History of the Kings of France Author:Thomas Wyatt Subtitle: Containing the Principal Incidents in Their Lives From the Foundation of the Monarchy to Louis Philippe, With a Concise Biography of Each. Illustrated by Seventy-Two Portraits of the Sovereigns of France General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1846 Original Publisher: Carey and Hart Subjects: France Histo... more »ry / Europe / France Travel / Europe / France Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CLOTAIRE THE SECOND. A. D. 584.] On the death of Chilperic, Fredegonda, solely relying for protection upon her infant of four months old, fled to Paris, where she was received by the bishop of the metropolis, who placed her in his church, as a retreat that would secure her from the resentment of her enemies. As a protection Fredegonda was declared regent and protectress of the young prince, who was crowned King of France. This privilege was always enjoyed by the queen dowagers. Brunehaut, under Childebert the Second; Batilda, under Clotaire the Third; Nantilda, under Clovis the Second; Alice, of Champagne, under Philip the August; Blanche of Castile, under Saint Louis; and Louisa of Savoy, under Francis the First, governed the state with absolute power, during the minority or absence of their royal children. But this custom has long since passed from the French throne. Fredegonda, shuddering at the recollection of her crimes, detested by her subjects, whom she had oppressed without mercy; devoid of confidence in her nobles, who openly censured her conduct; pursued by Childebert, King of Austrasia, who called for justice on the assassin of a father, an aunt, an uncle, and two cousins ; she wrote to Gontran, King of Burgundy, to solicit his participation in the guardianship of her son. Th...« less