Nanthilde, A Queen Constantly Misled

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"Good King Dagobert putted his breeches at back..." People in France, Belgium and a lot of French-speaking countries have grown by hearing their grandfathers to sing them the "Good King Dagobert" song which, as opposed to what we could believe was created during the French Revolution (XVIIIth century).

There are also a lot of movies about this "good king".

If Dagobert was "a good" king, it didn't mean he was a nice person, soft, tender, pleasant, but this word, at that time, still had its primary significance: "courageous". Therefore, when one said "the good king" that meant "courageous, bold, good warrior, etc."

And, indeed, Dagobert was not particularly looking on the level of his personal expenses: liked luxurious live and spent astronomical sums to satisfy his desires, he lived in the lust (by fear of not having a heir, according to the chronicles of the time) and let's say, without being mistaken, that he changed his woman or mistress like his shirts.

That didn't prevent he was pious.

Always according to the chronicles of the time, he met Nanthilde, a young novice, who was on the point of pronouncing her religious wishes.

But Dagobert decided that he would marry her.

But... Dagobert was already married! That wasn't a major problem for him: he repudiated his wife, Gonatrude - under the false pretext that their union was'nt consumed (and, indeed, they didn't have any child whom can deny this fact) - and married Nanthilde in the the year 629.

If, at the present time, we have the advisability of marrying under the regime of community of the goods, Dagobert, married under the regime of the community of... mistresses. Indeed, this "good" king was accustomed to practising polygamy.

However Nanthilde was lucky: the king remained faithfull to her during the first months of their union.

At 30 years, Dagobert worried about not having a son. 30 years was an advanced age for the time. Dagobert thus needed a heir as soon as possible.

This fear was so large that he didn't hesitate to try to prolong the dynasty with all the girls populating his palate.

Dagobert decided that he could apply the regime of his marriage contract and sought a new mistress who would give him a heir. He thus decided to visit Austrasia (under a false pretext, obviously) and met Ragnetrude during one of the stages.

More frivol than Nanthilde, Ragnetrude followed Dagobert to the royal villa and his wife had to agree to make eternal triangle. Dagobert was'nt a delicate person and invited Nanthilde to "sleep" with him and Ragnetrude. This one, pushing the conscience to its paroxysm, was quickly able to announce a "happy event to him".

All this matrimonial activity did not prevent Dagobert from acting as king, thus, like Clovis did, he occupied of making disappear the members of his family: cousins, uncles, nephews... in order to prevent them from fighting his successor when he will inherits the crown.

Soon, Nanthilde also had the joy to give a son to Dagobert. He was born in the year 633 or 634 - the chronicles aren't precise - received the first name Clovis. He was baptised twice and designated officially as his successor by Dagobert himself.

Ragnetrude's son, Sigebert was promoted king of Austrasia, which was really appreciated by the Austrasians because Ragnetrude, was an Austrasian native.

Dagobert died in the year 639, he was 36 years old, leaving the regency of the kingdom to Nanthilde whose historians say that she was skilful in her government.

Good humored and popular, Dagobert survives in our memories thanks to a song speaking about his legendary distraction (indeed, he was able to often put his trousers at back or get footholds in the carpets).

Nanthilde died in the year 642.