Edict of Paris

It is a body of legislation focused on administering justice and ensuring the rights of the church, aristocracy, and people of Francia.

[2] Civil war had dominated the Frankish kingdom due to a feud between two Merovingian queens, Brunhild and Fredegund, and their descendants.

Due to her supposed autocratic rule, the aristocracy of Austrasia and Burgundy switched their loyalties from Brunhild, and her great-grandson Sigibert, to Fredegund’s son Chlothar II.

The twenty-four articles in the Edict address issues related to clergy, criminal matters, the administration of justice, and fiscal concerns.

The most famous of the twenty-four articles is number twelve, which states judges could only be appointed in the region in which they held property.

[4] Historically, this had been interpreted as Chlothar II making concessions to the aristocracy (which had sided with him against Brunhild), decreasing royal authority, and increasing the power and influence of the regional magnates.

[6] Mitteis claimed the Edict was the price Chlothar II had to pay for aristocratic support in the civil war.

The Edict of Paris is now widely understood as merely a modest concession to regional landholders,[11] a sign of the 'intensely local character of Francia',[12] and Chlothar II establishing his authority over the realm, but also pledging to respect the privileges and customs of the provinces in order to restore peace and order.