Waldrada (Lombard)

Waldrada
Queen of Austrasia
Tenure-555
Duchess of Bavaria
Tenure556–572
Born531
Died572
SpouseTheudebald
Garibald I of Bavaria
IssueTheodelinda
Gundoald, Duke of Asti
Grimoald I
Romilda of Friuli
Tassilo I of Bavaria
Chlotsuinda(?)
Tochter von Bayern
HouseLethings
FatherWacho
MotherAustrigusa

Waldrada (also Vuldetrada) (531–572), wife (firstly) of Theudebald, King of Austrasia (ruled 548–555), reputed mistress (secondly) of Chlothar I, King of the Franks (ruled until 561), was the daughter of Wacho, King of the Lombards (ruled ca. 510–539) and his second wife called Austrigusa or Ostrogotha, a Gepid.

The Origo Gentis Langobardorum names "Wisigarda…secundæ Walderada" as the two daughters of Wacho and his second wife, specifying that Waldrada married "Scusuald regis Francorum" and later "Garipald".[1] The Historia Langobardorum names "Waldrada" as Wacho's second daughter by his second wife, specifying that she married "Chusubald rex Francorum".[2] Paulus Diaconus names "Wisigarda…[et] secunda Walderada" as the two daughters of King Wacho & his second wife, specifying that Walderada married "Cusupald alio regi Francorum" and later "Garipald".[3] Gregory of Tours names Vuldetrada as the wife of King Theodebald.[4] Herimannus names "Wanderadam" wife of "Theodpaldus rex Francorum" when recording her second marriage to "Lotharius rex patris eius Theodeberti patruus".[5]

According to Gregory of Tours, King Clotaire "began to have intercourse" with the widow of King Theodebald, before "the bishops complained and he handed her over to Garivald Duke of Bavaria",[6] which apparently implies that King Clotaire did not marry Waldrada.

  1. ^ Origo Gentis Langobardorum 4, MGH SS rer Lang I, p. 4.
  2. ^ Historia Langobardorum Codicis Gothani 4, MGH SS rer Lang I, p. 9.
  3. ^ Pauli Historia Langobardorum I.21, MGH SS rer Lang I, p. 59.
  4. ^ Historia Francorum IV.9, p. 202.
  5. ^ Herimanni Augiensis Chronicon 553, MGH SS V, p. 88.
  6. ^ Historia Francorum IV.9, p. 203.