Swangilda

Svanagilda belonged to the Agilolfing dynasty, whose representatives ruled the Bavarian Duchy in the VI – VIII centuries ^[1] . Her aunts were Pilitruda , wife of the Duke of Grimoald II ^[2] , and her uncle was the Duke of Odilon ^{[3] [4] [5]} . More precise family ties of Svangilda have not yet been established. According to some assumptions, Swangild is the granddaughter of the Bavarian Duke Theodon II ^[6] , according to others, a close relative of Plectruda , the wife of Pepin Geristalski ^[7] , and according to the third, the daughter of the Bavarian Duke Tassilon II and the Imma Alemanka ^[8] .

In 725, the mayor of the Francs, Karl Martell, made a campaign in Bavaria. His goal was to raise Hugbert to the ducal throne, whose rights were disputed by his uncle Grimoald II. The campaign ended in complete success: the Frankish army defeated the Grimoald army in a battle off the banks of the Danube , after which Hugbert was proclaimed the new ruler of Bavaria. Grimoald II died in the struggle with the Franks in the same or in 728 ^[9] . Among the noble captives captured by the Franks were the widow of the deceased Duke of Pilitrood and her niece Swangild. Both of them, by order of Karl Martell, were taken to Francia ^{[1] [2] [10]} .

After his wife Rotrude later died in 725, Karl Martell married Svangilda ^{[5] [10]} . It is assumed that by a new marriage, the mayord wanted to further strengthen his influence on the Agilolfings ^{[1] [11]} . Probably, later he intended to annex the Bavarian Duchy to the Frankish state ^[12] .

It is not known exactly what social status during the life of Karl Martell had Svangild. A number of modern historians, relying on the evidence of the Frankish annals of the Carolingian time (for example, on the “ Early Metz Annals ”), consider Swangilda to be a rival ^[13] . Other historians consider Svangilda the legal spouse of the Frankish mayordom ^{[1] [11] [14]} . As one of the confirmations of this opinion, reference is made to the royal title of Svangilda - “ Suanahil regina ” - in the “ ” of the Reichenau monastery ^[15] . Although Swangilda was not a queen, such a title should testify to her very high position in the Frankish society of the first half of the VIII century ^{[1] [14] [16] [17]} . Also, the special status of Svangilda is also indicated by the fact that Griffin , her son from Karl Martell ^[18] , received the right to part of his father’s inheritance, which the sons of the mayordom from the rivals were deprived of ( Jerome , and ) ^{[ 14]} .

The dependence of the rulers of Bavaria on the will of the mayordom of the Franks increased even more when, in 736, with the consent of Karl Martell, Odilon became the new duke ^{[7] [8] [11] [19]} . Probably, this happened not without the efforts of Svangilda ^[3] . Subsequently, Swangilda also continued to support Odilon, persuading Karl Martell to good relations with the Bavarian ruler ^[10] . It is believed that Swangild helped normalize relations between Karl Martell and her other relative, the Duke of Alemania Theudebald ^[8] .

Probably, in the last years of his life, Karl Martell was greatly influenced by Swangilda ^{[1] [7]} . Modern historians are even considering the possibility of the existence of a “Bavarian group” at the court of the mayordom, which was made up of people close to Swangilde who acted in the interests of the Agilolfings ^[11] . Svangilda herself tried by all means to convince her husband of the need to secure the possession of their son Griffin ^[1] . As a result, he received significant land holdings from his father in management no later than the spring of 737. Under the rule of Griffin was part of the lands of Neustria , Australia and Burgundy , previously promised by the mayor to his elder sons Pipin Korotkoy and Karloman . All this was done by Karl without the advice of his associates. Griffin’s right to own these areas was also confirmed in the last will of Karl Martell, fixed in the charter given on September 17, 741 by the mayor of the Abbey of Saint-Denis ^{[20] [21] [22]} . It is possible that at that time Karl Martell regarded the Griffin as his possible heir ^[11] .

Swangilda played a significant role in the marriage between the Duke of Odilon and her stepdaughter Hiltruda , daughter of Karl Martell from her first marriage. The circumstances that led to the creation of this marriage, back in the time of Emperor Louis I the Pious, were regarded as “scandalous” ^{[23] [24]} . According to Frankish sources, in 740–741, Odilon, who fled from the rebellion in his own duchy, lived at the court of the mayordom of the Franks ^{[19] [22] [25]} . Here he fell in love with Hiltruda, and she reciprocated. The fruit of their secret relationship was a son born after Odilon returned to Bavaria. After the death of Karl Martell, on the advice of Svangilda and to the great displeasure of the brothers Pepin and Karloman, Hiltruda fled to Bavaria, where she entered into a legal marriage with Odilon ^{[4] [19] [26] [27] [28]} . Probably contributing to the marriage of her uncle and stepdaughter, Swangilda hoped to get further help from the Duke of Bavaria in the struggle for the right of her son Griffin to inherit the possessions and position of Karl Martell ^[8] .

Karl Martell passed away in October 741, leaving power over the Frankish state to his three sons, Pepin, Karloman and Griffin, who were supposed to jointly rule the kingdom. However, at a meeting in Veyux-Poitiers, the two eldest sons of Charles agreed to remove Griffin from power ^[20] . According to the testimony of the “ Petavian ” and “ Alemannic Annals ”, speaking with an army against Griffin and his mother, Pepin and Karloman besieged them in Lana . Seeing the futility of resistance to superior forces, the Griffin asked the half-brothers of the world. They promised Griffin freedom if he lay down his arms, but then in (near Liège ) they took him into custody and imprisoned him in one of the Frankish monasteries. Then Svangilda was exiled to the with her stepsons ^{[4] [5] [11] [20]} . According to some reports, she was held captive in it; according to others, she became an abbess of this monastery ^[1] . Information about the future fate of Svangilda in historical sources is missing ^{[1] [14]} .

• Bauer DR, Histand R., Kasten B, Sönke L. Mönchtum - Kirche - Herrschaft 750-1000 . - Sigmaringen: Jan Thorbecke Verlag, 1998 .-- 359 S.
• Spindler M. Handbuch der bayerischen Geschichte . - München: CH Beck, 1981. - Bd. I: Das alte Bayern. Das Stammesherzogtum bis zum Ausgang des 12. Jahrhunderts. - 766 S. - ISBN 978-3-4060-7322-9 .