Childeric II

Childeric II (c. 653 – 675) was the king of Austrasia from 662 and of Neustria and Burgundy from 673 until his death, making him sole King of the Franks for the final two years of his life. He was the second eldest son of Clovis II. His elder brother Chlothar III was briefly sole king from 661, but gave Austrasia to Childeric the next year. He was still a mere child when he was raised on the shields of his warriors and proclaimed king in Austrasia.

Bodilo adjusting his culottes after corporal punishment

After the death of Chlothar in 673, Theuderic III, his youngest brother, inherited his kingdoms, but a faction of prominent Burgundian nobles led by Leodegar and Eticho invited Childeric to become king in Neustria and Burgundy. He soon invaded his brother's kingdom and displaced him, becoming sole king. He made his Austrasian mayor of the palace, Wulfoald, mayor also in Neustria and Burgundy, displacing Ebroin of Neustria and upsetting his supporters in Burgundy who did not wish to see functionaries active in a kingdom other than their native one. In March 675, Childeric had granted him honores in Alsace to Eticho with the title of dux. This grant was most probably the result of Eticho's continued support for Childeric in Burgundy, which had often disputed possession of Alsace with Austrasia.

The final straw for the magnates of Neustria, however, was Childeric's illegal corporal punishment of the noble Bodilo. Bodilo and his friends Amalbert and Ingobert conspired to assassinate the king, who was killed, along with his wife Bilichild, while hunting in the forest by Livry. He was buried in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, near Paris, where the tombs of he, Bilichild, and his infant son Dagobert were discovered in 1645; the contents were pilfered.

Childeric II Merovingian Dynasty Born: 653 Died: 675
Preceded by Clotaire III	King of Austrasia 662–675	Succeeded by Clovis III
Preceded by Theuderic III	King of Neustria and Burgundy 673–675	Succeeded by Theuderic III
Vacant Title last held by Clotaire III	King of the Franks 673–675	Vacant Title next held by Theuderic III

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

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Name	Childeric 02
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Date of birth	653
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Date of death	675
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