Theuderic III

Theuderic III (or Theuderich, Theoderic, or Theodoric; in French, Thierry) (c. 651[1]–691) was the king of Neustria (including Burgundy) on two occasions (673 and 675–691) and king of Austrasia from 679 to his death in 691. Thus, he was the king of all the Franks from 679. The son of Clovis II and Balthild, he has been described as a puppet – a roi fainéant – of Ebroin, the Mayor of the Palace, who may have even appointed him without the support of the nobles.

Theuderic III
Sealed judicial decision of Theuderic III from 679
King of the Franks
Reign	679–691
Predecessor	Vacant (last held by Childeric II)
Successor	Clovis IV
King of Austrasia
Reign	679-691
Predecessor	Dagobert II
King of Neustria and Burgundy
Reign	in 673 and 675-691
Predecessor	Childeric II (in 675) Chlothar III (in 673)
Born	c. 651
Died	c. 691 (aged 39–40)
Spouse	Clotilda Amalberga
Issue	Clovis IV Childebert III Clovis III (?)
Dynasty	Merovingian
Father	Clovis II
Mother	Balthild

He succeeded his brother Chlothar III in Neustria in 673, but Childeric II of Austrasia displaced him soon thereafter until he died in 675 and Theuderic retook his throne. He fought a war against Dagobert II. His forces under Ebroin were victorious at the Battle of Lucofao. When Dagobert died in 679, Theuderic became king of Austrasia as well, unifying the Frankish realms.

He and the Neustrian mayor of the palace, Waratton, made peace with Pepin of Heristal, mayor of the palace of Austrasia, in 681. However, on Waratton's death in 686, the new mayor, Berchar, made war with Austrasia and Pepin vanquished the Burgundo-Neustrian army under Berchar and Theuderic (a Neustrian) at the Battle of Tertry in 687, thus paving the way for Austrasian dominance of the Frankish state.[2]

Marriage and issue

He married Clotilda, a daughter of Ansegisel and Saint Begga of Landen.

They had the following children:

• Clovis IV, king (677-694)
• Childebert III, king (678/79–711)

He married Amalberge (Saint Amalaberga) before 674, daughter of Wandregisis and Farahild.

He was possibly father of:

• Clovis III, king of Austrasia (ruled 675–676)

References

1. Fouracre 2018, p. 1494.
2. Frassetto 2013, p. 507.

Bibliography

• Fouracre, Paul; Gerberding, Richard A. (1996). Late Merovingian France: History and Hagiography, 640-720. Manchester University Press. ISBN 978-0-7190-4791-6.
• Fouracre, Paul J. (2018). "Theuderic III". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Frassetto, Michael (2013). Early Medieval World, The: From the Fall of Rome to the Time of Charlemagne:. Volume One, A–M. ABC-CLIO.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Verseuil, Jean (1996). Les rois fainéants: De Dagobert à Pépin le Bref (629-651) (in French). Paris: Critérion. pp. 179–199. ISBN 978-2-7413-0196-7.
• Wallace-Hadrill, John Michael (1962). "V. Les rois faineants". The long-haired kings: and other studies in Frankish history. Methuen.
• Wood, Ian (2014). The Merovingian Kingdoms 450 - 751. Routledge. pp. 221, 227, 362. ISBN 978-1-317-87116-3.
• Carlrichard Brühl; Theo Kölzer; Martina Hartmann (2001). Die Urkunden der Merowinger. Monumenta Germaniae historica., Diplomata regum Francorum e stirpe Merovingica. (in German and Latin). 2 vols. Hannover: Hahn. ISBN 978-3-7752-5464-9.