Gundoald, Gundowald, Gundovald, or Gondovald (in French, Gombaud), also called Ballomer, was a usurper king of Aquitaine in either 584 or 585. He claimed to be an illegitimate son of Clotaire I and, with the financial support of the Emperor Maurice, took some major cities in southern Gaul, including Poitiers and Toulouse, which belonged to Guntram, king of Burgundy, a legitimate son of Clotaire. Guntram marched against him, calling him nothing more than a miller's son named 'Ballomer'. Gundowald fled to Comminges and Guntram's army set down to besiege the citadel (now known as Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges). The seige was unsuccessful; nevertheless, Gundowald's followers gave him over and he was executed.
Further reading
- Bachrach, Bernard S. 1994. The Anatomy of a Little War: A Diplomatic and Military History of the Gundovald Affair (568–586). Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
- Widdowson, Marc. 2009. "Merovingian Partitions: A 'Genealogical Charter'?" Early Medieval Europe, 17(1), 1–22.
| Preceded by none |
King of Aquitaine 584/585 |
Vacant
Title next held by
Charibert II |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
