Editing Chlothar I (section)

==Marriages and children==
According to Gregory of Tours, "The King Chlothar had seven sons of various women, namely: with Ingund he had Gunthar, Childeric, Charibert, Guntram, Sigebert, and a daughter named Chlothsind; of [[Aregund]], sister of Ingund he had Chilperic; and of Chunsine he had Chram."
Chlothar's first marriage was to [[Guntheuc]], widow of his brother Chlodomer, sometime around 524. They had no children. His second marriage, which occurred around 532, was to [[Radegund]], daughter of [[Bertachar]], [[King of Thuringia]], whom he and his brother Theuderic defeated.<ref>Ian Wood, ''The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450–751'', 137.</ref> She was later [[canonized]]. They also had no children. His third and most successful marriage was to [[Ingund]],<ref name="ReferenceC">Ian Wood, ''The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450–751'', 59.</ref> by whom he had five sons and two daughters:
*Gunthar, predeceased father
*Childeric, predeceased father
*[[Charibert I|Charibert]], King of Paris
*[[Guntram]], [[King of Burgundy]]
*[[Sigebert I|Sigebert]], King of [[Austrasia]]
*[[Chlothsind (queen)|Chlothsind]], married [[Alboin]], King of the [[Lombards]][[File:Soissons, musée,Tête de Clotaire Ier en pierre calcaire, XIIIe siècle, 01.jpg|thumb|right|Imagined bust of Chlothar, 13th century.<ref>[https://www.musenor.com/les-oeuvres-du-musee/tete-sculptee-de-clotaire Tête sculptée de Clotaire]. ''Musenor''</ref>]]

Chlothar likely had an illegitimate son named Gondovald with an unnamed woman, born sometime in the late 540s or early 550s. Since Chlothar had sown children all throughout Gaul this was not unlikely. The boy was given a literary education and allowed to grow his hair long, a symbol of belonging to royalty. Although Chlothar would offer no more aid or privilege to the boy, his mother took him to the court of Childebert, who recognized him as his nephew and agreed to keep him in court.

His next marriage was to a sister of Ingund, [[Aregund]], with whom Chlothar had a son, [[Chilperic I|Chilperic]], King of Soissons.<ref name="ReferenceC" /> His last wife was [[Chunsina]] (or Chunsine), with whom he had one son, [[Chram]],<ref>Ian Wood, ''The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450–751'', 60.</ref> who became his father's enemy and predeceased him. Chlothar may have married and repudiated [[Waldrada (Lombard)|Waldrada]].

A false genealogy found in the [[Brabant trophies]], made in the ninth century during the reign of [[Charles the Bald]], invents a daughter of Chlothar's named Blithilde who supposedly married the saint and bishop [[Ansbert of Rouen]]. The Duke [[Arnoald]], father of [[Arnulf of Metz]], was said to have been born of this marriage, thus connecting the Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties and creating the appearance that the Carolingian ruled by right of inheritance. It also linked them to the Romans by their affiliation with the senatorial family Ferreoli.[[File:Radegonde menée auprès de Clotaire.jpg|thumb|Radegund is brought before Chlothar]]

===Marriage with Guntheuc===
Chlothar married [[Guntheuc]], Queen of Orléans and widow of Chlodomer, his brother. This union gave Chlothar access to Chlodomer's treasury and ensured Guntheuc's position as sole heiress to King [[Godegisel]] lands; Frankish law allowed a woman to inherit land if she had no sons.<ref name="III,6">Grégoire de Tours, ''Histoire'', livre III, 6.</ref>

===Marriage with Aregund===
Chlothar's wife [[Ingund]] requested that he find a husband worthy of her sister, [[Aregund]]. Finding no one suitable, Chlothar took Aregund as one of his own wives. The year was c.&nbsp;533–538. She remained his wife until the death of her sister, Ingund, in 546, after which she fell out of favor with Chlothar.<ref name="IV,3">Grégoire de Tours, ''Histoire'', livre IV, 3.</ref>

===Princess Radegund===
[[File:Radegonde à la table de Clotaire.JPG|thumb|left|Radegonde's wedding, depiction of her praying, and prostrate in the marital bed]]
In 538, Radegund was brought to Soissons to marry Chlothar, as "not illegitimate but legitimate queen," who could help consolidate his dominance over Thuringia.

While her title and status were necessary for Chlothar to attain authority over Thuringia, Radegund remained in simple clothing and was not treated in the customary manner of a queen. This was largely due to her Christian faith; she did not want to appear luxurious.

Radegund did not eat to excess. She insisted that much of her food be given to the poor. She spent most of her time praying and singing psalms but spent very little time with the king. Her allegiance was to God first and to Chlothar second. Chlothar became irritated and had many disputes with her.<ref>[[Georges Duby]], ''Le Moyen Âge 987–1460''. Histoire de France Hachette, 1987, p. 56.</ref>

She retired to a convent and went on to found the abbey in Poitiers St. Croix, the first nunnery in Europe. She was canonized Saint Radegund.<ref name="Bernet 2007, p. 143">Bernet (2007), p. 143.</ref>[[File:Hereniging Frankische rijk onder Chlotarius I.gif|thumb|The expansion of Clothar's territories, shown in brown]]