snailfrog: artofthedarkages:A Merovingian tremissis issued by King Childebert II, with his portrai
snailfrog: artofthedarkages: A Merovingian tremissis issued by King Childebert II, with his portrait on the front and a fantastical creature on the reverse. Cast out of gold. Made in the late 6th century by the Merovingian Franks at Tours in Gaul. Currently held at the American Numismatic Society. For those of you surprised at Tours issuing a coin for an Austrasian king. Firstly, after the death of Charibert I, king of Paris, his kingdom was divided between his 3 surviving brothers. Tours along Poitiers falling into Austrasian brother king Sigebert who is the faither of Childebert. Secondly at the time Poitiers with Dowager Queen Radegund and Tours with repudiated Queen Ingoberga were probably safer as havens for these two ladies as Austrasian than with the Neustrian Chilperic who is not innocent in the death of Sigebert. Thirdly, Tours was the capital of France before king Clovis moved it to Paris. Tours enjoyed a milder climate, was central and hosted the relics to the great late antiquity saint: Martin of Tours. -- source link
#childebert ii#austrasia#6th century#merovingian#franks#animal