| Chimnechild of Burgundy | |
| Succession: | Queen of Austrasia |
| Reign: | 647 - |
| Death Date: | af. 676 |
| Consort: | yes |
| Spouse: | Sigebert III |
| Issue: | Bilichild Dagobert II |
Chimnechild of Burgundy (also Himnechildis) (7th-century – fl. 662) was a Frankish queen consort by marriage to king Sigebert III the King of Austrasia. [1]
Initially, their marriage was childless, and the manager (or 'mayor') of their palace, Grimoald, convinced them to adopt his son, Childebert. Afterwards, Chimnechild and Sigebert III had two children: a daughter, Bilichild, and a son and heir, Dagobert II (though some scholars, such as Wood, question whether Dagobert was Chimnechild's biological child).[2] [3]
In 656 CE, Sigebert III died, and the small child Dagobert II was placed on the throne, with Chimnechild and Grimoald apparently in power behind the scenes. A few years later, c. 660, Grimoald executed a coup to seize power and place his son, Childebert the Adopted, on the throne.[4] They had Dagobert II tonsured and forced to go on pilgrimage to Ireland, while Chimnechild and her daughter Bilichild fled.[5]
Following Childebert's death a mere year into his reign, she began manoeuvring. She opposed the succession of Theuderic III and of Dagobert II, and instead arranged a marriage between her daughter Bilichild and Childeric II, whose succession she supported.[6] Apparently as part of the agreement for Childeric to take the throne, she was appointed to act as regent; she remained regent until 675 CE.[7] [8]