Childebert of France

Childebert I
Statuette of Childebert from his abbey of St. Germain-des-Prés, 13th century (Musée du Louvre)
King of Paris
Reign	511–558
Predecessor	Clovis I
Successor	Clothar I
King of Orléans
Reign	524–558
Predecessor	Chlodomer
Successor	Clothar I
Born	c. 496 Reims
Died	13 December 558 (aged 61–62)
Spouse	Ultragotha
Issue	Chrodoberge Chrodesinde
Dynasty	Merovingian
Father	Clovis I
Mother	Clotilde
Religion	Nicene Christianity

Childebert I (c. 496 – 13 December 558) was a Frankish King of the Merovingian dynasty, as third of the four sons of Clovis I who shared the kingdom of the Franks upon their father's death in 511. He was one of the sons of Saint Clotilda, born at Reims. He reigned as King of Paris from 511 to 558 and Orléans from 524 to 558.

In the partition of the realm, Childebert received as his share the town of Paris, the country to the north as far as the river Somme, to the west as far as the English Channel, and the Armorican peninsula (modern Brittany). His brothers ruled in different lands: Theuderic I in Metz, Chlodomer in Orléans, and Clothar I in Soissons.

In 523, Childebert participated with his brothers in a war against Godomar of Burgundy. Chlodomer died in the Battle of Vézeronce (524). Thereafter, concerned that the three sons of Chlodomer would inherit the kingdom of Orléans, Clothar conspired with Childebert to oust them. They sent a representative to their mother Clotilde, who as the queen mother had authority as the head of the family line. The representative presented a pair of scissors and a sword, offering her the choice to shear the three young boys, thereby depriving them of the long hair considered a symbol of royal power, or to have them killed. She famously replied, "It is better for me to see them dead rather than shorn, if they are not raised to the kingship". After the murder of Chlodomer's two elder children—the third, Clodoald, escaping to a monastic life—Childebert annexed the cities of Chartres and Orléans.