Reccared dies a natural death at Toledo in 601.

Liuva II had, at eighteen, succeeded his father Reccared as Visigothic King of Hispania, Septimania and Galicia.

The Goth Witteric, one of the conspirators with Bishop Sunna de Mérida to reestablish Arianism in 589, had in 602 been given command of the army to repulse the imperial forces.

From his position of power at the head of the army, he has surrounded himself with people in his confidence.

When it comes time to expel the imperial forces, Witteric instead uses his troops in the spring of 603 to strike at the young king .

Invading the royal palace, and deposing the young king, he counts on the support of a faction of nobles in opposition to the dynasty of Leovigild.

Witteric cuts off the king's right hand and in the summer has him condemned and executed.