France. of being conquered by Gontran and Childebert, who had entered into a league for that purpose. After his death Fredegonde implored the protection of Gontran for herself and her infant son Clotaire; which he very readily granted, and obliged Childebert to put an end to the war. He found himself, however, greatly difficulted to keep Fredegonde and Brunehaut in awe; for these two princesses having been long rivals and implacable enemies, were continually plotting the destruction of each other. This, however, he accomplished, by favouring sometimes Brunehaut and sometimes Fredegonde; so that, during his life, neither of them durst undertake any thing against the other.

15

Death of

On the 28th of March 593, died Gontran, having Gontran; lived upwards of 60, and reigned 32 years. Childebert succeeded to the kingdom without opposition, but did not long enjoy it; he himself dying in the year 596, and his queen shortly after. His dominions were divided between his two sons Theodobert and Thierri; the first of whom was declared king of Austrasia, and the latter king of Burgundy. As Theodobert was only in the 11th year of his age, and Thierri in his Ioth, Brunehaut governed both kingdoms with an absolute sway. Fredegonde, however, took care not to let slip such a favourable opportunity as was offered her by the death of Childebert, and therefore made her self mistress of Paris and some other places on the Seine. Upon this Brunehaut sent against her the best part of the forces in Austrasia, who were totally defeated; but Fredegonde died before she had time to improve her victory, leaving her son Clotaire heir to all her dominions.

16

and Fre

degonde.

For some time Brunehaut preserved her kingdom in peace; but in the end her own ambition proved her ruin. Instead of instructing Theodobert in what was necessary for a prince to know, she took care rather to keep him in ignorance, and even suffered him to marry a young and handsome slave of his father's. The new queen was possessed of a great deal of affability and good nature; by which means she in a short time gain 17 ed the affection of her husband so much, that he readily Brunchaut consented to the banishment of Brunehaut. Upon this banished. disgrace she fled to Thierri king of Burgundy, in the

year 599. By him she was very kindly received; and instead of exciting jealousies or misunderstandings between the two brothers, she engaged Thierri to attempt the recovery of Paris and the other places which had been wrested from their family by Fredegonde, procuring at the same time a considerable body of auxiliaries from the Visigoths. This measure was so acceptable to Theodobert, that he likewise raised a numerous army, and invaded Clotaire's dominions in conjunction with his brother. A battle ensued, in which the forces of Clotaire were totally defeated, and himself obliged soon after to sue for peace which was not granted, but on condition of his yielding up the best part of his dominions.

This treaty was concluded in the year 600; but three years afterwards, it was broken by Clotaire. He was again attacked by the two brothers, and the war carried on with great vigour till the next spring. At this time Thierri having forced Landri, Clotaire's general, to a battle, gave him a total overthrow, in which the king's infant son Meroveus, whom he had sent along with Landri, was massacred; to gratify, as Clo. VOL. IX. Part I.

taire pretended, the malice of Brunehaut. After this France. victory, Thierri marched directly to Paris; fully bent on the destruction of his cousin, which now seemed inevitable. This, however, was prevented by Theodobert; who no sooner heard of the victory gained by Thierri, than he became jealous of his success, and of fered Clotaire such terms of peace as he gladly accepted. The latter having then nothing to fear on the side of Austrasia, quickly compelled Thierri to listen to terms of accommodation also.

This behaviour of Theodebert greatly provoked his brother; and his resentment was highly inflamed by Brunehaut, who never forgot her disgrace in being banished from his court. A war was therefore commenced between the two brothers in 605; but it was so highly disapproved of by the nobility, that Thierri found himself obliged to put an end to it. The tranquillity which now took place was again disturbed in 607, by Theodobert's sending an embassy to demand some part of Childebert's dominions, which had been added by the will of that monarch to those of Burgundy. The nobility of both kingdoms were so much averse to war, that they constrained their kings to consent to a conference, attended by an equal number of troops; but Theodobert, by a scandalous breach of his faith, brought double the number, and compelled his brother to submit to what terms he pleased. This piece of treachery instantly brought on a war; for Thierri was bent on revenge, and his nobility no longer opposed him. It was necessary, however, to secure Clotaire by a negotiation; and accordingly a promise was made of restoring those parts of his dominions which had formerly been taken from him, provided he would remain quiet. This treaty being finished, Thierri entered Theodobert's dominions, defeated him in two battles, took him prisoner, used him with the utmost indignity; and having caused an infant son of his to be put to death, sent him to his grandmother Brunehaut. By her orders he was first shaved and confined in a monastery; but afterwards, fearing lest he should make his escape, she caused him to be put to death.— Clotaire, in the mean time, thought that the best method of making Thierri keep his word was to seize on those places which he had promised to restore to him, before his return from the war with Theodobert. This he accordingly did; and Thierri no sooner heard of his having done so, than he sent him a message requiring him to withdraw his forces, and, in case of his refusal, declared war. Clotaire was prepared for this; and accordingly assembled all the forces in his dominions, in order to give him a proper reception. But before Thierri could reach his enemies, he was seized with a Death of dysentery; of which he died in the year 612, having Thierri. lived 26 years, and reigned 17.

On the death of Thierri, Brunehaut immediately caused his eldest son, named Sigisbert, then in the 10th year of his age, to be proclaimed king. It is probable that she intended to have governed in his name with an absolute sway; but Clotaire did not give her tinie to discover her intentions. Having great intelligence in Austrasia and Burgundy, and knowing that the nobility in both kingdoms were disaffected to Brunehaut, he declared war against her; and she being betrayed by her generals, fell into the bands of her enemies. Clotaire gave her up to the nobles; who generally

H

hate d

18

20

Miserable

France.

Thus in the year 613, Clotaire became sole monarch of France; and quietly enjoyed his kingdom till his death, which happened in 628. He was succeeded by Dagobert; who proved a great and powerful prince, and raised the kingdom of France to a high degree of splendour. Dagobert was succeeded by his sons Sigebert and Clovis; the former of whom had the kingdom of Austrasia, and the latter that of Burgundy. Both the kings were minors at the time of their accession to the throne, which gave an opportunity to the mayors of the palace (the highest officers under the crown) to usurp the whole authority. Sigebert died in 640, after a short reign of one year; leaving behind him an infant son named Dagobert, whom he strongly recommended to the care of Grimoalde his mayor of the palace. The minister caused Dagobert to be immediately proclaimed king, but did not long suffer him to enjoy that honour. He had not the cruelty, however, to put him to death; but sent him to a monastery in one of the Western islands of Scotland; and then, giving out that he was dead, advanced his own son Childebert to the throne. Childebert was expelled by Clovis king of Burgundy; who placed on the throne Childeric, the second son of Sigebert. Clovis died soon after the revolution, and was succeeded in his dominions by his son Clotaire; who died in a short time, without issue. He was succeeded by his brother Childeric; who, after a short reign, was murdered with his queen, at that time big with child, and an infant son named Dagobert; though another, named Daniel, had the good luck to escape.

The affairs of the French were now in the most desituation of plorable situation. The princes of the Merovingian race had been for some time entirely deprived of their power by their officers called mayors of the palace. In Austrasia the administration had been totally engrossed by Pepin and his son Grimaulde; while Archambaud and Ebroin did the same in Neustria and Burgundy. On the reunion of Neustria and Burgundy to the rest of the French dominions, this minister ruled with such a despotic sway, that the nobility of Austrasia were provoked to a revolt; electing for their dukes two chiefs named Martin and Pepin. The forces of the confederates, however, were defeated by Ehroin; and Martin having surrendered on a promise of safety, was treacherously put to death. Pepin lost no time in recruiting his shattered forces; but before he had any occasion to try his fortune a second time in the field of battle, the assassination of Ebroin delivered him from all apprehensions from that quarter. After his death, Pepin carried every thing before him, overthrew the royal army under the command of the new minister Bertaire; and, having got possession of the capital, caused himself to be declared mayor of the palace; in which station he continued to govern with an absolute sway during the remainder of his life.

Pepin (who had got the surname of Heristal from

21

his palace on the Meuse) died in the year 714, having France. enjoyed unlimited power for 26 years. He appointed his grandson Theudobalde, then only six years of age, to succeed him in his post of mayor of the palace, This happened during the reign of Dagobert already mentioned; but this prince had too much spirit to suffer himself to be deprived of his authority by an infant. The adherents of the young mayor were defeated in battle, and this defeat was soon followed by his death. Charles, however, the illegitimate son of Pepin, was Exploits of now raised to the dignity of duke by the Austrasians, Charles and by his great qualities seemed every way worthy of Martel. that honour. The murder of Dagobert freed him from a powerful opponent; and the young king Chilperic, who after Dagobert's death was brought from a cloister to the throne, could by no means cope with such an experienced antagonist. On the 19th of March 717, Charles had the good fortune to surprise the royal camp as he passed through the forest of Arden; and soon after a battle ensued, in which the king's forces were entirely defeated. On this Chilperic entered into an alliance with Eudes duke of Aquitain, whose friendship he purchased by the final cession of all the country which Eudes had seized for himself. Charles, however, having placed on the throne another of the royal family named Clotaire, advanced against Chilperic and his associate, whom he entirely defeated near Soissons. After this disaster, Eudes, despairing of success, deliver ed up Chilperic into the bands of his antagonist: after having stipulated for himself the same terms which had been formerly granted him by the captive monarch.

Charles, now advanced to the summit of power, treated Chilperic with great respect; and on the death of Clotaire, caused him to be proclaimed king of Austra sia; by which, however, his own power was not in the least diminished; and from this time the authority of the kings of France became merely nominal; and so inactive and indolent were they accounted, that histo rians have bestowed upon them the epithet of faineans, i. e. "lazy or idle." Charles, however, had still one competitor to contend with. This was Rainfroy, who had been appointed mayor of the palace; and who made such a vigorous resistance, that Charles was obliged to allow him the peaceable possession of the country of Anjou. No sooner, however, had Charles thus set himself at liberty from domestic enemies, than he was threatened with destruction from foreign nations. The Suevians, Frisons, and Alemanni, were successively encountered and defeated. Eudes also, who had perfidiously broken the treaties to which he had bound himself, was twice repulsed; after which Charles invaded Aquitain, and obliged the treacherous duke to hearken to reason. This was scarce accomplished, when he found himself engaged with a more formidable enemy than any he had yet encountered. The Saracens hav ing overrun great part of Asia, now turned their victorious arms westward, and threatened Europe with total subjection. Spain had already received the yoke; and having passed the Pyrenees, they next invaded France, appearing in vast numbers under the walls of Thoulouse. Here they were encountered and defeated by Eades ; but this proved only a partial check. The barbarians once more passing the Pyrenees, entered France with such a powerful army, that Eudes was no longer able

to

invasion; after which he resumed his enterprise on the France. dominions of Vaisar. The latter at first attempted to impede the progress of his antagonist by burning and laying waste the country: but finding this to no purpose, he determined to try his fortune in an engagement. Victory declared in favour of Pepin; but he refused to grant a peace upon any terms. The French monarch advanced to the banks of the Garonne; while Vaisar was abandoned by his ally the duke of Bavaria, and even by his own subjects. In this distress he retired with a band of faithful followers into the country of Saintonge, where he defended himself as long as possible, but was at last deprived both of his crown and life by the victor.

25

Thus the duchy of Aquitain was once more annexed to the crown of France; but Pepin had scarce time to indulge himself with a view of his new conquest when he was seized with a slow fever, which put an end to his life in the year 768, the 54th of his age, Death of and 17th of his reign. He was of a short stature, Pepin. whence he had the surname of Le Bref, or the Short; but his great actions justly entitled him to the character of a hero: though under the succeeding reign his own fame seemed to have been entirely forgot, and on his tomb was only inscribed, "Here lies the father of Charlemagne."

having soon become weary of residing at the court of Aquitain, determined to escape from thence, and put himself under the protection of Astolphus king of the Lombards; but he was killed in attempting to force a pass on the confines of Italy. Pepin in the mean time continued to push his good fortune. The submission of the Saxons was soon followed by the reduction of Brittany; and that by the recovery of Narbonne from the Infidels. His next exploit was the protection of Pope Stephen III. against Astolphus the king of the Lombards, who had seized on the exarchate of Ravenna, and insisted on being acknowledged king of Rome. The pope, unable to contend with such a powerful rival, hasted to cross the Alps and implore the protection of Pepin, who received him with all the respect due to his character. He was lodged in the abbey of St Dennis, and attended by the king in person during a dangerous sickness with which he was seized. On his recovery, Stephen solemnly placed the diadem on the head of his benefactor, bestowed the regal unction on his sons Charles and Carloman, and conferred on the three princes the title of patrician of Rome. In return for these honours, Pepin accompanied the pontiff into Italy at the head of a powerful army. Astolphus, unable to withstand such a powerful antagonist, shut himself up in Pavia, where he was closely besieged by the Franks, and obliged to renounce all pretensions to the sovereignty of Rome, as well as to restore the city and exarchate of Ravenna, and swear to the observance of the treaty. No sooner was Pepin gone, however, than Astolphus broke the treaty he had just ratified with such solemnity. The pope was again reduced to distress, and again applied to Pepin. He now sent him a pompous epistle in the style and character of St Peter himself; which so much inflamed the zeal of Pepin, that he instantly set out for Italy and compelled Astolphus a second time to submit to his terms, which were now rendered more severe by the imposition of an annual tribute. Pepin next made a tour to Rome; but finding that his presence there gave great uneasiness both to the Greeks and to the pope himself, he thought proper to finish his visit in a short time. Soon after his return Astolphus died, and his dominions were usurped by his general Didier; who, however, obtained the papal sanction for what he had done, and was recognized as lawful sovereign of the Lombards in the year 756.

Pepin returned to France in triumph; but the peace of his dominions was soon disturbed by the revolt of the Saxons, who always bore the French yoke with the utmost impatience. Their present attempts, how ever, proved equally unsuccessful with those they had formerly made; being obliged to submit and purchase their pardon not only by a renewal of their tribute, but by an additional supply of 300 horse. But while the king was absent on this expedition, Vaisar duke of Aquitain took the opportunity of ravaging Burgundy, where he carried his devastations as far as Chalons. Pepin soon returned, and entering the dominions of Vaisar, committed similar devastations, and would probably have reduced the whole territory of Aquitain, had he not been interrupted by the hostile preparations of his nephew Tassilon the duke of Bavaria. The king, however, contented himself at present with securing his frontiers by a chain of posts, against any

26

Pepin was succeeded in his authority by his two Succeeded sons Charles and Carloman; to whom with his dying by his two breath he bequeathed his dominions. They continued rens. to reign jointly for some time; but the active and enterprising spirit of Charles gave such umbrage to the weak and jealous Carloman, that he regarded him with envy, and was on the point of coming to an open rupture with him, when he himself was taken off by death, and thus the tranquillity of the empire was preserved.

The first military enterprise of Charles was against Hunalde, the old duke of Aquitain; who leaving the monastery where he had resided upwards of 20 years, assumed the royal title, and was joyfully received by his subjects, already weary of the French yoke.Charles took the field with the utmost expedition, and with difficulty prevailed upon his brother Carloman, who was then alive, to join him with his forces. But the junction was scarce effected, when Carloman withdrew his forces again, and left his brother to carry on the war in the best manner he could. Charles, though thus deserted, did not hesitate at engaging the enemy; and having overthrown them in a great battle, Hunalde was obliged to fly to the territories of Lupus duke of Gascony. Charles quickly sent an embassy demanding the fugitive prince; and Lupus, not daring to disobey the orders of such a powerful monarch, yielded up the unfortunate Hunalde, who was instantly cast into prison, from which, however, he afterwards made his escape.

27

The death of Carloman, which happened in the year Reign of 771, left Charles sole master of France, but the revolt Chaites the of the Saxons involved him in a series of wars from Great. which he did not extricate himself for 33 years. These had long been tributaries to the French, but frequently revolted: and now, when freed from the terror of Pepin's arms, thought they had a right to shake off the yoke altogether. Charles entered their country with a powerful army; and having defeated them in a num

ber

ber of small engagements, advanced towards Eresbourg near Paderborn, where they had their capital post, and where was the image of their god Irminsul, represented as a man completely armed, and standing on a column. The Saxons made an obstinate defence, but were at last obliged to submit; and Charles employed his army three days in demolishing the monuments of idolatry in this place; which so much disheartened the whole nation, that for the present they submitted to such terms as he pleased to impose; and which were rendered easier than they probably would have been, by the news which Charles now received from Italy.He had concluded a marriage with the daughter of Didier king of the Lombards; but this had been dissolved by the pope, who reproached the Lombards with the first stain of the leprosy. Thus all friendship was dissolved betwixt Didier and Charles; and as the Lombard monarchs seem to have had a kind of natural enmity towards the popes, it is not surprising that it should now break out with uncommon fury. Didier having seized and frighted to death Pope Stephen IV. used his utmost endeavours to reduce his successor Adrian I. to a state of entire dependence on himself. Adrian applied to the French monarch, the usual resource of the pontiffs in those days. Charles was very willing to grant the necessary assistance, but the nobi lity were averse to an Italian war; so that he was obliged to act with great circumspection. Several embassies were therefore sent to Didier, entreating him to restore to the Pope those places which he had taken from him, and at last even offering him a large sum of money if he would do so; but this proposal being rejected, he obtained the consent of his nobility to make war on the Lombards. Didier disposed his troops in such a manner, that the officers of Charles are said to have been unanimously of opinion, that it would be impossible to force a passage. This, however, was accomplished, either through the superior skill of Charles, according to some historians, or a panic which seized the Lombard soldiers, according to others; after which Didier, with the old duke of Aquitain, who had escaped from his prison, and taken refuge at his court, shut themselves up in Pavia. Adalgise, the only son of the Lombard monarch, with the widow and children of Carloman, fled to Verona. That city was immediately invested by the conqueror, and in a short time obliged to submit. Adalgise had the good luck to escape to Constantinople, but we are not informed what became of Carloman's widow and children. Charles, after paying a short visit to Rome, returned to the siege of Pavia. The place was vigorously defended, until famine and pestilence obliged the inhabitants to implore the clemency of Charles. Hunalde fell a sacrifice to his own obstinacy in opposing the intention of the people; Didier was taken prisoner and carried into France; but we are not informed of his fate afterwards. His kingdom, however, was totally dissolved, and Charles was crowned king of Lombardy at Milan in the year 774.

Having received the oaths of allegiance from his new subjects, Charles set out for Saxony, the inhabitants of which had again revolted, and recovered Eresbourg their capital. The king soon recovered this important post; but a detachment of his army being cut off, and new troubles arising in Italy, he was obliged

to accept of the proposals of the Saxons, though France. their sincerity was very doubtful. Having therefore only strengthened the fortifications of Eresbourg, and left a sufficient garrison in the place, he set out for Italy, which was all in commotion through the intrigues of the emperor of the East, and Adalgise the son of Didier. The presence of Charles restored tranquillity in that quarter; but in the mean time, the Saxons having taken Eresbourg and destroyed the fortifications, threatened to annihilate the French power in that quarter. On the king's return, he found them employed in the siege of Sigebourg. His sudden arrival struck the barbarians with such terror, that they instantly sued for peace; which the king once more granted, but took care to secure their obedience by a chain of forts along the river Lippe, and repairing the fortifications of Eresbourg. An assembly of the Saxon chiefs was held at Paderborn, and a promise was made, that the nation should embrace the Christian religion: after which the king set out on an expedition to Spain in the year 778.

This new enterprise was undertaken at the request of Ibunala, the Moorish sovereign of Saragossa, who had been driven from his territory. He was restored, however, by the prowess of Charles, who reduced the cities of Pampeluna and Saragossa. He reduced also the city of Barcelona, and the kingdoms of Navarre and Arragon; but, on his return, he met with a severe check from the Gascons, who attacked and defeated the rear-guard of his army with great slaughter as they passed the Pyrenean mountains. This engagement, which seems to imply some defect in the prudence or military skill of Charles, has been much celebrated among romance writers, on account of the death of Ro- land a famous warrior.

Next year, 779, he paid a visit to Italy with his two sons Carloman and Louis. Having passed the winter at Pavia, he entered Rome next spring amidst the acclamations of the inhabitants. Here, in the 39th year of his age, he divided his dominions in presence of the pope betwixt his two sons Carloman and Louis. The former, who now took the name of Pepin, had Lom-bardy; the latter Aquitain. Having then received the submission of Tassilon duke of Bavaria, he set out for Saxony, where he took a most severe revenge on the people of that country for the many treacheries they had been guilty of. The present revolt was chiefly owing to a chief named Witikind, who had twice before fled from the victorious arms of Charles, and taken refuge at the court of Denmark. Returning from thence, in the king's absence, he roused his countrymen to action, while the generals of Charles, disagreeing among themselves, neglected to take the proper methods for repelling the enemy. In consequence of this, they were entirely defeated on the banks of the Weser in the year 782. Charles arrived in time to prevent the total destruction of his people, and directly penetrated into the heart of the country. Witikind unable to resist his antagonist, once more fled into Denmark; but 4500 of his followers perished at once by the hands of the executioner. An universal insurrection was the consequence of this unheard of cruelty; and though during three years the French monarch was constantly successful in the field, he found it impossible by any force whatever to subdue the