Theuderic III
King of the Franks
Detail of a medallion on exterior of Saint-Ouen Abbey, Rouen, representing Saint Audoin, seated on his deathbed, facing Theuderic and the kneeling queen
King in Neustria and Burgundy
Reign673
PredecessorChlothar III
SuccessorChilderich II
Reign675-691
PredecessorChilderic II
SuccessorClovis IV
King in Austrasia
Reign679-691
PredecessorDagobert II
SuccessorClovis IV
Bornc. 651
Diedc. 691 (aged 39–40)
SpouseChrothildis
Amalberga
IssueClovis IV
Childebert III
Clovis III (?)
DynastyMerovingian
FatherClovis II
MotherBalthild

Theuderic III (also spelled Theuderich, Theoderic or Theodoric; French: Thierry, c. 651[1]–691) was King of the Franks. He ruled Neustria and Burgundy on two occasions (673 and 675–691), as well as Austrasia from 679 to his death in 691.

The son of Clovis II and Balthild, he has been described as a puppet ruler – a roi fainéant. After the death of his older brother Chlothar III, Ebroin, Mayor of the Palace, appointed him King in Neustria in 673 but Childeric II of Austrasia displaced him soon thereafter. After Childeric II was killed in 675, Theuderic II retook the throne. He fought a war against Dagobert II. His forces under Ebroin were victorious at the Battle of Lucofao. After Dagobert was murdered in 679, Theuderic was also recognized as king in Austrasia as well.

He and the Neustrian mayor of the palace, Waratton, made peace with Pepin of Heristal, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, in 681. However, on Waratton's death in 686, the new mayor, Berchar, made war with Austrasia and Pepin vanquished the Burgundo-Neustrian army under Berchar and Theuderic (a Neustrian) at the Battle of Tertry in 687, thus paving the way for Austrasian dominance of the Frankish state.[2]

Marriage and issue

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

They had the following children:

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

References

Bibliography

  • Fouracre, Paul; Gerberding, Richard A. (1996). Late Merovingian France: History and Hagiography, 640-720. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-4791-6.
  • Fouracre, Paul J. (2018). "Theuderic III". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press.
  • Frassetto, Michael (2013). Early Medieval World, The: From the Fall of Rome to the Time of Charlemagne. Vol. One, A–M. ABC-CLIO.
  • Verseuil, Jean (1996). Les rois fainéants: De Dagobert à Pépin le Bref (629-651) (in French). Paris: Critérion. pp. 179–199. ISBN 978-2-7413-0196-7.
  • Wallace-Hadrill, John Michael (1962). "V. Les rois faineants". The long-haired kings: and other studies in Frankish history. Methuen. ISBN 9780416255201.
  • Wood, Ian (2014). The Merovingian Kingdoms 450 - 751. Routledge. pp. 221, 227, 362. ISBN 978-1-317-87116-3.
  • Carlrichard Brühl; Theo Kölzer; Martina Hartmann (2001). Die Urkunden der Merowinger. Monumenta Germaniae historica., Diplomata regum Francorum e stirpe Merovingica. (in German and Latin). Vol. 2 vols. Hannover: Hahn. ISBN 978-3-7752-5464-9.
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