3. The Impending Triumph of Sigebert

• With Chilperic in hiding and on the verge of total defeat, Sigebert prepares to secure final control over Neustria.
• His supporters proclaim him king of all the Franks, signaling an imminent reunification of the kingdom under Austrasian rule.
• However, this victory will be short-lived, as Chilperic’s wife and chief political strategist, Fredegund, soon orchestrates a deadly counterstroke.

4. Consequences and the Road to Assassination

• Sigebert’s apparent victory over Chilperic marks the height of his power, but his growing dominance poses a direct threat to Fredegund’s ambitions.
• In 575 CE, at the moment of his greatest triumph, Sigebert is assassinated by agents of Fredegund, shifting the balance of power back in Chilperic’s favor.
• This assassination prolongs the civil war, deepening the deadly rivalry between Brunhild and Fredegund, which will shape Frankish politics for decades.

Conclusion: The Turning Point of the Merovingian Civil Wars

Sigebert’s victory in 573 CE nearly eliminates Chilperic, bringing Neustria under Austrasian control. However, his assassination in 575 reverses his gains, ensuring that the war between Austrasia and Neustria continues for generations. The personal feud between their queens, Brunhild and Fredegund, intensifies, defining one of the most infamous blood feuds in medieval history.