Sigebert of Gembloux: VITA BREVIOR SIGEBERTI REGIS

Quia de Vita Sigiberti, Francorum regis, quaeritis, quaeque de eo, vel de ordinatione regni in historiis, vel de sanctae religionis propagatione in sanctorum legimus gestis, inde collecta expediam paucis. Et quia tres hujus nominis reges Francorum fuisse scimus, nobilitatis ejus antiquitatem repetam altius, ut quis fuerit primus rex Sigibertus, quis secundus, quis iste, de quo nunc agitur, tertius, vobis patefiat clarius: et simul cunctis palam fiat unde gens Francorum nomen vel originem trahat, et unde et quando Gallias invaserit, quas per annos jam ferme sexcentos tenuit, et adhuc tenens potenter regit et feliciter.

Because you ask about the Life of Sigibert, king of the Franks, and what concerning him is read either in the histories about the ordination of the kingdom, or about the propagation of the holy religion in the deeds of the saints, I will set forth, in a few words, those things gathered thence. And because we know that there have been three Frankish kings of this name, I will trace his nobility further back, so that it may be made more manifest to you who was the first King Sigibert, who the second, and who this one — of whom there is now question — the third; and at the same time let it be openly shown to all whence the people of the Franks draw their name or origin, and whence and when they invaded Gaul, which they have held for almost 600 years, and, still holding it, rule powerfully and prosperously.

Postquam Graeci nobilem Phrygiae urbem everterunt, Aeneas et Antenor nobiles Trojanorum, cum reliquiis Trojanorum ad exteras nationes se contulerunt. Aeneam quidem ad Italiam venisse, et Romani imperii fundamenta jecisse etiam a scholaribus cantatur. At duodecim millia Trojanorum, qui Antenorem secuti sunt, Scythiae regiones pervagati, circa Meothidas paludes consederunt, et ab Antenore Antenoridae vocati sunt. Hinc et in Virgilio legitur:

After the Greeks overthrew the noble city of Phrygia, Aeneas and Antenor, nobles of the Trojans, with the remnants of the Trojans withdrew to foreign nations. That Aeneas indeed came to Italy and laid the foundations of the Roman empire is even sung by scholars. But 12,000 Trojans, who followed Antenor, wandering through the regions of Scythia, settled about the Meothidian marshes, and from Antenor were called Antenoridae. Hence also in Virgil is read:

Antenor potuit mediis elapsus Achivis,
Illyricos penetrare sinus, atque intima tutus
Regna Liburnorum, et fontem superare Timavi.

Antenor could, having slipped away from amid the Achaeans,
penetrate Illyric bays, and safely reach the innermost
kingdoms of the Liburni, and pass beyond the spring of the Timavus.

Quorum posteri condita civitate metropoli sui regni, quam Sicambriam nominaverunt, a qua etiam ipsi Sicambri denominati sunt, in gentem magnam coaluerunt, et semper suae gentis regem habentes nunquam alicujus gentis jugo subjici passi sunt, sed vicinis semper gentibus terrori fuerunt. Sed cum, sic dispensante Deo, universus orbis imperio Romano subactus est, et descriptione facta sub censu redactus, etiam ipsi Romanorum tributarii facti Romanorum tamen provincias crebris incursibus infestabant, et nomen suum longe lateque propalabant. Ab excidio Trojae usque ad haec tempora Valentiniani imperatoris res Francorum ita se habuerunt.

From whose descendants, with the city having been founded as the metropolis of their kingdom, which they called Sicambia, from which they themselves were also named Sicambri, they coalesced into a great people, and, always keeping a king of their own people, they never suffered to be subjected to the yoke of any nation, but were always a terror to neighboring peoples. But when, thus by the dispensation of God, the whole world was subdued to the Roman imperium, and, a description having been made, was reduced under the census, they themselves also became tributaries of the Romans; yet they harassed the Roman provinces with frequent incursions, and spread their name far and wide. From the destruction of Troy down to these times of Emperor Valentinian the affairs of the Franks stood thus.

Valentiniano imperante, quo scilicet tempore sanctus Martinus Turonum episcopus per Gallias clarebat sanctitate et miraculis, cum quaedam Scythiae gens, qui dicuntur Alani, contra Romanos rebellassent, eosque Romani propter inaccessibiles Meothis fluminis paludes vincere non possent, Romani pactum proposuerunt, ut si qui eos vincerent a tributis decem annis liberi essent. Sicambri, quorum tunc temporis rex erat Priamus, Alanos vicerunt, et ob hoc a Valentiniano imperatore honore et munere digni habiti, ab eo lingua Graeca Franci, id est feroces appellati sunt. Post annos decem cum exigentibus Romanis tributa solvere nollent, et insuper audacter rebellarent, Valentinianus eos bello victos contrivit, et regem eorum Priamum peremit.

While Valentinian was reigning — at which time Saint Martin, bishop of Tours, shone throughout Gaul by holiness and miracles — when a certain Scythian people, called the Alans, had rebelled against the Romans, and the Romans could not overcome them because of the impassable marshes of the Meotis River, the Romans proposed a pact that whoever should conquer them would be free from tribute for ten years. The Sicambri, whose king then was Priamus, defeated the Alans, and for this were deemed worthy by Emperor Valentinian of honor and gift; by him, in the Greek tongue, they were named Franci, that is, “feroces.” After ten years, when the Romans demanded that they pay tribute and they refused, and moreover boldly rebelled, Valentinian crushed them in war, and killed their king Priamus.

Post Priamum filio ejus Marcomiro regnante, Franci Sicambria egressi in Thoringia Germanorum provincia consederunt. Post Marcomirum filius ejus Faramundus fuit, rex crinitus, a quo Franci crinitos reges habere coeperunt. Post quem Clodius filius ejus regnans Francis a Thoringia advectis Gallias invasit, et capta urbe Tornaco Cameracum usque progressus multos Romanorum in Galliis peremit.

After Priam’s son Marcomir ruled, the Franks, having departed Sicambria, settled in Thuringia, a province of the Germans. After Marcomir his son Faramundus was king, the long‑haired, from whom the Franks began to have long‑haired kings. After him Clodius, his son, reigning, led the Franks brought from Thuringia to invade the Gauls, and having taken the city Tornacum advanced as far as Cameracum, and slew many Romans in Gaul.

Galliae siquidem a tempore Julii Caesaris, qui eas decennali bello domuit, sub imperio Romano erant, et ab eis principes recipiebant. Sed omni auxilio destitutae, Wandalis et Gothis, caeterisque nationibus barbaris expositae direptioni patebant. Post Clodium Merovecus filius ejus regnavit, qui quia satis utilis fuit, Francos a se Merovingos denominavit.

Indeed Gaul, from the time of Julius Caesar, who subdued it in a ten‑year war, was under Roman rule, and received its princes from them. But wholly deprived of aid, exposed to the plundering of the Vandals and Goths and the other barbarian nations. After Clodius his son Merovech reigned, who, because he was sufficiently useful, named the Franks Merovingians from himself.

Hujus tempore Attila rex Hunnorum ut fera tempestas ab Aquilone irruens totas Gallias inundavit, et Metis, Treveris, Tungris, Remis, et omnes pene urbes, castra vel oppida, usque Aurelianis, diro excidio exterminavit. Sed tandem ab Ethio Romanorum duce, eisque auxiliantibus Francis, bello victus repatriavit. Anno post mortem sancti Martini LIV factum hoc excidium Gallicarum urbium, Merovechi anno quinto.

At this time Attila, king of the Huns, like a wild tempest rushing from the North Wind, overwhelmed the whole of Gaul, and Metis, Treveris, Tungris, Remis, and almost all cities, camps or towns as far as Aurelianis, he exterminated by dreadful destruction. But at last, vanquished in war by Aetius, leader of the Romans, and the Franks aiding them, he returned to his own land. This devastation of the Gallic cities was done in the year 54 after the death of Saint Martin, in the fifth year of Merovech.

[Deest hic folium in cod. ms.]

[A leaf is missing here in the codex manuscript.]

Nam quamvis Dagobertus rex esset egregius bellator, sacerdotum Dei et Ecclesiarum pius amator, pauperum Christi largus sublevator, et multarum artium bonorum exsecutor, tamen carnalis incontinentiae morbo nimis laborabat, et inde claritudini nominis sui foedam infamiae notam contraxerat, et quod gravius erat Regis regum iram contra se accenderat. Reginas enim suas fictis ex causis alias pro aliis repudiabat, ipsis quoque desponsatis pellicum amores superducebat. Et quamvis adeo deditus esset carnali commercio, nullam tamen spem propagandae posteritatis habebat, ex nulla tot uxorum filio suscepto.

For although King Dagobert was an outstanding bellator, a pious amator of the priests of God and of the Churches, a generous sublevator of Christ’s poor, and an executor of many good arts, yet he labored too much under the disease of carnal incontinence, and from this had contracted a foul mark of infamy on the claritas of his name, and, what was more grievous, had kindled the ire of the King of kings against himself. For he repudiated his queens at one time for others with fictitious causes, and even to those already desponsate he superimposed the amores of pellices. And although he was so devoted to carnal commercio, yet he had no hope of propagating posterity, having begotten no son from so many uxores.

Permaxime ergo dolebat, quia se Dei offensam incurrisse sentiebat, praesertim quod ex regio patrum suorum semine nullum superesse sciebat praeter se, et fratrem suum Charibertum. Qui Charibertus propter simplicitatem nimiam minus idoneus erat ad regni gubernaculum. Sed quamvis desperaret de prolis posteritate, non tamen desperans de Dei miserationne, praecordialiter eum deprecabatur ut sibi ex ejus nutu filius daretur, qui sibi in regimine regni subrogaretur.

Therefore he sorrowed exceedingly, because he felt that he had incurred the offense of God, especially since from the stock of his forefathers he knew that none survived except himself and his brother Charibert. This Charibert, on account of excessive simplicity, was less fit for the governance of the realm. But although he despaired of progeny and posterity, yet not despairing of God's mercy, he heartily entreated Him that by His nod a son might be given to him, who would be subrogated to him in the rule of the kingdom.

Justus et pius Dominus, qui hominum erratibus ad iram attrahitur, precibus etiam humilium ad misericordiam reducitur.

The just and pious Lord, who by the errors of men is drawn to wrath, is even by the prayers of the humble restored to mercy.

Rex siquidem Dagobertus dum circuiret Austrasiam nono anno regni sui, puellam quamdam Ragnetrudem nomine, vultus elegantia laudabilem, genere etiam inter Austrasios non ignobilem, cum regii cultus honore uxorem sibi junxit. Quae Deo ita volente eodem anno ei filium genuit, quem sacro fonte regeneratum Sigebertum nominavit.

King Dagobert, indeed, while he was traversing Austrasia in the ninth year of his reign, joined to himself as wife a certain maiden named Ragnetrud, praiseworthy for the elegance of her countenance and by birth not ignoble among the Austrasians, with the honor of royal pomp. Who, God so willing, in that same year bore him a son, whom, regenerated by the sacred font, she named Sigebert.

Peracto aliquanto tempore rex Dagobertus cum omni exercitu suo magno tripudians gaudio anno regni sui XI Mettim adiit, ibique procerum et pontificum conventum adesse jussit, eorumque consilio et consensu filium suum Sigibertum in regnum Austrasiorum sublimavit, sedemque regni Mettis habere permisit, partem etiam thesaurorum sufficientem tradidit. Post annum nascitur regi Dagoberto filius, qui Clodoveus est nuncupatus. Qui iterum cunctis primatibus Austrasiae et Neustriae in generali conventu congregatis, iterum divisionem regni inter duos filios ordinavit, eorum consilio et assensu confirmavit, datis et acceptis invicem pactis et sacramentis, ut scilicet determinato utriusque regni certo limite, Sigibertus regnaret super Austrasiam, Clodoveus vero regeret Neustriam.

After some time had passed, King Dagobert, with all his army and rejoicing with great joy, in the 11th year of his reign went to Metz; there he ordered a council of nobles and pontiffs to be present, and by their counsel and consent exalted his son Sigibert to the kingdom of the Austrasians, permitting the seat of the kingdom to be at Metz, and handing over moreover a sufficient portion of the treasures. A year later a son was born to King Dagobert, who was named Clodoveus. He again, with all the primates of Austrasia and Neustria gathered in a general council, again arranged the division of the kingdom between the two sons, confirmed it by their counsel and assent, mutual pacts and oaths being given and received, so that, a definite boundary of each kingdom having been determined, Sigibert should reign over Austrasia, and Clodoveus should rule Neustria.

Eam partem Franciae quae spectat ad meridiem et orientem vocabant Austrasiam, eam quae vergit ad aquilonem et occidentem vocabant Neustriam. Rex Dagobertus, tam juste et tam prudenter regno utroque ordinato, ne aliquando aliquo modo vel fratres inter se fraterno odio dissiderent, vel regnum in se ipso divisum civilis belli desolaretur scandalo, anno regni sui XVII mortuus, et Parisius in basilica Sancti Dionisii sepultus, regnum dimisit ab exteris pacatum gentibus, et in nullo diminutum a suis finibus. Post cujus obitum duo reges et fratres Sigibertus et Clodoveus se quisque in regno suo agebant prudenter, et inter suos valebant potenter.

The part of Francia that looks to the south and east was called Austrasia, that which faces north and west was called Neustria. King Dagobert, having arranged both kingdoms so justly and so prudently that neither might at any time in any way the brothers among themselves be sundered by fraternal hatred, nor the kingdom, divided within itself, be lay waste by the scandal of civil war, died in the 17th year of his reign, and was buried at Paris in the basilica of Saint Denis; he left the kingdom pacified with external peoples, and in none of its boundaries diminished from his own. After his death the two kings and brothers, Sigibert and Clodoveus, each conducted himself prudently in his own realm, and ruled powerfully among their people.

Interea Pipinus major domus ex hac luce est subtractus, qui ipsum Sigibertum paterne nutrierat a puero, et valido sui auxilii sustentaverat brachio. Hic omnimodis regno utilis, genere, potentia, prudentia, et fortitudine super omnes nominabilis, Grimoardum filium suum rerum suarum haeredem fecit: duas quoque filias suas Gertrudem et Beggam ad laudem et gloriam generis sui post se reliquit: quarum una Gertrudis, Christo quam sponso carnali malens nubere, sanctae religionis proposito inserviens, in Nivalensi coenobio, a sua matre fundato, spiritualem prolem adhuc non desinit Deo gignere. Soror ejus Begga, nupta Ansigiso, sancti Arnulfi Mettensis episcopi filio, regiae dignitatis decus, quod penitus disperserat per regum Francorum inauditam desidiam, per suam reparavit prosapiam.

Meanwhile Pipinus, major-domo, was taken from this light, he who had fatherly nurtured Sigibert from boyhood and had sustained him with the strong arm of his aid. This man, in every respect useful to the kingdom, in birth, potentia, prudence, and fortitude notable above all, made his son Grimoard heir of his affairs: and he left after him two daughters, Gertrude and Begga, to the praise and glory of his line: of whom one, Gertrude, preferring to wed Christ rather than a carnal spouse, serving the purpose of holy religion, in the Nivelles coenobium, founded by her mother, still does not cease to beget spiritual offspring for God. His sister Begga, married to Ansigiso, son of Saint Arnulf, bishop of Metz, a glory of royal dignity, which had been utterly dispersed by the unprecedented sloth of the kings of the Franks, repaired by her progeny.

Ipsa siquidem genuit Pipinum, Pipinus Carolum, qui Tudetes, id est Martellus, est agnominatus, Carolus Pipinum primum regem, Pipinus Carolum, cognomento Magnum, Francorum regem et imperatorem Romanorum, qui eo honoris et potentiae processit, ut nullus de regibus Francorum vel ante eum vel post eum comparari potuerit.

She herself indeed bore Pipin; Pipin [bore] Carolus, who is surnamed Tudetes, that is Martellus. Charles made Pipin first king. Pipin, Carolus by cognomen Magnus, king of the Franks and emperor of the Romans, rose to such honor and power that no one of the kings of the Franks, either before him or after him, could be compared to him.

Grimoaldus pro patre suo Pipino constitutus major domus potenter in aula Sigiberti regis principabatur, et domi militiaeque regnum viriliter tutabatur. Quia vero Sigibertus rex Grimoaldum majorem domus sibi in omnibus fidelem, morigerum et cooperatorem eatenus erat expertus, filium ejus Childebertum regni Austrasiorum haeredem delegerat, hoc tamen proposito conditionis tenore si ipsum contingeret sine liberis obire. Rex quidem, utpote futurorum nescius, quod tunc sibi videbatur ex temporis convenientia fecit; postea vero filium genuit, quem nomine patris sui Dagobertum vocavit.

Grimoaldus, appointed pro patre suo major domus, powerfully presided in the court of King Sigibert, and at home and in arms manfully defended the kingdom. Because King Sigibert had so far proved Grimoaldus as major domus to be faithful to him in all things, well‑mannered, and a cooperative ally, he had chosen his son Childebert as heir of the kingdom of the Austrasians — this however on the tenor of the condition that, should it happen that he himself died without children, [the succession would follow]. The king, indeed, being ignorant of the future, did what then seemed to him suitable by the convenience of the time; but afterwards he sired a son, whom he called Dagobert, by the name of his father.

Et priori testamento ad irritum tracto, hunc nutriendum commisit majori domus Grimoaldo, ut ejus potentia contra omnes tutus sublimaretur in Austrasiorum regno. Ipse autem Sigibertus duodecim monasteria in diversis regni sui partibus aedificavit, eisque ex suis reditibus regia liberalitate necessaria suppeditavit: ut illic sub apostolicae vitae regula viventes, dum sua meterent carnalia, sibi seminarent spiritualia. Inter quae eminent in nostra vicinia Stabulaus, et Malmundarium, coenobia infra silvam Ardennam sita, quae idem rex a se cooperante sibi majore domus Grimoaldo constructa, S. Remaclo Tungrensi episcopo tradit ordinanda.

And with the earlier testament rendered null, he entrusted this one to be reared to the major domus Grimoald, so that by his power he might be safely exalted above all in the kingdom of the Austrasians. Sigibert himself moreover built 12 monasteries in diverse parts of his kingdom, and from his own revenues supplied them with what was necessary by royal liberality: that there, living under the rule of apostolic life, while they tended their carnal needs, they might sow spiritual things for him. Among these stand out in our neighborhood Stabulaus and Malmundarium, monastic houses situated within the Ardennes forest, which the same king, with his major domus Grimoald cooperating with him, had built for himself, and delivered to St. Remaclus, bishop of Tongres, to be ordained.

Expletis autem aetatis suae annis XXXI, regni autem XXVIII, anno ab Incarnatione Domini 642 a transitu S. Martini anno CCXLIII, Rex terribilis apud omnes reges terrae, qui aufert spiritum principum, in flore juvenilis aetatis eum acerba morte rapuit de praesenti saeculo nequam, et in coelesti curia ei contulit verae dignitatis gloriam. Obiit Kalendis Februarii, et sepultus est in urbe Mettis, quae regni sui sedes fuerat, in basilica quam ad laudem et gloriam Dei in honore sancti Martini gloriosi confessoris regia liberalitate construxerat, quae sita est ad radices montis, qui plurimus imminet urbi, adversasque aspectat desuper arces.

Having completed 31 years of his life, and 28 of his reign, in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 642, and in the 243rd year from the passing of S. Martini, a king terrible among all the kings of the earth, who takes away the spirit of princes, in the flower of youthful age was snatched by a bitter death from this present wicked world, and in the heavenly court was granted to him the glory of true dignity. He died on 1 February, and was buried in the city Mettis, which had been the seat of his kingdom, in the basilica which he had built by royal liberality to the praise and glory of God in honor of Saint Martin the glorious confessor, which is situated at the roots of the mount that overhangs the city greatly and looks down upon the citadels above.

O quam multos saepe ambitio decepit! o quam multos perfidos divina ultio saepe pessum dedit! Mortuo Sigiberto rege, Grimoaldus major domus Dagobertum filium ejus suae fidei commendatum, ut Austrasiorum potiretur regno, tonsoravit in clericum, consilio Didonis Pictaviensis episcopi, qui fuit avunculus sancti martyris Leodegarii, et per manum ipsius Didonis insontem puerulum in Scotiam direxit exsilio irrevocabili.

O how many often ambition deceived! O how many perfidious ones divine vengeance has often cast down! With King Sigibert dead, Grimoald, major of the palace, having Dagobert his son entrusted to his fidelity, that he might obtain the kingdom of the Austrasians, had him tonsured into the clergy by the counsel of Dido, bishop of Poitiers, who was the uncle of the holy martyr Leodegar, and by that same Dido’s hand sent the innocent little boy into Scotland in irrevocable exile.

Filium vero suum Childebertum Austrasiorum regno constituit regem. Franci, aegre ferentes perfidiam Grimoaldi, captum eum destinant Parisius ad judicium regis Clodovei, qui fuit frater Sigiberti. Quem Clodoveus vinculatum carceri mancipavit, et crudeliter, ut dignus erat, usque ad mortem tormentavit.

He, however, made his son Childebert king of the realm of the Austrasians. The Franks, ill bearing the perfidy of Grimoald, sent him taken to Paris to the judgment of King Clodoveus, who was Sigibert’s brother. Clodoveus, having bound him, committed him to prison, and cruelly, as he was worthy, tortured him to death.

Austrasii Hildricum filium Clodovei assumunt, et in regno Austrasiorum, quod Sigibertus patruus ejus tenuerat, regem constituunt. Hic est Hildricus rex, ad cujus tempus fuit sanctus Lambertus martyr et episcopus. . .

The Austrasians took Hildric, son of Clodoveus, and established him king in the kingdom of the Austrasians, which Sigibert, his paternal uncle, had held. This is King Hildric, in whose time Saint Lambert was a martyr and bishop....