The Co-Kings of 561: Sigebert, Guntram, and Charibert

Although Chilperic I is often at the centre of the story for his ambition, power after 561 was shared among his three brothers, each playing a crucial role in the history of the Frankish kingdom.

Sigebert I (561–575): the lion of Austrasia

King of the East (Austrasia), Sigebert established his capital at Metz. He was a prestigious warrior king. By marrying Princess Brunhilda, he sought to strengthen the legitimacy of his branch. His assassination in 575 by Fredegund’s hitmen plunged the kingdom into a succession crisis that would last decades.

Guntram (561–592): the “good” king and mediator

King of Burgundy, Guntram survived the longest. Often seen as a mediator, he tried to keep peace between Fredegund’s supporters and Brunhilda’s. With no surviving heir, he eventually designated his nephew Childebert II (Sigebert’s son) as successor through the Treaty of Andelot.

Charibert I (561–567): the king of Paris with a brief reign

King of Paris, Charibert inherited the symbolic heart of the realm. His reign was short and marked by conflict with the Church due to his private life. His death in 567, without a male heir, triggered a brutal redistribution of his lands. It was this redistribution that definitively poisoned relations between Chilperic, Sigebert, and Guntram.

The interaction among these four brothers shows that Merovingian power was never solitary: it was a permanent negotiation — often violent — within the same family.