Editing Dagobert I (section)

==United rule==
[[File:Paris Musée Cluny Trône de Dagobert 135.jpg|thumb|left|"[[Throne of Dagobert]]", [[bronze]]. The base, formed by a [[curule]] chair, is traditionally attributed to Dagobert, while the arms and the back of the chair were added under [[Charles the Bald]]. This throne was last used by [[Napoleon I]] in 1804 when he created the [[Légion d'Honneur]].|300x300px]]

Upon the death of his father in 629, Dagobert inherited the Neustrian and Burgundian kingdoms. His half-brother [[Charibert II|Charibert]], son of [[Sichilde]], claimed Neustria but Dagobert opposed him. Brodulf, brother of Sichilde, petitioned Dagobert on behalf of his young nephew, but Dagobert assassinated him and became sole king of the Franks. He later gave the Aquitaine to Charibert as a "consolation prize."{{sfn|Deutsch|2013|p=96}} In 629, Dagobert concluded a treaty with the Byzantine emperor [[Heraclius]], which entailed enforcing the compulsory baptism of Jews throughout his kingdom.{{sfn|Meriaux|2019|p=144}} Besides signing this treaty, Dagobert also took steps to secure trade across his empire by protecting important markets along the mouth of the [[Rhine]] at Duurstede and [[Utrecht]], which in part explains his later determination to defend the Austrasian Franks from the Avar menace.{{sfn|Wallace-Hadrill|2004|p=79}}

Under the rule of Dagobert's father and like-minded Merovingians, Frankish society during the seventh-century experienced greater integration—the Catholic faith became predominant for instance—and a generally improved economic situation, but there was no initial impetus for the political unification of Gaul. Clothar II did not seek to force his Neustrian neighbors into submission, choosing instead a policy of cooperation.{{sfn|Wallace-Hadrill|2004|pp=76–77}} This did not prohibit plunder-raids to replenish the dynastic coffers, which Dagobert undertook in Spain for example—one raid there earned him 200,000 gold ''solidi''.{{sfn|Wallace-Hadrill|2004|p=78}} Historian Ian Wood claims that Dagobert "was probably richer than most Merovingian monarchs" and cites for example his assistance to the Visigoth [[Sisenand]]—whom he aided in his rise to the Visigothic throne in Spain—and for which, Sisenand awarded Dagobert a golden dish weighing some {{convert|500|lb|kg}}.{{sfn|Wood|1994|p=65}}

When Charibert and his son [[Chilperic of Aquitaine|Chilperic]] were assassinated in 632, Dagobert had Burgundy and Aquitaine firmly under his rule, becoming the most powerful Merovingian king in many years and the most respected ruler in the West. In 631, Dagobert led a large army against [[Samo]], the ruler of the [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] Wends, partly at the request of the Germanic peoples living in the eastern territories and also due to Dagobert's quarrel with him about the Wends having robbed and killed a number of Frankish merchants.{{sfn|James|1988|p=105}} While Dagobert's Austrasian forces were defeated at the [[Battle of Wogastisburg|Wogastisburg]],{{sfn|Jaques|2011|p=1109}} his Alemannic and Lombard allies were successful in repelling the Wends.{{sfn|James|1988|p=106}} Taking advantage of the situation at the time, the Saxons offered to help Dagobert if he agreed to rescind the 500 cow yearly tribute to the Austrasians. Despite accepting this agreement, Fredegar reports that it was to little avail  since the Wends attacked again the following year.{{sfn|James|1988|p=106}}