Neustria and Austrasia

The territory of Neustria or Neustrasia, meaning "new [western] land", originated in 511, made up of the regions from Aquitaine to the English Channel, approximating most of the north of present-day France, with Paris and Soissons as its main cities. Aquitaine (Aquitània Akitania archaic Guyenne / Guienne (Occitan Guiana) is one of the 26 Regions of France, in the south-western part of This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardie in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about 100 Thus Neustria formed the western part of the kingdom of the Franks^[1] under the rule of the Merovingian dynasty during the sixth to eighth centuries. The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group The Merovingians (also Merovings) were a Salian Frankish dynasty that came to rule the Franks in a region (known as Francia in Latin The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. The distinct area originated at the time of the death of Clovis I (reigned 482–511), when his sons divided his lands between them. Clovis I (c 466 &ndash 27 November 511) was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Frankish tribes under one ruler It later became a term for the region between the Seine and the Loire rivers known as the regnum Neustriae, a constituent subkingdom of the Carolingian Empire and then West Francia. The Seine (sɛn in French) is a slow flowing major River and commercial waterway within the regions of Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie Loire ( Arpitan: Lêre, Occitan: Léger) is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the Carolingian Empire is a historiographical term sometimes used to refer to the realm of the Franks under the Carolingian dynasty. West Francia or the West Frankish Kingdom was a short-lived kingdom encompassing the lands of the western part of the Carolingian Empire that came under the undisputed The Carolingian kings also created a March of Neustria which was a frontier duchy against the Bretons and Vikings that lasted until the Capetian monarchy in the late tenth century. The marches of Neustria were creations of the Carolingian king of West Francia covering the ancient Merovingian kingdom of Neustria. The Bretons are a distinct Ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas For a full history of the Capetian family see Capetian dynasty.

Neustria was also employed as a term for northwestern Italy during the period of Lombard domination. The Lombards ( Latin Langobardi, whence the alternative names Langobards and Longobards) were a Germanic people originally from It was contrasted with the northeast, which was likewise called Austrasia, the same term as given to eastern Francia. Austrasia (rarely Austria, both meaning "eastern land" formed the north-eastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising Francia or Frankia, later also called the Frankish Empire (imperium Francorum Frankish Kingdom (Latin regnum Francorum, "Kingdom of the

Merovingian kingdom

Constant re-divisions of territories by Clovis's descendants resulted in many rivalries that, for more than two hundred years, kept Neustria in almost constant warfare with Austrasia, the eastern portion of the Frankish kingdom. Austrasia (rarely Austria, both meaning "eastern land" formed the north-eastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising The Franks or Frankish people (Franci or gens Francorum) were West Germanic tribes first identified in the 3rd century as an Ethnic group

Despite the wars, Neustria and Austrasia re-united briefly on a few occasions, the first time under Clotaire I during his reign from 558 to 562. Chlothar I (or Chlothachar, Chlotar, Clothar, Clotaire, Chlotochar, or Hlothar, giving rise to Lothair; 497 Events By Place Byzantine Empire May 7 — In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses The struggle for power continued with Queen Fredegund of Neustria (the widow of King Chilperic I (reigned 566-584) and the mother of the new king Clotaire II (reigned 584-628)) unleashing a bitter war. Fredegund or Fredegunda (also Latin Fredegundis or French Frédégonde; died 597 was the Queen consort of Chilperic Chilperic I (c 539 &ndash September 584 was the king of Neustria (or Soissons) from 561 to his death Chlothar II (or Chlotar, Clothar, Clotaire, Chlotochar, or Hlothar, giving rise to Lothair; 584 &ndash 629 called

After his mother's passing and burial in Saint Denis Basilica in Paris (597), Clotaire II continued the struggle against Queen Brunhilda of Austrasia, and finally triumphed in 613 when Brunhilda's own followers betrayed the old queen into his hands. The Basilica of Saint Denis ( French: Basilique de Saint-Denis, or simply Basilique Saint-Denis) is the burial site of almost all the French Chlothar II (or Chlotar, Clothar, Clotaire, Chlotochar, or Hlothar, giving rise to Lothair; 584 &ndash 629 called Events By Place Europe Clotaire II reunites the Frankish kingdoms by ordering the murder of Sigebert II. Clotaire had Brunhilda put to the rack and stretched for three days, then chained between four horses and eventually ripped limb from limb. Clotaire now ruled a united realm, but only for a short time.

Under Dagobert I (reigned 628-637) the ongoing generational war resulted in another temporary unification. Dagobert I (c 603 &ndash 19 January 639) was the king of Austrasia (623&ndash634 king of all the Franks (629&ndash634 and king of When in Austrasia the Arnulfing mayor Grimoald the Elder attempted a coup against his liege, Clovis II had him removed and again reunited the kingdom from Neustria, but again temporarily. The Pippinids or Arnulfings are the members of a family of Frankish nobles whose select scions served as Mayor of the Palace, de facto rulers of the Frankish kingdoms Mayor of the Palace was an early medieval Title and Office, also called Majordomo, from the Latin title Maior domus ("superior Grimoald I (616-656 called the Elder (in French, Grimaud) was the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia from 643 to 656 Clovis II (637&ndash 27 November 655 or 658 succeeded his father Dagobert I in 639 as King of Neustria and Burgundy. During or soon after the reign of Clovis's son Chlothar III, the dynasty of Neustria, like that of Austrasia before it, ceded authority to its own mayor of the palace. Chlothar III (or Chlotar, Clothar, Clotaire, Chlotochar, or Hlothar, giving rise to Lothair; 652 &ndash 673 was the eldest

In 678, Neustria under mayor Ebroin subdued the Austrasians for the last time. Ebroin (died 680 or 681 was the Frankish Mayor of the palace of Neustria on two occasions firstly from 658 to his deposition in 673 and secondly from Ebroin was murdered in 681, and the Bishop in Poitiers in his own lands commissioned a life of his worst enemy Leodegar in 684. Poitiers is a town on the Clain River in west central France. Saint Leodegar or Leger, Bishop of Autun (c 615 &ndash Sarcing Somme October 2, 679) was the great opponent of Ebroin &mdash In 687 Pippin of Herstal, mayor of the palace of the king of Austrasia, defeated the Neustrians at Tertry, uniting Austrasia and Neustria from the other side. Pepin (also Pippin, Pipin, or Peppin) of Herstal (c 635 &ndash 16 December 714) was the Mayor of the Palace The writers who lived in Austrasia proved more loyal to their mayor.

Pippin's descendants, the Carolingians, continued to rule the two realms as mayors. The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolings, or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the With Pope Stephen II's blessing, after 751 the Carolingian Pippin the Short, formally deposed the Merovingians and took control of the empire, he and his descendants ruling as kings. In sources prior to the 1960s this pope is sometimes called Stephen III and Pope-elect Stephen is sometimes called Stephen II. Pepin or Pippin (714 &ndash 24 September 768) called the Short, and often known as Pepin the Younger or Pepin III, was

Neustria, Austrasia, and Burgundy then became united under one authority and the names "Neustria" and "Austrasia" gradually disappeared. Burgundy (Bourgogne Burgund is a region historically situated in modern-day France and Switzerland, inhabited in turn by Celts ( Gauls)

Carolingian subkingdom

In 748, the brothers Pepin the Short and Carloman gave their younger brother Grifo twelve counties in Neustria centred on that of Le Mans. Pepin or Pippin (714 &ndash 24 September 768) called the Short, and often known as Pepin the Younger or Pepin III, was Carloman (between 706 and 716 &ndash 17 August 754 was the eldest son of Charles Martel, Major domo or Mayor of the palace and duke Grifo (726&ndash753 was the son of the Frankish Major domo Charles Martel and his second wife Swanahild. Le Mans (ləmɑ̃ in French) is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. This polity was termed the ducatus Cenomannicus, or Duchy of Maine, and this was an alternative name for the regnum of Neustria well into the ninth century. Polity ( Greek: Πολιτεία or Πολίτευμα transliterated as Politeía or Políteuma) was originally a term used in Ancient Greece

The term "Neustria" took on the meaning of "land between the Seine and Loire" when it was given as a regnum (kingdom) by Charlemagne to his eldest son, Charles the Younger, in 790. The Seine (sɛn in French) is a slow flowing major River and commercial waterway within the regions of Île-de-France and Haute-Normandie Loire ( Arpitan: Lêre, Occitan: Léger) is an administrative department in the east-central part of France occupying the Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his At this time, the chief city of the kingdom appears to be Le Mans where the royal court of Charles was established. Under the Carolingian dynasty, the chief duty of the Neustrian king was to defend the sovereignty of the Franks over the Bretons. The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolings, or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the Francia or Frankia, later also called the Frankish Empire (imperium Francorum Frankish Kingdom (Latin regnum Francorum, "Kingdom of the

In 817, Louis the Pious granted Neustria to his eldest son Lothair I, but following his rebellion in 831, he gave it to Pepin I of Aquitaine, and following the latter's death in 838, to Charles the Bald. Louis the Pious (778 &ndash 20 June 840) also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was the King of Aquitaine from 781 and co-Emperor Lothair I ( German: Lothar, French: Lothaire, Italian: Lotario) (795 &ndash 29 September 855) Pepin I (797 &ndash December 13, 838) was King of Aquitaine. He was the second son of Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife Charles the Bald ( 13 June 823 – 6 October 877) Holy Roman Emperor (875–877 as Charles II) and King of West Francia Neustria, along with Aquitaine, formed the major part of Charles West Frankish kingdom carved out of the Empire by the Treaty of Verdun (843). Aquitaine (Aquitània Akitania archaic Guyenne / Guienne (Occitan Guiana) is one of the 26 Regions of France, in the south-western part of West Francia or the West Frankish Kingdom was a short-lived kingdom encompassing the lands of the western part of the Carolingian Empire that came under the undisputed In the Treaty of Verdun of 843 the three surviving sons of Louis the Pious, Charlemagne 's grandsons divided his territories the Carolingian Charles continued the tradition of appointing an elder son to reign in Neustria with his own court at Le Mans when he made Louis the Stammerer king in 856. Louis the Stammerer ( November 1, 846 — April 10, 879; Louis le Bègue) was the eldest son of Charles the Bald and Events By Place Asia The Year of the Fire Rat (Chinese Zodiac begins in January Louis married the daughter of the King of Brittany, Erispoe, and received the regnum from the Breton monarch with the consent of the Frankish magnates. Erispoe ( French: Erispoë, Latin: Herispoius, Herispogius, or Respogius; died 2 or 12 November 857 This unique relationship for Neustria stressed how it had shrunk in size to definitely exclude the Île de France and Paris by this time, as it was distanced from the central authority of Charles the Bald and closer to that of Erispoe. Île-de-France ( pronounced /il d̪ə fʁɑ̃s/ literally "Island of France" is one of the twenty-six administrative regions of France. Louis was the last Frankish monarch to be appointed to Neustria by his father and the practice of creating subkingdoms for sons waned among the later Carolings.

Carolingian march

Main article: March of Neustria

The march of Neustria was a creation of the Carolingian king Charles the Bald in 861. The marches of Neustria were creations of the Carolingian king of West Francia covering the ancient Merovingian kingdom of Neustria. The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the Carlovingians, Carolings, or Karlings) was a Frankish noble family with its origins in the Charles the Bald ( 13 June 823 – 6 October 877) Holy Roman Emperor (875–877 as Charles II) and King of West Francia Originally, there were two marches, one against the Bretons and one against the Norsemen. The Bretons are a distinct Ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who speak one of the North Germanic languages as their native language These two marches are often called the Breton March and Norman March respectively. They were ruled by officials appointed by the crown, known as wardens, prefects, or margraves. Prefect (from the Latin praefectus, perfect participle of praeficere: "make in front" i Margrave (marchio is the English and French form (recorded since 1551 of the German Title Markgraf (from Mark "

In 911, Robert I of France became margrave of both marches and took the title demarchus. Robert I ( August 15, 866 &ndash June 15, 923) king of West Francia (922 &ndash 923 was the younger son of Robert the Strong Margrave (marchio is the English and French form (recorded since 1551 of the German Title Markgraf (from Mark " His family, the later Capetians, ruled the whole of Neustria until 987, when Hugh Capet was elected to the kingship. For a full history of the Capetian family see Capetian dynasty. Events By Place Europe Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, is crowned King of France. Hugh Capet (c 940 &ndash 24 October, 996) was the first King of France of the eponymous Capetian dynasty from his election to succeed the The subsidiary counts of Neustria began had exceeded the margrave in power by that point and the peak of Viking and Breton raiding had passed. Margrave (marchio is the English and French form (recorded since 1551 of the German Title Markgraf (from Mark " After the Capetian Miracle, no further margraves were appointed and "Neustria" disappeared as a European political term. The Capetian Miracle refers to the Capetian dynasty of France and its ability to attain and hold onto the French crown

Rulers

Merovingian kings

The precise division of Francia into a Neustrian, Austrasian, and Burgundian kingdom dates only from the late sixth century, so earlier kings who ruled from Soissons or Paris are here excluded. Austrasia (rarely Austria, both meaning "eastern land" formed the north-eastern portion of the Kingdom of the Merovingian Franks, comprising Burgundy (Bourgogne Burgund is a region historically situated in modern-day France and Switzerland, inhabited in turn by Celts ( Gauls)

• Chlothar II, 584–629
• Dagobert I, 629–639
• Clovis II, 639–657
• Chlothar III, 657–673
• Theuderic III, 673
• Childeric II, 673–675
• Theuderic III, 675–691
• Clovis IV, 691–695
• Childebert III, 695–711
• Dagobert III, 711–715
• Chilperic II, 715–721
• Theuderic IV, 721–737
• Childeric III, 743–751

Mayors of the palace

These were the chief officers of the kings and gradually became the de facto rulers in the name of the kings. Chlothar II (or Chlotar, Clothar, Clotaire, Chlotochar, or Hlothar, giving rise to Lothair; 584 &ndash 629 called Dagobert I (c 603 &ndash 19 January 639) was the king of Austrasia (623&ndash634 king of all the Franks (629&ndash634 and king of Clovis II (637&ndash 27 November 655 or 658 succeeded his father Dagobert I in 639 as King of Neustria and Burgundy. Chlothar III (or Chlotar, Clothar, Clotaire, Chlotochar, or Hlothar, giving rise to Lothair; 652 &ndash 673 was the eldest Theuderic III (or Theuderich, Theoderic, or Theodoric; in French, Thierry) (654 – 691 was the king of Neustria (including Childeric II (c 653 &ndash 675 was the king of Austrasia from 662 and of Neustria and Burgundy from 673 until his death making him sole King of Theuderic III (or Theuderich, Theoderic, or Theodoric; in French, Thierry) (654 – 691 was the king of Neustria (including Clovis IV (sometimes Clovis III if the other Clovis III is considered a usurper (682-695 son of Theuderic III, was the sole king of the Childebert III, called the Just (le Juste (670 or probably 683 &ndash 23 April 711) son of Theuderic III and Clotilda (or Doda and sole Dagobert III (699-715 was Merovingian king of the Franks (711-715 Chilperic II (c 672 &ndash 13 February 721) born Daniel, the youngest son of Childeric II, was king of Neustria from 715 and sole Theuderic IV (or Theuderich, Theoderic, or Theodoric; in French, Thierry) was the Merovingian King of the Franks Childeric III (died about 753 was the last King of the Franks in the Merovingian dynasty from 743 to his deposition in 751

• Landric, until 613
• Gundoland, 613–639
• Aega, 639–641
• Erchinoald, 641–658
• Ebroin, 658–673
• Wulfoald, 673–675
• Leudesius, 675
• Ebroin, 675–680 (again)
• Waratton, 680–682
• Gistemar, 682
• Waratton, 682–686 (again)
• Berthar, 686–688
• Pepin of Heristal, 688–695
• Grimoald II, 695–714
• Theudoald, 714–715
• Ragenfrid, 715–718
• Charles Martel, 718–741
• Pepin the Short, 741–751

Carolingian sub-kings

• Charles the Younger, 790–811
• Lothair I, 817–831
• Pepin, 831–838
• Charles the Bald, 838–856
• Louis the Stammerer, 856–879

Louis was chased from Le Mans in 858 following the assassination of Erispoe in November 857. Landric or Landeric (Landry died 613 was the Mayor of the palace of Neustria. Gundoland or Gundeland was the Mayor of the palace of Neustria from 613 to his death For uses of EGA as an acronym see EGA. For the river in Spain see Ega River. Erchinoald (also Erkinoald and in French, Erchenout) succeeded Aega as the Mayor of the palace of Neustria in 641 and Ebroin (died 680 or 681 was the Frankish Mayor of the palace of Neustria on two occasions firstly from 658 to his deposition in 673 and secondly from Wulfoald (d680 was the Mayor of the palace of Austrasia from 656 or 661 depending on when Grimoald I was removed from that office (accounts vary Leudesius (assassinated 676 was the son of Erchinoald, Mayor of the Palace of Neustria, and his wife Leutsinde Waratton, Waratto, or Warato (died 686 was the Mayor of the palace of Neustria and Burgundy on two occasions owing to the deposition Gistemar, Ghislemar, or Gilmer (died 684 was briefly the Mayor of the palace in Neustria and Burgundy after deposing his father Berthar was the Mayor of the palace of Neustria and Burgundy from 686 to 687 Pepin (also Pippin, Pipin, or Peppin) of Herstal (c 635 &ndash 16 December 714) was the Mayor of the Palace Grimoald II ( French: Grimaud; died 714 called the Younger, was the Mayor of the palace of Neustria from 695 Theudoald or Theodald was the Mayor of the palace, briefly unopposed in 714 until Ragenfrid was acclaimed in Neustria and Ragenfrid (also Ragenfred, Raganfrid, or Ragamfred) (d731 was the Mayor of the palace of Neustria and Burgundy from 715 Charles "The Hammer" Martel (Carolus Martellus Charles "the Hammer" (ca Pepin or Pippin (714 &ndash 24 September 768) called the Short, and often known as Pepin the Younger or Pepin III, was Lothair I ( German: Lothar, French: Lothaire, Italian: Lotario) (795 &ndash 29 September 855) Pepin I (797 &ndash December 13, 838) was King of Aquitaine. He was the second son of Emperor Louis the Pious and his first wife Charles the Bald ( 13 June 823 – 6 October 877) Holy Roman Emperor (875–877 as Charles II) and King of West Francia Louis the Stammerer ( November 1, 846 — April 10, 879; Louis le Bègue) was the eldest son of Charles the Bald and Le Mans (ləmɑ̃ in French) is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River.

Capetian margraves

Only those who ruled a united Neustrian march are included, though the title "of Neustria" was carried by the earlier margraves of the Breton and Norman marches, the most notable by Robert the Strong, ancestor of these later Capetians. The Bretons are a distinct Ethnic group located in the region of Brittany in France. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. Robert IV the Strong (also known as Rutpert) ( 820 - September 15, 866) was Margrave in Neustria. For a full history of the Capetian family see Capetian dynasty.

• Robert, 911–922
• Hugh the Great, 922–956
• Hugh Capet, 956–987

Historiography

The chief contemporary chronicle written from a Neustrian perspective is the Liber Historiae Francorum. Robert I ( August 15, 866 &ndash June 15, 923) king of West Francia (922 &ndash 923 was the younger son of Robert the Strong Hugh the Great ( 898 - 16 June, 956) was duke of the Franks and count of Paris, son of King Robert I of France and nephew of Hugh Capet (c 940 &ndash 24 October, 996) was the first King of France of the eponymous Capetian dynasty from his election to succeed the Liber historiae Francorum ("The book of the history of the Franks " is a book that briefly starts as secondary source for early Franks in the ^[2]

Notes

Sources

• Oman, Charles. Sir Charles William Chadwick Oman ( January 12 1860 &ndash June 23 1946) was a British military historian of the early The Dark Ages 476–918. Rivingtons: London, 1914.
• Hodgkin, Thomas. For the British physician his uncle with the same name see Thomas Hodgkin. Italy and her Invaders. Clarendon Press: 1895.