584 Assassination of Chilperic of Neustria (called the “Nero and Herod of his time”) probably at instigation of Fredegund. His infant son Clotaire II succeeds under regency of Fredegund who has had Chilperic’s sons by a former wife put to death.
593 Death of Gontram of Burgundy. By his will the kingdom passes to his nephew Childebert II of Austrasia.
596 Death of Childebert II. His young sons Theodoric or Thierry II and Theudebert II take the crowns of Burgundy and Austrasia respectively under regency of their grandmother Brunehild. A terrible feud between Fredegund and Brunehild begins.
598 On Fredegund’s death, Brunehild seizes almost the whole of Neustria. She aims to make the power of Austrasia secure against the nobles, who, with Arnulf bishop of Metz, and Pepin of Landen (ancestor of the Carlovingians), wages war with her.
613 In battle with the nobles and Clotaire II, Brunehild’s army deserts her. She is captured and put to death by torture, also Theudebert’s sons and Sigebert II, successor of Theodoric II. Clotaire II becomes sole king of the Franks, but the real power has now passed to the mayors of the palace, to which title the race of the Pepins have acquired an hereditary claim in Austrasia. The rest of the Merovingians are known as “les rois fainéants.”
628 On death of Clotaire his son Dagobert I succeeds. The Merovingian power is now at its height.
638 Death of Dagobert, who divides the kingdom between his two young sons.
(1) Clovis II receives Burgundy and Neustria.
(2) Sigebert III receives Austrasia.