Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/187

Rh Europe. A novel, in one volume, said to be a posthumous work of Miss Brooke, has lately been published. New Annual Register, &c.

of Athanagildus, king of the Visigoths, in Spain, passed for the most accomplished princess of the age, and married Sigebert, king of Austrasia (one of the divisions of France) an amiable and valiant prince, but constantly engaged in war with the other descendants of Clovis, who divided France among them: he was assassinated by the agents of Fredegonde, in 575. Queen Brunehaut and her children were arrested; but her only son, Childebert, escaped, and regained his father's dominions. Meroveus, the son of Chilperic, then married Brunehaut, and deeply angered his father. He was soon murdered: Brunehaut became regent during her son's minority, and was constantly engaged in wars; Fredegonde frequently attempting to assassinate her and her son, but always failed. Childebert died, A. D. 596, leaving two children, who succeeded him, under the care of Brunehaut.

These brothers were continually quarrelling and jarring with each other. Theodebert, the eldest, expelled his grandmother from the court; some say, she set them at variance, and, with vindictive wrath, meditated his destruction: but this is disbelieved. She lived afterwards with Thierri, king of Burgundy, her second grandson: at length, in 613, they all sunk beneath the power of Clothaire II. king of Paris. He had her grand children and great grand children murdered; and,