List of Frankish queens consort

This is a list of the women who have been queens consort of the Frankish people. As all kings of the Franks have been male, there has never been a queen regnant of the Franks (although some women have governed as regents).

Marguerite of Provence, Queen of Louis IX, was the last French queen to use the title of Queen of the Franks.

A timeline of consorts Frankish rulers is difficult since the realm was frequently divided among the sons of a king upon his death and then eventually reunited. Also, polygamy and concubinage complicate matters. Of most Merovingian queens almost nothing but the name is known.

This list starts from the earliest known queens until the three-way split up of the Frankish Empire in the Treaty of Verdun in 843.

Merovingian dynasty (450–751)

Clovis I united all the Frankish petty kingdoms as well as most of Roman Gaul under his rule, conquering the Domain of Soissons of the Roman general Syagrius as well as the Visigothic Kingdom of Toulouse. He took his seat at Paris, which along with Soissons, Reims, Metz, and Orléans became the chief residences. Upon his death, the kingdom was split among his four sons.

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Basina of Thuringia Basin, King of the Thuringii 438  ? 481
husband's death
491 Childeric I
Clotilde of Burgundy Chilperic II of Burgundy 475 493 27 November 511
husband's death
545 Clovis I

Queens at Soissons (511–558)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Guntheuc around 495
[1]
after 523 524/540
[1]
Chlothar I
Radegund of Thuringia Bertachar of Thuringia 486-516 525/545
[1]
after 531
repudiated
13 August 586
Ingund Baderic of Thuringia 490-510 526/550
[1]
unknown, maybe 546 or after
[1]
Waldrada Wacho, King of the Lombards
(Lethings)
521-542 555/559 555/61
given in marriage to Garibald I, Duke of Bavaria under the advice of the bishops
unknown, after 526
[1]

Queens at Paris (511–558)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Ultrogotha  ? 497  ? 27 November 511
husband's accession
23 December 558
husband's death
566 Childebert I
Kingdom passed to Soissons
Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse

Queens at Orléans (511–524)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Guntheuc 495 514 or 521 21 June 524
husband's death
532 Chlodomer
Kingdom passed to Soissons, Paris, and Rheims
Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse

Queens at Reims (511–555)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Eustere of the Visigoths Alaric II, King of the Visigoths 488 511  ? 521 Theuderic I
Suavegotha of Burgundy Sigismund, King of the Burgundians 495/96/504 516/7 534
husband's death
554
Wisigard Wacho, King of the Lombards  ?  ? 534
husband's ascession
 ?  ? Theudebert I
Deuteria Gallo-Roman descent  ?  ?  ? 548
husband's death
 ?
Waldrada Wacho, King of the Lombards 531  ? 548?
husband's ascession
555?
husband's death
572 Theodobald
Kingdom passed to Soissons

Queen of the Franks (558–561)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Aregund Baderic of Thuringia 515  ? 558
husband's ascession
561
husband's death
573 Chlothar I
Chunsina  ?  ?  ? 558?
husband's ascession
561?
husband's death
 ?

Queens in Neustria (Soissons, 561–613)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Audovera  ? 525? 549-558 561
husband's ascession
~567
repudiated
October/November 580 Chilperic I
Galswintha Athanagild, King of Visigoths 540 567 568
Fredegund 539-553  ? 568 September 584
husband's death - became queen regent
8 December 597
Haldetrude  ? 575/594  ?  ?  ? 604/629 Chlothar II
Bertrude Wagon II, Count of Vermandois 582 ?613? 618/619
Sichilde count Brunulphe II of the Ardennes 590 ?618? 627

Queens at Paris (561–567)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Ingoberga 519?  ?  ?  ?
repudiated
589 Charibert I
Merofleda a wool-carder  ? after 561  ?  ?
Marcovefa  ? after 561  ? before 567
Theudechild a cowherd  ? after 561  ? 567

Queens at Orléans/Burgundy (561–613)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Vénérande a slave  ?  ?  ?  ?  ? Guntram
Marcatrude Magnar (Magnacaire d'Outre-Jura)  ?  ? 565?
Austregilde  ? 548[2] 565[2] 580[2]
Faileube  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ? Childebert II
Ermenberga Witteric, King of the Visigoths  ? 606 607
repudiated
 ? Theuderic II

Queen at Reims/Metz (Austrasia, 561–613)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Brunhilda Athanagild, King of the Visigoths 543? 567 December 575
husband's death
613 Sigebert I
Faileube  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ? Childebert II
Bilichilde  ?  ? 608 610 Theudebert II
Théoudehilde  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Passed to Burgundy in 612.

Queen of the Franks (613–629)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Bertrude Wagon II, Count of Vermandois 582 ?613? 618/619 Chlothar II
Sichilde  ? c. 590 618 18 October 629
husband's death
ap. 627

Queens of Neustria and Burgundy (629–691)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Gomentrude  ? 598 628 629
répudiée
after 630 Dagobert I
Nanthild the Saxon  ? c. 610 c. 629 19 January 639
husband's death
642
Ragintrudis  ? 610?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Wulfefundis  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Bertechildis  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Balthild Anglo-Saxon aristocrat 626 or 627 649 27 November 655 or 658
husband's death
30 January 680 Clovis II
Amatilda  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ? Chlothar III
Bilichild of Austrasia Sigebert III of Austrasia 654 668 673
invasion of Neustria and Burgundy
675 Childeric II
Clotilda of Heristal Ansegisel 650 675 3 June 699 Theuderic III
United with Austrasia to form a single Frankish state

Queen of Austrasia (623–679)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Gomentrude  ? 598 628 629
répudiée
after 630 Dagobert I
Nanthild  ? c. 610 c. 629 c. 629
kingdom went to stepson
642
Ragintrudis  ? 610?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Wulfefundis  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Bertechildis  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Chimnechild of Burgundy  ?  ? 647  ?  ? Sigebert III
Amatilda  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ? Chlothar III
Bilichild Sigebert III of Austrasia 654 668 675 Childeric II
Chrothildis Ansegisel 650 675 3 June 699 Theuderic III
United with Neustria and Burgundy

Queen of Aquitaine (629–632)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Gisela of Gascony? Amand of Gascony  ?  ? 18 October 629
husband's ascession
8 April 632
husband's death
 ? Charibert II
Fulberte?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Kingdom passed to Neustria and Burgundy in 632; dukes were appointed to Aquitaine

Queen of the Franks (629–751)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Gomentrude  ? 598 628 629
répudiée
after 630 Dagobert I
Nanthild  ? c. 610 c. 629 642
Ragintrudis  ? 610?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Wulfefundis  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Bertechildis  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?  ?
Amatilda  ?  ?  ? 661
husband's ascession
662
husband loses Austrasia
 ? Chlothar III
Bilichild Sigebert III of Austrasia 654 668 673
husband's ascession
675 Childeric II
Chrothildis Ansegisel 650 675 679
husband's ascession
690
husband's death
3 June 699 Theuderic III
Gisela  ? 715  ? 743
husband's ascession
751
husband deposed
755 Childeric III

Carolingian dynasty (751–987)

Queen of the Franks (751–843)

Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse
Bertrada of Laon Caribert, Count of Laon 710/27 740 November 751
as sole-Queen consort of the Franks
24 September 768
husband's death
12 July 783 Pepin I
Gerberga  ?  ?  ? 24 September 768
as co-Queen consort of the Franks
4 December 771
husband's death
 ? Carloman I
Gerperga of the Lombards Desiderius, King of the Lombards  ? 770
as co-Queen consort of the Franks
771
repuditated
 ? Charles I
Hildegard of Vinzgouw Gerold of Vinzgouw 758 771
as sole-Queen consort of the Franks
774
as Queen consort the Lombards
781
as co-Queen consort the Lombards
30 April 783
Fastrada de Franconie Raoul III de Franconie et d'Aéda de Bavière 765 784
as sole-Queen consort of the Franks and co-Queen consort the Lombards
10 October 794
Luitgard de Sundgau Luitfrid II, Count of Sundgau 776 794
as sole-Queen consort of the Franks and co-Queen consort the Lombards
4 June 800
Ermengarde of Hesbaye Ingerman, Count of Hesbaye 778 794/5 813
as Holy Roman Empress and Queen consort of the Franks 817
as senior Holy Roman Empress
3 October 818 Louis I
Judith of Bavaria Welf I, Count of Altdorf 805 819
as senior Holy Roman Empress and Queen consort of the Franks
20 June 840
husband's death
19/23 April 843
Picture Name Father Birth Marriage Became Consort Ceased to be Consort Death Spouse

After the Treaty of Verdun

The Frankish kingdom was then divided by the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Lothair I was allowed to keep his imperial title and his kingdom of Italy, and granted the newly created Kingdom of Middle Francia, a corridor of land stretching from Italy to the North Sea, and including the Low Countries, the Rhineland (including Aachen), Burgundy, and Provence. Charles the Bald was confirmed in Aquitaine, where Pepin I's son Pepin II was opposing him, and granted West Francia (modern France), the lands west of Lothair's Kingdom. Louis the German was confirmed in Bavaria and granted East Francia (modern Germany), the lands east of Lothair's kingdom. Ermentrude of Orléans (first wife of Charles II) became the Queen of Western Francia (eventually France); Emma of Altdorf (wife of Louis II) became the Queen of Eastern Francia (eventually Germany); and Ermengarde of Tours (wife of Lothair I) became the Queen of Middle Francia (eventually Lotharingia). The title of Queen of the Franks continued on to the 12th and 13th century in France.

Queen of the Franks (843–987)

West Francia Middle Francia East Francia Spouse

Ermentrude of Orléans
Queen of Aquitaine:
842–855
Queen of the East Franks:
843–869

Ermengarde of Tours
Queen of Italy: 818–844
Queen of the Middle Franks: 843–851
Holy Roman Empress: 821–851

Emma of Altdorf
Queen of Bavaria:
817–843
Queen of the East Franks:
843–876
Charles II
Lothair I
Louis II
Engelberga of Parma
Queen of Italy: 851–875
Holy Roman Empress: 850–875
Teutberga
Queen of Lotharingia: 855–869
Charles II
Louis II
Lothair II
Louis II

Richilde of Provence
Queen of the West Franks: 870–877
Queen of Italy: 875–877
Holy Roman Empress: 875–877

Emma of Altdorf
Queen of Bavaria: 817–843
Queen of the East Franks: 843–876
Charles II
Louis II

Adelaide of Friuli
Queen of the West Franks:
877–879

Liutgard of Saxony
Queen of Saxony: 879–882
Queen of Bavaria: 880–882
Queen of the East Franks: 880–882
Louis II
Louis III

Richardis of Swabia
Holy Roman Empress: 881–888
Queen of the East Franks: 882–887
Queen of the West Franks: 884–888
Charles III
Théodrate of Troyes
Queen of the West Franks: 888–898
Ota
Queen of the East Franks: 888–899
Queen of Italy: 896–899
Holy Roman Empress: 896–899
Odo
Arnulf
Frederonne
Queen of the West Franks: 907–917
Cunigunde of Swabia
Queen of the East Franks: 913–918
Duchess of Franconia: 913–918
Charles III
Conrad I

Eadgifu of England
Queen of the West Franks: 919–922

Matilda
Queen of the East Franks: 919–936
Duchess of Saxony: 912–936
Charles III
Robert I
Rudolph
Henry I
Béatrice of Vermandois
Queen of the West Franks: 922–923
Emma of France
Queen of the West Franks: 923–934

Gerberga of Saxony
Queen of the (West) Franks: 939–954
After the death of Henry,
the last King of the East Franks,
the only remaining Frankish kings
were in Western Francia,
which would become the
modern state of France.
Louis IV
Emma of Italy
Queen of the (West) Franks: 965–986
Lothair
Adelaide of Anjou
Queen of Aquitaine: 980–982
Louis V
Queens of West Francia Queens of Middle Francia Queens of East Francia Spouse

After the death of Louis V of France, the last male line Carolingian king of the Franks, in 987, the Capetians succeeded to the Frankish titles and their consorts beared the title Queen consort of the Franks until 1227. Although history knows them better as Queen consorts of France.

Although some of these Frankish queens held titles such as Holy Roman Empress, Queen consort of Italy, Aquitaine, Saxony, Burgundy, Orléans, Paris, Bavaria, Provence, Soissons, Lotharingia, Swabia, and Alamannia; this is not a complete list of those consorts.

See also

References

  1. Historic guesses. No one is sure when this occurred.
  2. Chevalier, Ulysse (1905). Répertoire des sources historiques du Moyen-Age (in French). Vol. 1. Paris: A. Picard et fils. p. 390.
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