Grimoald the Elder

Grimoald
Grimoald
Mayor of the palace
Born	616
Died	657
Noble family	Pippinids
Issue	Childebert the Adopted; Vulfetrude
Father	Pepin of Landen
Mother	Itta of Metz

Grimoald I (616–657), called the Elder (in French, Grimaud l'Ainé), was the mayor of the palace of Austrasia from 643 to his death. He was the son of Pepin of Landen and Itta.^[2]^[3]

Biography

With the death of Pepin in 640, Grimoald became the head of his household, the most powerful in Austrasia. At this time, Radulf, Duke of Thuringia, rebelled against Sigebert III, king of Austrasia. Grimoald participated in the ensuing expedition against the insurrection, but it was a failure. Nevertheless, Grimoald succeeded in saving the life of the king and became his close friend. Then, by removing his rival, Otto, he took over the position which his father once held.^[4]

Grimoald convinced the childless Sigebert III to adopt his son, named Childebert at his baptism.^[5] Sigebert eventually had an heir, Dagobert II, but upon Sigebert's death in 656, Grimoald had the young Dagobert exiled to Ireland^[6] and put his son on the throne.^[7]

Grimoald was eventually captured and executed by the king of Neustria—either Clovis II or his son and successor, Chlothar III.

References

^ Richard Gerberding, The Rise of the Carolingians and the Liber Historiae Francorum
^ Christian Settipani, La Préhistoire des Capétiens (Nouvelle histoire généalogique de l'auguste maison de France, vol. 1), 1993 (ISBN 2-9501509-3-4)
^ Alban Butler's Lives of the saints, edited, revised and supplemented by Thurston and Attwater. Christian Classics, Westminster, Maryland
^ Bennett, S.A., "Grimoaldus (1)", A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Murray, 1877
^ Liber Historiæ Francorum 43, MGH SS rer Merov II, page 316.
^ R. P. Vincent, Histoire fidelle de st Sigisbert: XII roy d'Austrasie et III du nom; avec un abrégé de la vie du roy Dagobert, son fils: le tout tiré des antiquités austrasiennes
^ Spiritual Kinship As Social Practice: Godparenthood and Adoption in the Early Middle Ages by Bernhard Jussen