E05936: The Chronicle of Fredegar describes how in 626 Godinus, son of the Mayor of the Palace Warnacharius, took refuge from the anger of King Chlothar II in the church of *Aper (bishop of Toul, ob. 6th c., S02195) in Toul (eastern Gaul). He is later forced to visit various churches, ostensibly to strengthen his fidelity to Chlothar by swearing oaths in them. Includes references to the burial churches of *Medard (bishop of Noyon, buried at Soissons, ob. 557/558, S00168), *Denis/Dionysius (bishop and martyr of Paris, S00349), *Anianus (bishop of Orléans, ob. 454, S01206), and *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050). Written in Latin in Gaul/Francia, 659/700.

Chronicle of Fredegar 4.54

Godinus, the son of Warnacharius, Mayor of the Palace in Burgundy (ob. 626), has angered King Chlothar by marrying his father's widow.

Godinus cernens suae uitae periculum habere, terga uertens cum uxore ad Dagoberto regi perrexit in Auster et in eclesia sancti Apri, regio timore perterritus, fecit confugium. Dagobertus per legatus pro eius uita saepius Chlothario regi depraecabat. Tandem a Chlothario promittitur Godino uita concessa, tamen ut Bertanem, quam contra canonum instituta uxorem acciperat, relinquerit. Quod cum ipsa reliquisset et reuersus est in regnum Burgundiae, Berta continuo ad Chlotharium perrexit, dicens si Godinus conspecto Chlothariae presentatur, ipsum regem uellet interficere. Godinus iusso Chlothariae per precipua loca sanctorum, domni Medardi Soissionas et domni Dionisis Parisius, ea preuentione sacramenta daturus adducitur ut semper Chlothariae deberit esse fidelis, ut congruae locus esset repertus, quo pacto separatus a suis interficeretur. Chramnulfus unus ex procerebus et Valdebertus domesticus dicentes ad Godino ut Aurilianis in ecclesia sancti Aniani et Thoronos ad limina sancti Martini ipsoque sacramento adhuc impleturus adiret. Quod cum in suburbano Carnotis, Chramnulfo indecante et transmittente, ora prandiae in quedam uillola uenisset, ibique Ramnulfus et Waldebertus super ipsum cum exercito inruunt eumque interficiunt et eos qui cum ipso adhunc resteterant, quosdam interficiunt aliusque expoliatus in fugam uertentes relinquunt.

'Finding his life in danger, Godinus and his wife fled to King Dagobert in Austrasia; but such was his fear of the king that he took refuge in the church of Saint Aper. Dagobert repeatedly sent deputations to Chlothar to obtain a pardon for Godinus; and finally Chlothar said that he would spare his life on condition that Godinus gave up Bertha, whom he had married contrary to canon law. So Godinus did give up Bertha and returned to the kingdom of Burgundy. But Bertha went straight to Chlothar and averred that if Godinus appeared before the king it would be with the intention of killing him. In consequence, Chlothar had Godinus conducted to the principal places of the saints, Saint Medard at Soissons and St Denis at Paris, on the pretext of making him swear lifelong fidelity but in fact only with the object of finding a suitable place to kill him. A magnate called Chramnulf and Waldebert, the domesticus, told Godinus that he must now visit the church of Saint Anianus at Orléans and the shrine of Saint Martin at Tours to repeat his oath. When he had reached the outskirts of Chartres and was about to break his fast at a farm to which Chramnulf had brought him, Waldebert and Chramnulf went for him and killed him. They also killed some of those who were still with him but let others escape after they had been plundered.'


Text and translation: Wallace-Hadrill 1960 (translation adapted).