Bilichilde (d. 610), was a queen of Austrasia by marriage to

Theudebert II Theudebert II () (c.585-612), King of Austrasia (595–612 AD), was the son and heir of Childebert II. He received the kingdom of Austrasia plus the cities (''civitates'') of Poitiers, Tours, Le Puy-en-Velay, Bordeaux, and Châteaudun, as well as ...

. She was a serf bought from the slave market by

Brunhilda of Austrasia Brunhilda (c. 543–613) was queen consort of Austrasia, part of Francia, by marriage to the Merovingian king Sigebert I of Austrasia, and regent for her son, grandson and great-grandson. In her long and complicated career she ruled the eastern ...

. In 1979, Alfred Friese hypothesised that she was related to Duke

Gisulf I of Friuli Gisulf I ( la, Gisulfus I) was probably the first duke of Friuli (then ''Forum Julii''). He was a nephew of Alboin, first king of the Lombards in Italy, who appointed him duke around 569 after the Lombard conquest of the region, though some schola ...

, whose two daughters were captured and enslaved, only for one to be married to a Bavarian prince and the other to an Alaman prince. This hypothesis was then disproven by

Christian Settipani Christian Settipani (born 31 January 1961) is a French genealogist, historian and IT professional, currently working as the Technical Director of a company in Paris. Biography Settipani holds a Master of Advanced Studies from the Paris-Sorbo ...

. In 608, Bilichildis married King Theudebert II of Austrasia and gave birth to a daughter, betrothed to

Adaloald Adaloald (602–628) was the Lombard king of Italy from 616 to 626. He was son and heir of King Agilulf and his Catholic queen Theodelinda. He was baptised shortly after his birth in 602; the abbot Secundus of Non (later historian) was his g ...

, son of

Agilulf Agilulf ( 555 – April 616), called ''the Thuringian'' and nicknamed ''Ago'', was a duke of Turin and king of the Lombards from 591 until his death. A relative of his predecessor Authari, Agilulf was of Thuringian origin and belonged to the An ...

, king of the

Lombards The Lombards () or Langobards ( la, Langobardi) were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774. The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the ''History of the Lombards'' (written between 787 and ...

. She may also have been the mother of Merovech (d. 612), but Karl August Eckhardt doubts this, esteeming that it is more likely that he was the son of Theodechilde. Even if she was of "low origin" (which could otherwise be a concern for a queen), she was loved by her subjects. She was reportedly murdered by her spouse when he wished to marry Theodechilde (d. 613).Christian Settipani, La Préhistoire des Capétiens (Nouvelle histoire généalogique de l'auguste maison de France, vol. 1), Villeneuve d'Ascq, éd. Patrick van Kerrebrouck, 1993, 545 p. (),

References

{{reflist 610 deaths 7th-century Frankish women Murdered royalty Merovingian dynasty Medieval slaves

See also

References