Editing Chlothar II (section)

===Battle of Dormelles===
In 599, he made war with his nephews, [[Theuderic II]] of [[Burgundy (region)|Burgundy]] and [[Theudebert II]] of Austrasia, who were old enough to be his cousins. They defeated him at [[Dormelles]] (near [[Montereau-Fault-Yonne|Montereau]]), forcing him to sign a treaty that reduced his kingdom to the regions of [[Beauvais]], [[Amiens]] and [[Rouen]], with the remainder split between the two brothers. At this point, however, the two brothers took up arms against each other. In 605, he invaded Theuderic's kingdom, but did not subdue it. He remained often at war with Theuderic until the latter died in [[Metz]] in late 613 while preparing a campaign against him.

In 604, a first attempt to reconquer his kingdom ended in failure for Clothar. His son Merovech was taken prisoner by Theuderic at the [[Battle of Étampes]] and was murdered at the order of Brunhilda by Bertoald. Clothar agreed that he would become the godfather of Theuderic's son in 607, naming him Merovech.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ty8UAAAAQAAJ&dq=m%C3%A9rov%C3%A9e+prisonnier+605&pg=PA39 Fastes juifs, romains et françois &#91;by J.B. Mailly&#93;.]</ref>

Around the same time, Theuderic, seeking a marriage to the Spanish Visigoth princess Ermenberge, daughter of King [[Witteric]], created new political tensions. Witteric then negotiated with Clothar II for an alliance, as well as [[Agilulf]], King of the Lombards. The coalition against Theuderic does not appear to have been followed by significant effects.