Theoderich betrothed his son Theodebert to "Wisigard, a king's daughter" and in a later passage that Theodebert married her "seven years [after he] had become engaged to [her]" after being pressured to desert Deoteria but that Wisigardis "soon died"[78].

m thirdly ([542/47]%29 ---. Gregory of Tours records that Theodebert "married another woman" after his second wife died but gives no details[79].

King Theodebert & his first wife had two children, a daughter killed by her mother for fear that Theodebert might "desire her and take advantage of her", and Theodebald I, King of the Franks.

King Theodebert & his [first/second/third] wife had one child, Berthoara (d. after 566)

King Theoderich & his second wife had one child:

b) [THEODECHILDIS] [Techilde] ([516/20]-[570/595]).

Procopius records that "Varnis…Hermegisclus” married "Theodeberti Francorum regis sororem" after the death of his first wife, that she gave birth to "Radiger", for whom his father requested marriage with "puellæ…natione Brittiæ, cuius frater tunc temporis Rex Anglorum erat", and that Radiger later married his own stepmother after his father died[92]. It is possible that the name of this daughter was Theodechildis but, as will be explained, the link is tentative.

Three different primary sources name a Queen Theodechildis. Fortunatus, dated to the late 6th century, wrote an epitaph to “Theodechildis Reginæ”, commenting that "frater, genitor, conjux, avus, atque priores" of his subject were "regius ordo"[93]. Gregory of Tours, in one of his lesser-known works, records the return of "Nunninus…tribunus" from Auvergne and his entry in Auxerre "tempore…Theudechildæ reginæ" after giving tribute which he had collected "de Francia" to the same queen[94]. Flodoard, in his mid-9th century history of the church of Reims, names "Teudechildi, prefatæ reginæ [=Suavegotta regina] filiæ" when recording that her mother allowed her daughter the usufruct of property which she donated to the church of Reims, and later that Theodechildis made her own testamentary donation of the same property to Reims[95]. It is probable that these three sources all refer to the same person: the only reference to another person named "Theodechildis" in the mid- to late-6th century relates to the concubine of King Charibert, who was a shepherd´s daughter (see below). However, none of the sources specifies that Queen Theodechildis was the daughter of King Theoderich.

In addition, there is no source which confirms that "Suavegotha" was the name of Theoderich´s wife, as discussed more fully above.

There are three indications that Queen Theodechildis may have been King Theoderich´s daughter, and if so that she may also have been the same daughter who married the two kings of the Warnes. Firstly, Fortunatus and Gregory accord the title "regina" to her, which provides the possible link to the Procopius text concerning the king´s daughter. This is particularly relevant as so few individuals were described in contemporary sources as "queen" and therefore the number of alternative possible co-identities is restricted. Secondly, the common use of the root "Theode-" in the first part of the two names suggests a close relationship. Thirdly, the chronology is favourable.

Little help is provided by the history written by Gregory of Tours, the most thorough contemporary source for early Merovingian events, which does not refer to any daughter of King Theoderich I. The reference to Auxerre in Gregory´s other work suggests a connection with Burgundy, which was ruled by King Gontran at the time (see below).

Assuming that the co-identity between Theodechildis and the daughter of King Theoderich is correct, it is possible that she retired to Burgundy after being repudiated by her second husband.

One remaining possible thread to trace further is indicated by Settipani, who states that her nephew King Theodebald succeeded as king in 547 "sous la régence de sa tante Theodechildis"[96]. However, the author does not provide the source reference on which he bases this statement. There is no way therefore at present to verify whether the primary source in question includes the crucial link between the phrase "sa tante" and the name "Theodechildis".

[A charter dated 2 Oct [499], classified as spurious in the collection, of "Clodoveus rex Francorum" purports to be written when "filia mea…Theodechildis" was becoming a nun[97]. The editor of the Monumenta Germaniæ Scriptores series assumes that this charter refers to the daughter of King Theoderich[98], but if this is correct the document must be misdated.

Another charter, also classified as spurious, in the name of "Theodechildis filia Chlodoveo" purports to record a donation to the monastery of St Peter at Sens dated Sep 569[99].]

m firstly ([540]%29 as his [second] wife, HERMENGISEL King of the Warnes, son of --- (-before 547).

m secondly (before 547, repudiated [547/50]%29 her stepson, RADEGIS of the Warnes, son of HERMENGISEL King of the Warnes & his [first] wife ---.

References:

[55] Gregory of Tours II.28, p. 141.

[56] Regum Merowingorum Genealogia (Cod S. Galli, 732), Regum Francorum Genealogiæ, MGH SS II, p. 307.

[57] Chronicle of 511, 689 and 690, cited in Wood (1994), p. 48.

[58] Gregory of Tours III.4, p. 164.

[59] Gregory of Tours III.7 and 8, pp. 167-9.

[60] Liber Historiæ Francorum 22, MGH SS rer Merov II, p. 277.

[61] Adami, Gesta Hammenburgensis Ecclesiæ Pontificum I.4, MGH SS VII, p. 285.

[62] Gregory of Tours III.23, p. 184.

[63] ES I.1 1.

[64] Gregory of Tours III.5, p. 166.

[65] Flodoardus Remensis Historia Remensis Ecclesiæ, II, 1, MGH SS XXXVI, p. 132.

[66] MGH SS XXXVI, p. 132, footnotes 3 and 9.

[67] Gregory of Tours III.1, p. 162.

[68] Gregory of Tours III.3, pp. 163-4.

[69] Liber Historiæ Francorum 22, MGH SS rer Merov II, p. 277.

[70] Gregory of Tours III.24, p. 184.

[71] Gregory of Tours III.32, p. 189.

[72] Settipani (1993), p. 63.

[73] Gregory of Tours III.37, p. 193.

[74] Marii Episcopi Aventicensis Chronica 548, MGH Auct. ant. XI, p. 236.

[75] Gregory of Tours III.22 and III.23, pp. 183 and 184.

[76] Gregory of Tours III.27, p. 185.

[77] Pauli Historia Langobardorum I.21, MGH SS rer Lang I, p. 59.

[78] Gregory of Tours III.20, p. 183.

[79] Gregory of Tours III.27, p. 185.

[92] Dindorf, W. (ed.) (1833) Procopius, Vol. II, Corpus Scriptorum Historiæ Byzantinæ (Bonn), De Bello Gothico IV.20, p. 560.

[93] Fortunati Carmina Historica, IV, XXV, RHGF II, p. 497.

[94] Gregorii episcopi Turonensis Liber in gloria confessorum, MGH SRM, I, 2, p. 773.

[95] Flodoard II.1, MGH SS XIII, p. 447 and MGH SS XXXVI, p. 132.

[96] Settipani (1993), p. 65.

[97] MGH DD Mer (1872), Diplomata Spuria I, no. 2, p. 114.

[98] MGH DD Mer (1872), Diplomata Spuria I, p. 114, footnote 1.

[99] MGH DD Mer (1872), Diplomata Spuria I, no. 16, p. 132.

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From Paul K. Davis' personal family tree research (Forrás / Source):

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=pkd&id=I5...

ID: I5499Su50a

Name: Suavegotta Burgundians,of-the

Given Name: Suavegotta

Surname: Burgundians,of-the

Sex: F

Note: SOURCES:

Wagner1975

"Burgundians, Visigoths, Franks and Lombards":pedigree#27:p#186

PKD RU6-5499Su50a 2008Oc28

Copyright (c) 2009 Paul K Davis [paulkdavis@earthlink.net] Fremont CA

Father: Sigismund Burgundians,king-of-the

Marriage 1 Theodoric Merovingian , I

Children

1. Theudebert Merovingian , I

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Wacho or Waccho (probably Waldchis) was king of the Lombards before they entered Italy from an unknown date (perhaps circa 510) until his death in 539. His father was Unichis. Wacho usurped the throne by assassinating (or having assassinated) his uncle, King Tato (again, probably around 510). Tato's son Ildchis fought with him and fled to the Gepids where he died.[1] Wacho had good relations with the Franks.

Wacho married three times. His first marriage was to Radegund, daughter of Bisinus, King of the Thuringi. His second marriage was to Austrigusa, a Gepid possibly named after her maternal descent from Ostrogothic rulers. Austrigusa was the mother of two daughters: Wisigarda (who married Theudebert I of Austrasia) and Waldrada (who married firstly Theudebald of Austrasia, secondly Chlothar I, King of the Franks, and thirdly Garibald I of Bavaria). Wacho's third marriage was to Silinga, a Heruli-mother of Waltari.

A modern descendant is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

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FMG: Gregory of Tours records that Theoderich King of the Franks married the daughter of Sigismond but does not name her [Gregory of Tours III.5, p. 166].  Gregory does not name the mother of King Theoderich´s wife, but chronologically it is probable that she was born from King Sigismond's first marriage, which is also suggested by the root "-gotha" in her first name.  Her name is suggested by Flodoard´s history of the church of Reims, dated to the mid-10th century.  This source records that "Suavegotta regina" bequeathed one third of "ville Virisiaci" by testament to the church of Reims during the bishopric of Bishop Mapinius, subject to the life interest of "Teudichildi prefate regine filie", adding that the latter later confirmed the donation during the bishopric of Bishop Egidius [Flodoardus Remensis Historia Remensis Ecclesiæ, II, 1, MGH SS XXXVI, p. 132.].  The identification of "Suavegotha regina" as King Theoderich´s wife depends on the identification of "Teudchildi" as his daughter which, as explained in more detail in the document MEROVINGIAN KINGS, is uncertain.  The link cannot therefore definitively be made between "Suavegotha" and the daughter of Sigismond King of Burgundy.  Nevertheless, the chronology for such a link is favourable, as the editor of the Monumenta Germaniæ Scriptores edition of Flodoard dates Mapinius´s bishopric to "ca 549-573" and Egidius´s to "ca 573-590".

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DUP tree of Suavegotha of the Burgundians