Austregilde (548[2] – 580[3][4]), also called Austerchild[5], Austregildis[5], Bobilla[6], Bobile[7], and Austrechild[5] in most contemporary works and scholarship, was a Frankish queen consort of the Burgundy region in the 6th century.
As a result, Austregilde and other women needed to exercise their power indirectly through others or through intrigue tactics to become active political players.
[8] Objections to this marriage and to the legitimacy of Austregilde's children led to the deaths of Marcatrude's brothers and the banishment to a monastery of the Bishop of Gap, both on the orders of Guntram.
[12] According to Gregory of Tours, she angrily blamed her doctors Nicolas and Donat, claiming their medicines were responsible for her death.
[4][7][8][13] Gregory compares her actions to those of King Herod, who similarly died of a mysterious illness after ordering mass murder of innocents in Bethlehem.
By making a direct comparison to a sacrilegious biblical person, Gregory attempts to establish his own credibility while diminishing Austregilde's.
[14] Comparatively, Mark A. Handley contrasts the “glowing” words of Austregilde’s epitaph to question the narrative of Gregory of Tours.
The Merovingian Kingdoms were in a constant state of war with each other, as minor kings competed with one another to expand their territory and influence.
For example, there is some evidence to suggest that Queen Brunhild had influenced her husband Merovech in his decision to start a revolt in Neustria.
These adoptions lasted long after Clovis, as Christianity became a staple a principle of Merovingian rule and a positive relationship with the Church was necessary for a healthy reign.
In the interest of maintaining a positive relationship between Church and crown, royal power was centralized in close proximity to bishoprics.
The predominant scholar of contemporary Merovingian history, Gregory of Tours, portrays Austregilde as a villainous figure, and even seems to rejoice in her death.
Dailey argues that Gregory, as a member of the social elite, likely looked much less favorably upon those who were not born into high society.
While ultimately acquitted, having put a bishop on trial shows the extent to which elite woman could influence politics around them.
Contemporary writers of early medieval history did not simply record events, but were explicit in their choices of what to include and exclude from the narrative.
Yet, when presented with the opportunity to marry a king or other influential figure, women were able to break the barriers of the social sphere and accumulate power.
Although, this power could not often be exercised directly and required positive cooperation with their spouse and in some cases behind the scenes intrigue tactics.
As evident by The Salic Law’s code of inheritance, women held less social credit than men in Merovingian society.
[25] As Ian Wood contends, the power of a Merovingian Queen hinged primarily on a positive relationship with her husband, her ability to provide and raise heirs, and their control of wealth.
Wood also notes that “It was not sufficient to have high born relatives, or even to achieve the status of queen; it was also necessary to have an obedient husband or son."