Euin, the first Lombard Duke of Tridentum…

Cham king Sambhuvarman, seeing an opportunity in the anarchic conditions obtaining under China’s new Sui dynasty, ends Champa’s subjugation to the Chinese, but, when confronted by the newly vigorous empire and its soldiers, renews tribute payments to the empire in 595.

Emperor Wen orders the confiscation of privately held weapons in 595, ordering them to be collected and destroyed, but he exempts the border provinces from this edict.

Peter’s success enables Priscus, who has in the meantime been entrusted with the command of another army upstream, to prevent an Avar siege of Singidunum in 595 in a combined action with the Roman Danube fleet.

The fact that the Avars retreat and give up their plans to destroy the city and deport its inhabitants, as opposed to their conquest of 584, shows their lack of confidence and the threat they see in this border fortress.

Subsequently, the Avars turn off to Dalmatia, where they sack several fortresses, avoiding direct confrontation with Priscus.

Roman commanders are never unduly concerned about barbarian incursions into this remote and impoverished province, so Priscus has to act cautiously.

He cannot afford to neglect the defense of the Danube, so he dispatches a small force to check the Avar advance.

This small force hampers Avar advances and even retrieves part of the booty.

Peter maintains his position despite initial failure, defeats the Slavs (Priscus speaks about Bulgars) at Marcianopolis and patrols the Danube between Novae (modern Svishtov) and the Black Sea.

In late August, he crosses the Danube near Securisca west of Novae and fights his way to the Helibacia river, effectively disturbing Slav preparations for new pillaging campaigns.

The fortress city of Singidunum (Belgrade) is plundered by the Avars and abandoned after the approach of the imperial forces.

The Avars retreat and launch a raid against Dalmatia.

The Lombards sack the town of Terracina in central Italy, then go on to conquered more cities.

Terracina remains an important military stronghold of the Empire.

The Reign and Death of Childebert II (570–595 CE): Conflicts, Alliances, and Fredegund’s Assassination Attempts

Childebert II, the adopted heir and successor of his uncle Guntram, inherits Burgundy in 592 CE, briefly ruling both Austrasia and Burgundy. His reign is marked by imperial alliances, wars in Italy, and assassination attempts orchestrated by Fredegund, the widow of his father’s murderer, Chilperic I. His early death in 595 CE leaves his mother, Brunhilda, as regent for his two young sons, leading to continued political instability.

1. Relations with the Byzantine Empire and Wars Against the Lombards

• Childebert II maintains ties with Emperor Maurice of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire.
• He wages campaigns against the Lombards in Italy on behalf of Maurice, seeking to weaken Lombard control and expand Frankish influence.
• His efforts, however, achieve only limited success, failing to permanently drive out the Lombards.
• These campaigns reflect the Byzantine-Frankish military cooperation during Maurice’s reign.

2. Fredegund’s Assassination Attempts

• Fredegund, regent of Neustria for her son Chlothar II, repeatedly attempts to assassinate Childebert II to secure Neustria’s survival and expansion.
• She aims to prevent him from consolidating all Frankish lands under his rule, as she fears he will seize Chlothar’s inheritance.
• These assassination plots highlight the ongoing power struggle between Austrasia and Neustria, continuing the dynastic blood feud between Fredegund and Brunhilda.

3. The Annexation of Burgundy and Plans for Frankish Unification

• Upon Guntram’s death in 592, Childebert II annexes the Burgundian kingdom, expanding his domain.
• With control over both Austrasia and Burgundy, he contemplates seizing Neustria, aiming to become sole ruler of the Frankish realm.
• However, his plans are cut short by his sudden death in 595 CE, raising suspicions of poisoning, possibly orchestrated by Neustria or rival nobles.

4. The Aftermath: Brunhilda’s Regency and the Division of Childebert’s Realm

• With Childebert’s death, his mother Brunhilda assumes the regency, ruling Austrasia and Burgundy on behalf of his two young sons:
  • Theudebert II, King of Austrasia.
  • Theuderic II, King of Burgundy.
• Her efforts to control both kingdoms lead to further internal conflicts and aristocratic opposition, setting the stage for continued Merovingian civil wars.

Conclusion: Childebert II’s Unfulfilled Ambitions and Continued Dynastic Struggles

Childebert II’s reign was marked by:

• Frankish-Byzantine cooperation against the Lombards.
• Multiple assassination attempts by Fredegund, reflecting the Neustria-Austrasia feud.
• The annexation of Burgundy, making him one of the most powerful Merovingian kings.

His untimely death in 595 CE prevented the unification of the Frankish realm, leading to further instability under his sons, Theudebert II and Theuderic II, and ensuring that the Merovingian civil wars would continue for another generation.

Emperor Wen sends diplomatic letters to the royal court of Goguryeo, demanding the cancellation of the military alliance with the Eastern Turk Khanate and the raiding of Sui border regions.

There has been but one minor action in the Balkans for the past eighteen months after the only moderately successful Avar raid into Dalmatia.

The Avars, discouraged by the lack of success, see more prospect for booty in the West and therefore raid the Franks in 596.

Meanwhile, the Romans use Marcianopolis near Odessos as a base of operations on the lower Danube against the Slavs, rather than exploiting the Avar absence.

No notable Slav raids take place in this time, either.

The Battle of Raith is said to have been fought in 596 to the west of present day Kirkcaldy, when an invading force of Angles land son the Fife coast near Raith and defeats an alliance of Scots, Britons and Picts under King Áedán mac Gabráin of Dál Riata.

This may be the battle mentioned in the Book of Aneirin in Y Gododdin as Catraeth (although there are other candidates), cath being Gaelic for battle or fight.