Childebert I

Born around 496 at Reims, Childebert was the third of four sons of Clovis I and Saint Clotilda. When Clovis died in 511, the Merovingian kingdom fractured along family lines, and Childebert took Paris as his portion. Thirteen years later he added Orléans to his holdings. He ruled both cities until his death on 13 December 558, nearly half a century spent navigating the fratricidal politics of a divided realm.