Battle of Autun (640s)

[2] The battle is recounted in detail in the final chapter of the contemporary Chronicle of Fredegar and also in the biographies of saints Eligius of Noyon and Sigiramn.

[4] Shortly before her death, the queen regent Nantechildis appointed Flaochad, described by Fredegar as "of the race of the Franks" (genere Francorum), as mayor of the palace of Burgundy.

[5] According to Fredegar, it was on his first circuit of Burgundy that Flaochad remembered he had long hated Willebad, who held the rank of patrician, and began plotting to kill him.

Fredegar claims that Willebad "had become very rich by seizing the properties of a great many people by one means or another" and, puffed up with pride on account of his rank and wealth, demeaned Flaochad.

[12] It may be that Chalon was the seat of Willebad's power and its occupation and (perhaps intentional) destruction were meant symbolically to cement Flaochad's victory.

[8] According to the Life of Eligius, Flaochad fell ill seven days after the battle and soon died a miserable death, as the saint had predicted.

[4] It goes on to say that many saw in this divine judgement, "since time and again Flaochad and Willebad had sworn mutual friendship in places holy to the saints and in addition had both greedily oppressed and robbed people.

"[12] A hoard of coins found near Buis in the 19th century has often been linked to the Battle of Autun, specifically to the plundering and the consequent scattering of treasure.