European Kingdoms

Merovingian Duchy & Kingdom of Aquitaine
AD 555 - 781

When the great empire-builder of the Franks, Clovis, conquered the Roman domain of Soissons in 486, he opened the way for expansion deep into Gaul. By around 500 Clovis had reached the Loire and inflicted a defeat on the Burgundians, and in 507 he defeated the Visigoths, whose kingdom of Toulouse had governed southern France since it was established in 418. The victory pushed the Visigoths into Spain, but although the Franks secured Bordeaux and Auvergne, Aquitaine's position was much less clear. The Visigoths may have retained portions of Aquitaine, and probably battled against Frankish vassals to see who could secure the region. In the end it was the Franks who won, and Aquitaine was first confirmed as a possession in 555, when a duke was appointed to govern it.

The capital of the new region was Toulouse, the former Visigoth capital, and despite Visigoth and Frankish rule, the region was probably still heavily Romanised after over four centuries of inclusion within the empire, latterly as the province of Aquitania.

555 - 560

Chramn / Chram

Son of Chlothar I of the Franks. First duke of Aquitaine.

560

Chramn has several times risen in rebellion against his father, but during his final rebellion he has to flee to Brittany and the court of Canao of Bro Erech. Chlothar pursues him, defeats the combined forces of Chramn and Canao, and Chramn is strangled and placed in a cottage which is then burned down.

561 - 583

When Chlothar I of the Franks dies in 561 his domains are partitioned between his sons. One of them, Charibert I, gains Neustria, which also includes Aquitaine, Bordeaux and Toulouse. Charibert dies in 567 without a surviving male heir, so Neustria is reunited with Soissons under Chilperic I. It is he who assigns his greatest general, Desiderius, to co-rule Aquitaine with another general, Bladast.

Toulouse was a Roman city until AD 418, but even a century and-a-half of barbarian rule would not have erased the very strong Roman appearance of the city

583 - 587

Desiderius

General under Chilperic I of the Franks.

584 - 585

Following the death of Chilperic I, Desiderius makes peace with the king's brother in Burgundy, Guntramn. However, either in the same year or in 585, the rule of Desiderius and Bladast is challenged by Gundoald. This usurper is backed by the Byzantine emperor, Maurice, and he manages to capture Poitiers and Toulouse, which are at least partially the domains of Guntramn. A Burgundian army marches against Gundoald and he flees to Comminges (now Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges) and is besieged. The followers of Gundoald hand him over for execution.

583 - 587

Bladast

Co-ruler.

584/585

Gundoald / Gundowald / Gombaud

Illegitimate son of Chlothar I? Pretender. Executed.

587 - 589

Astrobald / Austrovald

Probably count of Toulouse until 587, then duke of Aquitaine.

587

Astrobald is appointed as the successor to Desiderius in Aquitaine and Bordeaux by Guntramn of Burgundy and is immediately sent into the Basque country to pacify its people. The mission is hardly a success as the duke loses many of his men and the Basques are still to be found as far as the Garonne by 602.

589 - 592

Sereus / Severus

Identity and existence is uncertain.

602

A separate duchy is created in Gascony, probably out of Aquitaine's territory.

629

Dagobert I swiftly secures Neustria from his base in Austrasia on his father's death, preventing his half-brother Charibert II from gaining it. Instead, Charibert is given Aquitaine, which includes Agen, Cahors, Perigueux, and Saintes. In addition to this he already holds possessions in Gascony. Charibert is the first known ruler in Aquitaine since 592, and the region's first king.

629 - 632

Charibert / Caribert II

Son of Chlothar II, king of the Franks. Assassinated?

632

Charibert's forces subdue the Basque people to the north of the Pyrenees before the end of his reign, placing the region under the control of Aquitaine. The king's early death, possibly an assassination, prevents further expansion. The death of his infant son soon afterwards makes assassination by one of his brothers look even more likely.

632

Chilperic

Infant son. Never crowned. Assassinated.

632

With the death of the only heir, the kingdom passes to Dagobert I of Austrasia, the person most likely to be behind the assassinations. His hold on Aquitaine is short-lived, as the people rebel and elect Boggis as their duke. The Gascons rebel in the same year. The Gascons are defeated, but Boggis remains in Aquitaine, ruling semi-autonomously.

632 - c.660

Boggis / Bodogisel

Possible son of Charibert II? First duke of Aquitaine since 592?

632

Arimbert

Gascon rebel leader.

660

The situation in the south of Francia is uncertain at this time. Felix becomes duke in 660, but it is not certain that he succeeds the previous duke or whether there is a break. Felix may be in the service of the Franks, but he may also be independent. The Basques may be his subjects, but they may equally be his allies. His territory encompasses Bordeaux, Narbonensis (including Toulouse), Novempopulania, and Vasconia, but does not reach as far north as the Loire.

660 - 670

Felix of Aquitaine

Patrician of Toulouse and then duke of Aquitaine.

670 - 676/688

Lupus / Lupo / Otsoa I of Aquitaine

Length of reign uncertain.

688

The date at which the reign of Lupus ends and that of Odo begins is highly unclear. The possible candidates include 688, 692, or 700. Records for this period in Aquitaine are poor, and even Odo's parentage is uncertain. Lupus is considered to be the probable ancestor of the Gascon dynasty of Lupus II and of the Eudonian dynasty of Aquitaine.

688 - 735

Odo / Eudes the Great

Abdicated.

715 - 718

While a state of civil war exists in Francia, Odo declares himself to be independent in 715, which suggests that he has been a Frankish vassal up to this point. He takes part in that civil war by allying himself to Daniel Chilperich against Charles Martel, the mayor of the palace. When Chilperich loses, Odo makes peace with Charles by handing over Chilperich and his Neustrian power base.

721

A greater threat appears after Visigoth Spain is overrun by the Umayyad Islamic empire. In this year Odo inflicts a major defeat on the invaders at the Battle of Toulouse.

732

With Odo forced to fight alongside him, the Carolingian mayor of the Merovingian palace, Charles Martel, defeats an army of 90,000 Saracens at Tours, ending the northwards expansion of the Islamic empire from Spain.

735 - 748

Hunald / Chunoald I

Son. Abdicated and entered a monastery.

c.735

Hunald refuses to acknowledge the authority of Charles Martel, so the latter marches against him. Bordeaux is taken, as is Blaye, but Hunald is allowed to remain in Aquitaine after swearing to remain loyal.

748 - 767

Waifer

Son? Struggled to defend Aquitaine's independence. Murdered.

767 - 769

Hunald (II)

Possibly the same Hunald as in 735?

768 - 769

After leading an abortive uprising against increasingly powerful Carolingian rule in Francia, Hunald II flees to Gascony and seeks protection from Lupus II. Although Lupus is opposed to the young Frankish kings, Charlemagne and Carloman, he is also opposed to Hunald's family, so Lupus hands him over.

768 - 781?

Lupus II

Duke of Gascony,

781

It is unclear whether Lupus II is able to extend his authority from Gascony to also govern Aquitaine, but it seems likely, as the duchy passes into the hands of the Carolingians in 781, to be governed by minor members of the dynasty as a sub-kingdom.