Editing Chlothar II

{{Short description|Frankish king (584–629)}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Chlothar II
| title        = King of the Franks
| more         = Frankish Kingdom
| image        = Clothaire II 584 628.jpg
| image_size   = 225
| caption      = Coin of Chlothar II
| succession   = King of Neustria/Soissons
| reign        = 584–629
| predecessor  = [[Chilperic I]]
| successor    = [[Dagobert I]] (in Neustria)<br>[[Charibert II]] in Aquitaine
| succession1  = King of Burgundy
| reign1       = 613–629
| predecessor1 = [[Sigibert II]]
| successor1   = [[Dagobert I]]
| succession2  = King of Austrasia
| reign2       = 613–623
| predecessor2 = [[Sigibert II]]
| successor2   = [[Dagobert I]]
| birth_date   = May/June 584<ref name=brit>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chlotar-II Chlotar II]. ''[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]''.</ref>
| death_date   = 18 October 629 ( aged 45 )
| house        = [[Merovingian dynasty|Merovingian]]
| signature    = Souscription de Clotaire II.jpg
| father       = [[Chilperic I]]
| mother       = [[Fredegund]]
| issue        = [[Charibert II]]<br/>[[Dagobert I]]
| spouses      = {{Plainlist|
*Haldetrude
*[[Bertrude]]
*[[Sichilde]]
}}
}}

'''Chlothar II''',{{efn|Also spelled ''Chlotar'', ''Clothar'', ''Clotaire'', or ''Chlotochar''}} sometimes called '''"the Young"''' ([[French language|French]]: le Jeune), (May/June 584 – 18 October 629)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chlotar II {{!}} Merovingian king {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Chlotar-II |access-date=2022-09-19 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> was [[king of the Franks]], ruling [[Neustria]] (584–629),<ref>{{Cite book |last=Terry |first=Charles Sanford |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lw9HAAAAIAAJ&dq=Chlothar+II+king+of+neustria&pg=PA241 |title=A Short History of Europe: From the Fall of the Roman Empire to the Fall of the Eastern Empire |date=1911 |publisher=G. Routledge & Sons, Ltd. |pages=241 |language=en}}</ref> [[Kingdom of Burgundy|Burgundy]] (613–629) and [[Austrasia]] (613–623).

The son of [[Chilperic I]] and his third wife, [[Fredegund]], he started his reign as an infant under the regency of his mother, who was in an uneasy alliance with Chlothar's uncle King [[Guntram]] of Burgundy, who died in 592. Chlothar took power upon the death of his mother in 597; though rich, his realm was one of the smallest portions of [[Francia]]. He continued his mother's feud with Queen [[Brunhilda of Austrasia|Brunhilda]] with equal viciousness and bloodshed, finally achieving her execution by [[dismemberment]] in 613, after winning the battle that enabled Chlothar to unite Francia under his rule. Like his father, he built up his territories by seizing lands after the deaths of other kings.

His reign was long by contemporary standards, but saw the continuing erosion of royal power to the French nobility and the church against a backdrop of feuding among the [[Merovingians]]. The [[Edict of Paris]] in 614, concerned with several aspects of appointments to offices and the administration of the kingdom, has been interpreted in different ways by modern historians. In 617 he made the [[mayor of the Palace]] a role held for life, an important step in the progress of this office from being first the manager of the royal household to the effective head of government, and eventually the monarch, under [[Pepin the Short]] in 751. Chlothar was forced to cede rule over [[Austrasia]] to his young son [[Dagobert I]] in 623.

Unusually for a Merovingian monarch, he practised [[monogamy]], though early deaths meant that he had three wives. He was generally an ally of the church and, perhaps inspired by the example of his uncle [[Guntram]], his reign seems to lack outrageous acts of murder, the execution of Brunhilda excepted.

==Background==

===Frankish territories in the sixth century===
[[File:Division of Gaul - 587.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The kingdom of Chlothar at the start of his reign (yellow). By 613 he had inherited or conquered all of the coloured portions of the map.]]
The domain of Clothar II was located in the territorial and political framework derived from the Frankish kingdom present at 561 at the death of [[Chlotar I|Clothar]], son of [[Clovis I|Clovis]] and grandfather of Clothar II.

On the death of Clovis in 511, four kingdoms were established with capitals at [[Reims]], [[Soissons]], [[Paris]], and [[Orléans]], [[Aquitaine]] being distributed separately. In the year 550, Clothar I, the last survivor of four brothers reunited the Frankish kingdom, and added Burgundian territory (Burgundia) by conquest.

In 561, the four sons of Clothar I followed the events of 511 similarly and split the kingdom again: [[Sigebert I]] in Reims, [[Chilperic I]] in Soissons, [[Charibert I]] in Paris, and [[Guntram]] in Orleans, which then included the Burgundian kingdom territory (Burgundia). They divided Aquitaine separately again.  Very quickly, Sigebert moved his capital from Reims to [[Metz]], while Guntram moved his from Orléans to [[Chalon-sur-Saône|Chalon]].  On the death of Charibert in 567, the land was again split between the three survivors, of greatest importance Sigebert (Metz) received Paris and Chilperic (Soissons) received Rouen.  The names Austrasia and Neustria seem to have appeared as the names of these kingdoms for the first time at this point.

===Ambitions of Fredegund===
In 560, Sigebert and Chilperic married two sisters, daughters of the Visigoth king of Spain [[Athanagild]]; princesses [[Brunhilda of Austrasia|Brunhilda]], and [[Galswintha]] respectively. However Chilperic was still very much attached to his lover and consort, [[Fredegund]], causing Galswintha to wish to return to her homeland in [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]]. In 568 she was murdered and within days, after a brief period of grieving, Chilperic officially married Fredegund and elevated her to a queen of a Frankish kingdom. "After this action his brothers thought that the queen mentioned above had been killed at his command..."<ref>[https://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/gregory-hist.asp#book4 Gregory of Tours, ''History of the Franks'', book IV, 28]</ref>

Chilperic agreed, at first, to pay a sum of money to end the feud, but not soon after decided to embark on a series of military operations against Sigebert. This was the beginning of what is called the "royal feud " which did not end until Brunhilda died in 613.  The main episodes until the assassination of Chilperic in 584 were as follows: the assassination of Sigebert (575), the imprisonment of Brunhilde and her marriage to a son of Chilperic, and the return of Brunhilda to her son Childebert II, successor of Sigebert.

Moreover, Fredegund strove to ensure her position, since she was from lower origins, by eliminating the sons that Chilperic had with his previous wife Audovera: Merovech and Clovis. Her own children, however, died at a very young age and appeared to be by foul play. When Fredegund had a son in the spring of 584, he would have been the future successor of [[Chilperic I]], if he had lived long enough.

==Sources==
[[File:Clotaire II Lombards.jpg|thumb|upright|A treaty of King Chlothar II and the Lombards (from the ''[[Grandes Chroniques de France]]'' manuscript, 14th&nbsp;c.]]
The main sources from the time are the chronicles of [[Gregory of Tours]] and the [[Chronicle of Fredegar]]. It is possible, however, that the authors contain a degree of bias in their works; for instance Gregory was a key figure in some of the conflicts of the time.  ''The History of the Franks'' by Gregory of Tours in the late sixth century only recounts up to 591. It is favorable to Queen Brunhild, Sigebert, and Chilperic but extremely hostile to Fredegund.  The Chronicle of Fredegar, beginning in 584, on the other hand is extremely hostile to Brunhild. That chronicle includes:
* The Biography of Clothar II
* Clothar II deals with the Lombards

==Early life==

Under Frankish customs, newborns did not receive names initially, in order not to spread concern related to the symbolic name of the Merovingian. Wanting to choose a name based on the development of unrest in the kingdom of the Franks, his father did not baptize him immediately.<ref>[[Bruno Dumézil]], ''La reine Brunehaut'', Paris, éditions Fayard, 2008, p. 212.</ref>  Chilperic and Fredegund desired to protect their child, since their four older sons may have been victims of murder, and there was much political intrigue at the time. He was raised in secret in the royal villa in [[Vitry-en-Artois]] to avoid detection.

In September 584, Chilperic I was murdered after a hunt near his villa of Chelles, perhaps on the order of [[Brunhilda of Austrasia|Queen Brunhilda]]. This event produced general disorder and unrest.<ref>[[Frédégaire]], ''Chronique'', III, 93.</ref>  In this time Austrasians plundered parts of Neustria, seizing valuable treasures and goods, as well as important documents.<ref name=greg>Grégoire de Tours, ''Historia Francorum'', VII,</ref> Princess [[Rigunth]], on the way to Spain to marry Prince [[Reccared I|Reccared]], was captured by Duke Didier of Toulouse and was linked in conspiracy with [[Gundoald|Gondovald]], who stole all that remained of her dowry, so that she was forced to abandon the marriage.<ref>Grégoire de Tours, ''Historia Francorum'', VII, 9.</ref>  Wars broke out between rival cities, and [[Orléans]], [[Blois]] and [[Chartres]] stood against [[Châteaudun]].<ref>Grégoire de Tours, ''Historia Francorum'', VII, 2.</ref>

Fredegund managed to keep most of the treasury of the state as well as key political figures, such as the generals Ansoald and Audon, although many, such as chamberlain Eberul, abandoned her. She took her son to [[Vitry-sur-Seine|Vitry]] and sent a message to Guntram, King of Burgundy, asking him to adopt the child and offer his protection to him in return for exercising his authority over Neustria until the boy came of age.<ref>Grégoire de Tours, ''Historia Francorum'', VII.</ref>

Childebert II, who was at [[Meaux]] when Chilperic was murdered, considered an attack on Paris, but Guntram was ahead of him. Childebert II began negotiations with Brunhilda on one hand, Guntram on the other; Guntram, however, refused many of his requests, including allowing him into Paris. He refused to deliver Fredegund, whom Brunhilda claimed was behind the regicide of Sigebert I, Clovis, and even Chilperic I.<ref name=greg/>

Guntram convened a meeting of Greater Neustria, in which the court recognized Clothar as the son of Chilperic, although there were some doubts about his paternal identity. It was at this time that they gave him the name Clothar, naming him after his grandfather. Guntram then took legal responsibility of the child, adopting him and becoming his godfather.<ref name=greg/>

Ansoald was responsible for regaining control of cities Neustria had lost since the death of Chilperic. They then swore allegiance to Guntram and Clothar after their capture. Guntram, attempting to restore order in the affairs of Neustria, likely against the advice of Fredegund and, perhaps, to show his authority, replaced key figures in the episcopal see of the church and moved its location.<ref>[[Prætextatus (Bishop of Rouen)]] married Brunhilda and Merovech, so making an enemy of Fredegund.</ref> Bishop Promotus of Châteaudun, whose diocese was demoted after the parish council of Paris in 573, saw this as a violation of canon law; after the death of Sigebert I, he demanded to return from exile, and was thus restored much of his personal property.<ref name=greg/>

Two envoys from Brunhilde, Duke Gararic and chamberlain Eberon, succeeded in swaying [[Limoges]], [[Tours]], and [[Poitiers]] towards Austrasian influence, with the help of bishops Gregory of Tours and Venantius Fortunat. Guntram responded by sending troops to recover the lost cities that promptly returned their loyalties to Guntram and Clothar.<ref name=greg/>  Fredegund was sent to the Villa de Vaudreuil, in the diocese of [[Rouen]], where she was put under the supervision of the bishop [[Prætextatus (bishop of Rouen)|Pretextatus]].

During the summer of 585, Guntram returned to Paris to act as godfather of Clothar, as he swore to Fredegund, along with three bishops and three hundred nobles of Neustria who recognized Clothar II as the son of Chilperic I. However, the baptism at this time was postponed. It was expected to reconvene at the council of [[Troyes]], but Austrasia refused to participate if Guntram would not disinherit Clothar. The council was moved to Burgundy and Clothar was baptized on 23 October 585.

While Guntram campaigned to capture Visigothic [[Septimania]], Fredegund escaped custody of the bishop and fled Rouen. During Sunday Mass, Pretextatus was stabbed, although he did not die immediately. Fredegund attempted to fetch doctors and gain his favor. However, he openly accused her of being behind this attack and the murder of the various kings. He publicly cursed and denounced her before dying soon after.<ref name=greg/>
[[File:Fredegunda visita a pretextato en su lecho de mueret.jpg|thumb|Fredegund is cursed by Pretextatus, by [[Lawrence Alma-Tadema]].]]

The queen then used her new freedom to rally as many nobles and bishops as could be found to her son. She was reinstalled into power despite Guntram's exile of her.<ref name=greg/>  Guntram then attempted to weaken Fredegund's influence by swaying some of the Neustrian aristocracy to his side, and keep Neustrian lands he held between the Loire and Seine by rallying Duke Beppolène. In 587, he managed to capture the towns of Angers, Saintes, and Nantes.<ref name=greg/>

Fredegund then offered to negotiate peace and sent ambassadors to Guntram. But they were arrested and Guntram severed relations with Neustria, approaching Brunhilda and Childebert II, with whom he concluded the pact of Andelot: agreeing that upon the death of one of the two kings, the other would inherit his kingdom. In 592 Guntram died and Childebert became king of Austrasia and Burgundy.<ref name=greg/>

The Austrasia-Burgundy union lasted only until 595, when the death of Childebert II brought it to an end. His realm was then split between his two sons: Theudebert II inherited Austrasia, while Theuderic II received the kingdom of Burgundy. The two brothers then campaigned united against their cousin Chlothar II of Neustria, but their alliance lasted only until 599, when they took up arms against each other.<ref name=greg/>

[[File:Frédégonde et Clotaire II à la tête de l'armée contre Childebert II.JPG|thumb|A young Clothar at the head of the army]]
In 593, although only as a symbolic presence since he was only nine years old, Clothar II appeared at the head of his army, which routed the Austrasian Duke Wintrio who was invading Neustria, in the [[Battle of Droizy]]. In 596, Clotaire and Fredegund took Paris, which was supposed to be held in common. Fredegund, then her son's regent, sent a force to [[Laffaux]], and the armies of Theudebert and Theuderic were defeated.<ref name=greg/> Fredegund died in 597, leaving Clothar to rule over Neustria alone, although the boy king didn't do anything significant for 2 more years.

==Ruler of Neustria==

===Battle of Dormelles===
In 599, he made war with his nephews, [[Theuderic II]] of [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]] and [[Theudebert II]] of Austrasia, who were old enough to be his cousins. They defeated him at [[Dormelles]] (near [[Montereau-Fault-Yonne|Montereau]]), forcing him to sign a treaty that reduced his kingdom to the regions of [[Beauvais]], [[Amiens]] and [[Rouen]], with the remainder split between the two brothers. At this point, however, the two brothers took up arms against each other. In 605, he invaded Theuderic's kingdom, but did not subdue it. He remained often at war with Theuderic until the latter died in [[Metz]] in late 613 while preparing a campaign against him.

In 604, a first attempt to reconquer his kingdom ended in failure for Clothar. His son Merovech was taken prisoner by Theuderic at the [[Battle of Étampes]] and was murdered at the order of Brunhilda by Bertoald. Clothar agreed that he would become the godfather of Theuderic's son in 607, naming him Merovech.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ty8UAAAAQAAJ&dq=m%C3%A9rov%C3%A9e+prisonnier+605&pg=PA39 Fastes juifs, romains et françois &#91;by J.B. Mailly&#93;.]</ref>

Around the same time, Theuderic, seeking a marriage to the Spanish Visigoth princess Ermenberge, daughter of King [[Witteric]], created new political tensions. Witteric then negotiated with Clothar II for an alliance, as well as [[Agilulf]], King of the Lombards. The coalition against Theuderic does not appear to have been followed by significant effects.

===War between Austrasia and Burgundy (610–612)===
In 610 Theudebert and Theuderic entered into a war. Theudebert won initial victories in 610, which led Theuderic to approach Clothar, promising to return northern Neustria to him for his aid. Theudebert was crushed in 612, at the battles of Toul and Tolbiac, near Cologne.

===War between Clothar and Austrasia-Burgundy (613)===
[[File:Clotaire tue le duc Berthoualt.jpg|thumb|Clothar slays Bertoald]]
As agreed, Theuderic ceded northern Neustria to Clothar, but then turned around and organized an invasion of Neustria. However he died of dysentery in Metz in 613. His troops dispersed immediately, and Brunhilda placed her great-grandson [[Sigebert II]] on the throne of Austrasia.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=PDkNAAAAIAAJ&dq=chlothar+ii+king+of+the+franks&pg=PA522 Oman, Charles. ''The Dark Ages, 476–918'', Rivingtons, 1908, p. 174]{{PD-notice}}</ref>

[[File:Supplice de Brunehaut.jpg|thumb|Brunhilde is dragged to her death]]

At that time, [[Warnachar]], [[mayor of the palace]] of Austrasia, and [[Rado (mayor of the palace)|Rado]], mayor of the palace of Burgundy, abandoned the cause of Brunhilda and her great-grandson, [[Sigebert II]], and the entire realm was delivered into Chlothar's hands. Brunhilda and Sigebert met Chlothar's army on the [[Aisne]], but the Patrician Aletheus, Duke Rocco, and Duke Sigvald deserted the host and the grand old woman and her king had to flee. They got as far as the [[Orbe]], but Chlothar's soldiers caught up with them by the lake [[Neuchâtel]]. Both of them and Sigebert's younger brother Corbo were executed by Chlothar's orders, then proceeded to execute many of the family members of this house except Merovech, his godson, and perhaps Childebert who had fled.

Brunhilde was accused of murdering ten members of the Neustrian royal family, as well as other Frankish royalty, and was tried and convicted. She underwent a very severe torture and execution by being dragged on the back of a horse and drawn-and-quartered.<ref>''Chronique de Frédégaire'', IV, 42 ; ''Continuation de la Chronique d'Isidore''.</ref>  After this victory, Clothar was left as the sole royal ruler of the Frankish peoples and consolidated his power.

==King of All Franks (613–629)==
Upon his unification of all Franks, Clothar took up residence in Paris and in the villas of Alentours.<ref>Lebecq, p. 126.</ref>

===Mayors of the Palace===
An important key aspect that was maintained in all three administrations of the kingdoms even after unification was the presence of the Mayors of the Palace. The mayor of the palace was originally the king's servant in charge of administrative events of the palace. During the royal feud, however, the role grew in importance as more of a steward of lands to care more directly than the king could and was placed in the hands of aristocracy. One of the most notable figures in this role was Warnachaire, mayor of the palace of Burgundy in 613, who was one of the leaders responsible for capturing Brunhild, and held the position until his death in 626. Warnachaire's wife, Berthe, was likely a daughter of Clothar.<ref>For the mayors of the palace, cf. Lebecq, pp. 125–126.</ref>

===Edict of 614===
In 614, Chlothar II convoked the [[Council of Paris (614)|Council of Paris]] and promulgated the [[Edict of Paris]], which reserved many rights to the Frankish nobles while it [[antisemitism|excluded Jews]] from all civil employment for the Crown.<ref>Alan Harding, ''Medieval Law and the Foundations of the State'', (Oxford University Press, 2001), 14.</ref><ref>S. Wise Bauer, ''The History of the Medieval World: From the Conversion of Constantine to the First Crusade'', (W.W. Norton & Company, 2010), 251.</ref> The ban effectively placed all literacy in the [[Merovingian]] monarchy squarely under ecclesiastical control and also greatly pleased the nobles, from whose ranks the bishops were ordinarily exclusively drawn. Article 11 of the Edict states that it is to restore "peace and discipline in [the] kingdom" and "suppress rebellion and insolence". The edict was ratified for all three kingdoms. Owing to several abuses of powers by officials, many of whom had been appointed by Chilperic, several mandates were made, among them the requirement that officials must have come from the region they officiate over.<ref>The word used is ''judex'', "judge", that is to say the earl or one of his subordinates. Cf. Lebecq, p. 125.</ref>

Chlothar was induced by Warnachar and Rado to make the mayoralty of the palace a lifetime appointment at [[Bonneuil-sur-Marne]], near [[Paris]], in 617.

===Dagobert King of Austrasia (623)===
[[File:Clotaire II Dagobert Ier et saint Arnoul.jpg|thumb|Clothar and a young Dagobert]]
In 623, he gave the kingdom of [[Austrasia]] to his young son [[Dagobert I]]. This was a political move as repayment for the support of Bishop [[Arnulf of Metz]] and [[Pepin of Landen|Pepin I]], mayor of the palace of Austrasia, the two leading Austrasian nobles, who were effectively granted semi-autonomy.<ref>Lebecq, p. 127.</ref>

At the same time, Clothar made territorial changes by assigning the region of Reims to Neustria. But Dagobert, now the semi-autonomous king of Austrasia, negotiated its return in 626.

===Barbarian and Christian relations===
Clothar was no exception in the line of Merovingians of its history of family feuding. This was considered to be a very 'barbarian' custom. However, he was one of the few Merovingians that did not practice polygamy, instead remaining faithful to a single wife until her death. He remained respectful of the Church and its doctrines, keeping it as an ally. He likely tried to maintain himself as a pious king, inspired by the holiness of his uncle Guntram who had protected him and allowed him the throne.<ref>Histoire de France de l'Abbé Velly, Tome I (1752), pp. 244–247</ref>

In 617, he renewed the treaty of friendship that bound the Frankish kings with the kings of the Lombards. He likely had the policy of maintaining good relations with Christianized-barbarian peoples so long as they kept good relations themselves with the Church.<ref>Histoire de France de l'Abbé Velly, Tome I (1752), p. 247</ref>

==Death==
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2019}}
[[File:Portrait Clotaire II roy de France.jpg|thumb|150px|Imaginary portrait of Clothar II]]
Clothar died in 629 at age 45 and was buried, like his father, in the Saint Vincent Basilica of Paris, later incorporated into the church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. His rule lasted longer than any other Merovingian king save for his grandfather, Chlothar I. Clothar's son Dagobert, who had been king of Austrasia, succeeded his father in Neustria and Burgundy. Dagobert's half-brother, Charibert, however became king of Aquitaine.

==Family==
He first married Haldetrude, with whom he had the following children:

*Merovech, who was captured during a campaign against Burgundy and killed on orders of Brunhilda.
*[[Emma of Austrasia]], married in 618 to King [[Eadbald of Kent]] († 640). Though recently it has been suggested that she may have instead been the daughter of [[Erchinoald]], [[mayor of the palace]] in Neustria.<ref name=Rollason_9>Rollason, ''Mildrith Legend'', p.&nbsp;9.</ref>
*[[Dagobert I]] (c.&nbsp;603–639), King of the Franks

His second wife, [[Bertrude]], was likely the daughter of Richomer, patrician of the Burgundians, and Gertrude. This marriage produced:

*A son who died in infancy in 617.
*Bertha, wife of Warnachaire, mayor of the palace of Burgundy.

In 618, he married [[Sichilde]], sister of Gomatrude, who later married Dagobert I, and probably sister of Brodulfe, who would later support Charibert II. From this marriage there was:

*[[Charibert II]] († 632), king of Aquitaine.
*Oda, a daughter.

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==

===Period sources===
*''Chronicles of the time of King Dagobert'' (592–639). translation by François Guizot and Romain Fern, Paleo, Clermont – Ferrand, "Sources of the history of France", 2004, {{ISBN|2913944388}}
*Fredegaire, ''Chronicle of Merovingian Times'', translation by O. DeVilliers and J. Meyers, Brepols Publishing, 2001 {{ISBN|2503511511}}
*Gregory of Tours, ''History of the Franks''

===Contemporary studies===
'''General Works'''
*[[Bernard Bachrach|Bachrach, Bernard S.]] (1972). ''Merovingian Military Organization, 481–751''. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, {{ISBN|0816606218}}
*Deflou, Noelle Leca, and Alain Dubreucq (eds.) ''Societies in Mid-Late Sixth–Ninth Century Europe''. Atlande, coll. Key Contest 2003 (biographies : "Chilperic", "Fredegonde", "Brunhild"), 575 pp. {{ISBN|978-2912232397}}
*Geary, Patrick J. (1988). ''Before France and Germany: The Creation and Transformation of the Merovingian World''. Oxford: Oxford University Press {{ISBN|0195044584}}
*[[Edward James (historian)|James, Edward]] (1991). ''The Franks''. London: Blackwell, {{ISBN|0631148728}}
*Lebecq, Stéphane. ''The Frankish Origins'' Points / Seuil, 1990, pp.&nbsp;117–119 (Part 1, Chapter 5 . "Royal feud (561–603)") and pp.&nbsp;122–130; Part II, Chapter 1: "Clothar II and Dagobert (613–639)."
*[[Charles Oman|Oman, Charles]] (1914). ''The Dark Ages, 476–918''. London: Rivingtons
*Settipani, Christian. ''The Prehistory of the Capetians'' (New genealogical history of the august house of France, vol. 1), ed. Patrick van Kerrebrouck, 1993, {{ISBN|2950150934}}, pp.&nbsp;92–100
*Volkmann, Jean-Charles. ''Known genealogy of the kings of France'', Gisserot Publishing, 1999, {{ISBN|2877472086}}
*[[John Michael Wallace-Hadrill|Wallace-Hadrill, J. M.]] (1962). ''The Long-Haired Kings, and Other Studies in Frankish History''. London: Methuen
*Wood, Ian N. (1994). ''The Merovingian Kingdoms, 450–751''. London: Longman, {{ISBN|0582218780}}

'''On Clothar II'''
*Ivan Gobry, Clothar II, Editions Pygmalion al. " History of the Kings of France ", 2005 {{ISBN|2857049668}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Clotaire|display=Clotaire s.v. Clotaire II.|volume=6|page=557|first=Christian|last=Pfister|author-link=Christian Pfister}}

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{{Merovingians}}
{{Monarchs of France}}

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