Chilperic II

Below is a revised memorial biography of Chilperic II, retaining only information confirmed by reliable sources. Uncertain or contested details have been omitted or carefully qualified.

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Chilperic II (c. 672 – 13 February 721)

Chilperic II, known as Daniel before his coronation, was briefly King of Neustria and Burgundy beginning in 715, and later became titular King of all the Franks from around 718 until his death in 721.(en.wikipedia.org) Born around 672, he was the younger son of King Childeric II and Queen Bilichild. His elder brother was Dagobert.(en.wikipedia.org)

In 675, Childeric II, Bilichild, and their son Dagobert were assassinated. Chilperic, still an infant, was taken to a monastery and raised under the name Daniel, which preserved him from the dynastic conflicts of the time.(en.wikipedia.org) At the death of Dagobert III in 715, the Neustrian nobles raised him from the monastery and proclaimed him king.(en.wikipedia.org)

During his reign, Chilperic was largely overshadowed by powerful mayors of the palace. Ragenfrid served as mayor in Neustria, opposing Theudoald—Pepin of Heristal’s heir—and later wielded influence over the young king.(en.wikipedia.org) Charles Martel, Pepin’s son, soon emerged as a dominant military leader: he defeated Chilperic and Ragenfrid at Amblève in 716 and again at Vincy in 717, chasing them toward Paris.(en.wikipedia.org) Subsequently, Charles proclaimed Chlothar IV as king in Austrasia to counterbalance Chilperic.(en.wikipedia.org) In 718, after another defeat at Soissons, Chilperic fled with Duke Odo of Aquitaine. Odo later surrendered him to Charles Martel, who agreed to recognize Chilperic as king in return for control of political power.(en.wikipedia.org)

In 719, Chilperic II was formally "raised on the shield" as King of all the Franks—an act meant to symbolize his reign over the united Frankish realm—but in practice his authority remained nominal, and subsequent kings of his line were considered largely figureheads.(en.wikipedia.org)

Chilperic II died on 13 February 721 at Attigny in the Ardennes and was buried in Noyon.(en.wikipedia.org) It is occasionally suggested that Childeric III may have been his son, but that parentage remains uncertain.(en.wikipedia.org)