Guntram of Burgundy

St. Guntram
A tremissis bearing Guntram's effigy and minted at Chalon-sur-Saône
King of Burgundy
Reign	561 – 592
Predecessor	Chlothar I
Successor	Childebert II
Born	532 Soissons
Died	28 January 592 (aged 59–60) Chalon-sur-Saône
Spouse	Veneranda Marcatrude Austerchild
Issue	Gundobad Clothar Chlodomer
House	Merovingian
Father	Chlothar I
Mother	Ingund

Saint Guntram (c. AD 532 in Soissons – 28 January AD 592 in Chalon-sur-Saône), also called Gontram, Gontran, Gunthram, Gunthchramn, and Guntramnus, was the King of Burgundy from AD 561 to AD 592. He was the third eldest and second eldest surviving son of Chlothar I and Ingunda. On his father's death in 561, he became king of a fourth of the Kingdom of the Franks, and made his capital at Orléans. The name "Guntram" denotes "war raven".

St. King Guntram had something of that fraternal love which his brothers lacked; the preeminent chronicler of the period, St. Gregory of Tours, often called him "good king Guntram", as noted in the quotation below from the former's Decem Libri Historiarum, in which St. Gregory discussed the fate of Guntram's three marriages:

The good king Guntram first took a concubine Veneranda, a slave belonging to one of his people, by whom he had a son Gundobad. Later he married Marcatrude, daughter of Magnar, and sent his son Gundobad to Orléans. But after she had a son Marcatrude was jealous, and proceeded to bring about Gundobad's death. She sent poison, they say, and poisoned his drink. And upon his death, by God's judgment she lost the son she had and incurred the hate of the king, was dismissed by him, and died not long after. After her he took Austerchild, also named Bobilla. He had by her two sons, of whom the older was called Clothar and the younger Chlodomer.

Guntram had a period of intemperance. He was eventually overcome with remorse for the sins of his past life, and spent his remaining years repenting of them, both for himself and for his nation. In atonement, he fasted, prayed, wept, and offered himself to God. Throughout the balance of his prosperous reign he attempted to govern by Christian principles. According to St. Gregory of Tours, he was the protector of the oppressed, caregiver to the sick, and the tender parent to his subjects. He was generous with his wealth, especially in times of plague and famine. He strictly and justly enforced the law without respect to person, yet was ever ready to forgive offences against himself, including two attempted assassinations. Guntram munificently built and endowed many churches and monasteries. St. Gregory related that the king performed many miracles both before and after his death, some of which St. Gregory claimed to have witnessed himself.