The Legend of Brunhilda

A revisitation

Sigebert, King of the Eastern Kingdom of the Franks

When an adult and on a gloomy day

Set out to find treasure said to have been lost,

In the calm river Samara.

One misty day, 

He stumbled across a collection of insect shaped jewelry.

Among the treasure was a ring, 

The signet ring of His ancestors.

There was a princess who resided over the mountain passes,

Whose like no one knew of anywhere.

She was exceedingly pretty and nimble.

She shot the shaft with bold knights - love was the prize.

Upon hearing rumours of this special princess,

Sigebert summoned his envoys 

And the message was clear:

Collect this princess to become my betrothed.

The delegation travelled over the cold mountain

Past the forests of Endor to

Toletum the city of the Carpetani Tribe

Full of wealthy villas.

They saw traders, teachers and bishops,

Reputable ones at that

Believers in God above Jesus.

Wary of Papists and Jews.

Water surrounds the heights

Of the city, the reflection of the trees and arched bridges.

People wear garments with glass brooches

In the shape of eagles.

Aqueducts remained supplying rich water

For the Roman baths.

Rooms to study the marvels of the sky

And knowledge of the people.

Blue sapphire came in from the port

And quality swords were sent out.

Local marzipan is sold at the markets 

And partridges too.

 The delegation was impressed

A few of them interested requested a lesson

From the Holy Bible

To see if their claims were true.

The Pope and Council had called them heretics

Just like the Lombardys and Ostrogoths.

But their heresy did not halt their mission

But increased it in Africa to the Vandals.

After such study one of the diplomats 

Requested to be baptised in secret

Immersed in water

As an Arian and heretic.

The day came

To ask an audience

 With the ruler of Toletum:

Athanagild.

They met in courtly fashion

And the visiting delegation

Stated the intent of their own King

To take his daughter's hand.

Fairhaired King Athanagild

Whispered to his wife and advisors

And swiftly granted the request 

Of King Sigebert, the Frank.

The Visigoth royal family 

Travelled to the North 

To a place named Mettis

The City the Romans had called Mediomatrix.

Upon request by her new King

Brunhilda was sprinkled with water by the archbishop

In a cross shaped basilica between the hills

And was declared Catholic.

 Brunhilda, the princess

Was married in ceremony and pomp

And he gave her the signet ring

As he felt she was a worthy mate.

She was well-mannered 

And her humility outshone 

Frankish women

And Sigebert grew fond of her.

Sigebert’s half brother Chilperic 

Became poisoned with jealousy

And journeyed to Toletum

By himself.

Chilperic asked the fair-haired King

To marry his second daughter

Princess Galswintha

And the answer was a reluctant yes.

So it was that Prince Chilperic

Of the Franks

Paraded his young fiance

In front of the Capital Mettis.

To the utter dismay

Of King Sigebert

Who didn’t speak to his brother

For many a month.

For not only had Chilperic

 Fallen for envy

But had dismissed his previous wife

And other liaisons.

Galswintha met often with her sister

Who told her of Chilperic’s

Negative history

And so she demanded he admit them.

To which Chilperic

Claimed she was the sole attention now.

To be safe she demanded

All females in their quarters to leave.

And so Chilperic

 Grew sick and tired of her

And one night

Decided she had to go.

When Brunhilda and Sigebert heard

Galswintha had been slain

Her sister trembled and fainted 

And the King declared in his fury:

Chilperic’s territories to be annulled.

The murderer declared war

On his brother

And the King’s regiment drove him back.

The sly fox, Prince Chilperic

In his excessive pride

 Sent his best assassin

To kill his very sibling.

The devastated widow, Brunhilda

Was banished to a tower

And yet later was visited by a man:

Merovech, Chilperic’s son

Who had pity on the fate

Of this fallen Visigoth Royal.

And married her in secret

And she bore children.

When the news got out 

And reached Chilperic

He angrily sent her to Mettis

And forbade her to meet again with his son.

When her two sons passed away

She requested help

From tribes east of the winding Rhine

Hoping they would fight for her cause.

Her son’s cousin seized the two kingdoms

And reunited the Frankish domains.

He demanded the now aged Brunhilda

To be dragged to death by horses.

Memories of her lie with her

In an arched tomb

 At the marbled St. Martin abbey

Once dedicated by Brunhilda herself.