| Childebert III the Just | |
|---|---|
 A coin of Childebert III, now in theBritish Museum | |
| King of the Franks | |
| Reign | 694–711 |
| Predecessor | Clovis IV |
| Successor | Dagobert III |
| Mayor of the Palace | Pepin of Herstal |
| Born | c. 678/679[1] |
| Died | 23 April 711 (aged 32–33) |
| Issue | Dagobert III Chlothar IV (?) |
| Dynasty | Merovingian |
| Father | Theuderic III |
| Mother | Clotilda |
Childebert III (orIV), calledthe Just (French:le Juste) (c. 678/679 – 23 April 711), was the son ofTheuderic III andChrothildis (or Doda) and soleking of the Franks (694–711)[1]. He was seemingly but a puppet of themayor of the palace,Pepin of Heristal, though hisplacita show him making judicial decisions of his own will, even against theArnulfing clan. His nickname has no comprehensible justification except possibly as a result of these judgements, but theLiber Historiae Francorum calls him a "famous man" and "the glorious lord of good memory, Childebert, the just king."[2]
He had a son named Dagobert, who succeeded him, asDagobert III. His wife was Ermenechildis, also known as Edonne. It is possible, though not likely, thatChlothar IV was also his son. He spent almost his entire life in a royal villa on theOise.
In 708, during his reign of sixteen years, thebishop of Avranches,Saint Aubert, founded themonastery ofMont-Saint-Michel supposedly at the urging of theArchangel Michael.
Upon his death on 23 April 711, southernGaul began to grow independent:Burgundy under BishopSavaric of Auxerre,Aquitaine under DukeOdo the Great, andProvence underAntenor. He died atSt Etienne,Loire, France. He was buried in the church of St Stephen atChoisy-au-Bac, nearCompiègne.
Childebert III Born: 678/679 Died: 711 | ||
| Preceded by | King of the Franks 694–711 | Succeeded by |
Merovingian dynasty (400–751 AD) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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