Gundemar

Getting the throne

By the beginning of 610, Gundemar held the post of Septimania (in the documents of that time the Latin name of these lands - Narbon Gallia was used ) ^[1] .

Gundemar took the crown in April 610, as a result of the assassination of his predecessor Witterich , a plot against which he apparently led. Even less is known about his short reign than the reign of his predecessor Witterich. The Frankish chronicler Fredegar did not hear anything about Gundemar and claimed that Wiserichu was immediately succeeded by Sisebut .

Gundemar wars

During one campaign, Gundemar defeated the Vascons ^[2] , who continued to carry out continuous predatory raids into the valleys of the Ebro and Duero rivers. However, judging by the fact that the subsequent Visigoth kings also fought with the Vascons, he did not achieve much success on this front. Isidore of Seville writes that during the second campaign Gundemar "besieged the army of the Byzantines " ^[2] , but does not give any details of this military enterprise.

Gundemar and the Church

Continuing the course of Witterich in foreign policy as a whole and waging stubborn battles with the Byzantines and the Basques, in domestic politics Gundemar returned to the course of Reccared . For Gundemar it was important to secure the support of the church, especially the capital. Already in the first year of his reign, he gathered in Toledo the provincial cathedral of the province of Carthage Spain , which approved a decree, the authenticity of which is still controversial. The decree declared Toledo the metropolis of all of Carthage Spain , including the part that was under the rule of the Byzantines. Even if this decree is fake, its attribution to Gundemar is not accidental. In the eyes of the church, especially the metropolitan, this king, like Reccared, appears as a true follower of the orthodox Nicene faith, finally confirming the rule of this denomination. She ceased to be the "Roman faith" and became the faith of the whole state. ^[3]

Gundemar and Franks

Having come to power, Gundemar rewarded his supporters. Earl Bulgar , a staunch supporter of Gundemar from the time of the confrontation with Witterich, was sharply elevated. He became the Duke of Septimania, moreover, with clearly expanded powers, since he himself conducted all diplomatic work with neighboring Franks, almost without any regard to the king. Of course, this activity of his did not go against the policy of Gundemar.

The Visigoths tried to find their place in the maelstrom of mutual struggle within the Frankish kingdom, in which the most unexpected alliances and hostile coalitions arose. It is known from the letters of the Bulgar that the Visigoth king firmly maintained allied relations with Theodebert II and sent contractual subsidies established under the protection of the Bulgar to his ally, all the more so because he heard rumors that Theodoric II and Brünnhilde had called for an Avar to help him to poison them on Theodebert. The divisions within the Frankish royal family, in which Gundemar intervened diplomatically, subsided only after the death of the Visigoth king, ending with the defeat of Brunnhilde and the restoration of state unity of the Frankish state . The administration of the entire Frankish power was concentrated in his hands by Chlothar II . ^{[4] [5]}

Death

Gundemar reigned for 1 year, 10 months and 14 days ^[6] and died a natural death in Toledo ^[2] in February or March 612 . His wife Hildoara died before the king.

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• Foundation for Medieval Genealogy. Gundemar
• Gundemar Coins