Theuderic III

For other uses, see Theodoric III (disambiguation), Dietrich III (disambiguation), and Dirk III (disambiguation).

Theuderic III
King of the Franks
Detail of a medallion on exterior of Saint-Ouen Abbey, Rouen, representing Saint Audoin, seated on his deathbed, facing Theuderic and the kneeling queen
King in Neustria and Burgundy
Reign	673
Predecessor	Chlothar III
Successor	Childerich II
Reign	675–691
Predecessor	Childeric II
Successor	Clovis IV
King in Austrasia
Reign	679-691
Predecessor	Dagobert II
Successor	Clovis IV
Born	c. 651
Died	c. 691 (aged 39–40)
Spouse	Chrothildis Amalberga
Issue	Clovis IV Childebert III Clovis III (?) Bertrada of Prüm (?)
Dynasty	Merovingian
Father	Clovis II
Mother	Balthild

Theuderic III (also spelled Theuderich, Theoderic or Theodoric; French: Thierry, c. 651–691) was King of the Franks in the 7th century. He ruled Neustria and Burgundy on two occasions (in 673 and again from 675 to 691), as well as Austrasia from 679 until his death in 691.

The son of Clovis II and Balthild, Theuderic has been described as a puppet ruler – a roi fainéant. After the death of his older brother Chlothar III, he was appointed King in Neustria by Ebroin, Mayor of the Palace, in 673, though Childeric II of Austrasia displaced him soon thereafter. After Childeric II was killed in 675, Theuderic II retook the throne. He subsequently fought a war against Dagobert II, with his forces under Ebroin victorious at the Battle of Lucofao. After Dagobert was murdered in 679, Theuderic was also recognized as king in Austrasia as well.

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.

Marriage and issue

Theuderic married Chrothildis, a daughter of Ansegisel and Saint Begga of Landen.

They had the following children:

• Chlodwig III, king (677–694)
• Childebert III, king (678/679–711)
• Bertrada of Prüm, badess of Prüm (660 – after 721)

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

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.
• Frassetto, Michael (2013). Early Medieval World, The: From the Fall of Rome to the Time of Charlemagne. Vol. One, A–M. ABC-CLIO.
• Kortum, Hans-Henning (2010). "Franks, Merovingians: Narrative (482-751)". In Rogers, Clifford J. (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology. Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. pp. 125–132.
• McConville, Julia (2018). "Clovis III". In Nicholson, Oliver (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity. Oxford University Press.
• 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. ISBN 9780416255201.
• 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). Vol. 2 vols. Hannover: Hahn. ISBN 978-3-7752-5464-9.