The Maya military outpost of Dos Pilas…

Xuanzang and his brother, at the collapse of thet Sui Dynasty in 618, had fled to Chang'an, which had been proclaimed as the capital of the Tang Dynasty, and thence southward to Chengdu, Sichuan.

Here the two brothers had spent two or three years in further study in the monastery of Kong Hui, including the Abhidharmakosa-sastra (Abhidharma Storehouse Treatise).

When Xuanzang requested to take Buddhist orders at the age of thirteen, the abbot Zheng Shanguo had made an exception in his case because of his precocious knowledge.

Xuanzang had been fully ordained as a monk in 622, at the age of twenty.

The myriad contradictions and discrepancies in the texts at this time have prompted Xuanzang to decide to go to India and study in the cradle of Buddhism.

He subsequently left his brother and returned to Chang'an to study foreign languages and to continue his study of Buddhism.

He began his mastery of Sanskrit in 626, and probably also studied Tocharian.

During this time, Xuanzang had also became interested in the metaphysical Yogacara school of Buddhism.

Xuanzang reportedly has a dream that persuades him to journey to India.

The Tang Dynasty and Eastern Türk Göktürks are waging war at this time; therefore Emperor Taizong of Tang has prohibited foreign travel.

Xuanzang persuades some Buddhist guards at the gates of Yumen and slips out of the empire via Liangzhou (Gansu), and Qinghai province in 629.

The successful campaign in Georgia had likely encouraged Tong Yabghu to grander designs.

This time, he plans to incorporate Aghvania into his Western Turkic khaganate, rather than to wield a usual campaign of plunder.

Before returning to Suyab, he instructs Böri Shad and his generals to "spare the lives of the rulers and nobles of that land, in as much as they come out to meet my son, surrender to my rule, concede their towns, castles, and trade to my troops".

These words indicate that Tong Yabghu is eager to retain control of the westernmost portion of the Silk Route, as he tightens his grip of its other segments all the way east to China.

Böri Shad determines to expand his control of Transcaucasia and in April 629 sends the Khazar general Chorpan Tarkhan with as little as thirty thousand cavalry to invade Armenia.

Using a characteristic ploy of nomadic warriors, Chorpan Tarkhan ambushes and annihilates a Persian force of ten thousand dispatched by Shahrbaraz to counter the invasion.

The Turks unexpectedly withdraw of their own accord from Transcaucasia later in 629, but this is more than outweighed by domestic political instability.

Charibert II’s Bid for Neustria and the Establishment of the Aquitanian Kingdom (629 CE)

Following the death of Chlothar II in 629 CE, Charibert II, the younger half-brother of Dagobert I, challenges his elder brother’s claim to Neustria, seeking a share of their father’s kingdom. This leads to tense negotiations, in which Charibert, still a minor, is represented by his uncle Brodulf, the brother of his mother Queen Sichilde.

However, Dagobert I eliminates Brodulf, securing his position in Neustria and Burgundy, while allowing Charibert II to establish himself in Aquitaine, effectively creating a semi-independent kingdom in the south.

1. Charibert II’s Claim to Neustria and the Role of Brodulf

• Charibert II, as the son of Queen Sichilde, had a legitimate claim to part of Chlothar II’s realm.
• As he was still too young to rule independently, his uncle Brodulf acts as his guardian and political representative, advocating for his right to Neustria.
• Brodulf’s political maneuvering poses a direct challenge to Dagobert I, who had already ruled Austrasia since 623 and now sought to rule Neustria and Burgundy unopposed.

2. The Assassination of Brodulf and the Settlement

• Dagobert I, determined to secure his inheritance, orders Brodulf’s assassination, removing Charibert’s most powerful protector.
• With Brodulf gone, Charibert loses any realistic claim to Neustria, and Dagobert becomes sole ruler of Austrasia, Neustria, and Burgundy.
• However, Dagobert does not prevent Charibert from taking control of Aquitaine, allowing him to rule independently from Toulouse.

3. The Establishment of the Aquitanian Kingdom

• Charibert II sets up his court at Toulouse, governing Aquitaine as a near-autonomous realm.
• This move effectively creates a new political entity in southern Gaul, reinforcing the distinct identity of Aquitaine within the Frankish world.
• While still technically a vassal to Dagobert, Charibert II enjoys a great deal of independence, overseeing the Romanized regions of southern Gaul.

4. The Long-Term Impact of Charibert’s Rule

• The creation of Aquitaine as a semi-independent kingdom foreshadows later divisions in the Frankish realm, particularly the regional autonomy of southern Gaul.
• Charibert II’s rule lasts only a few years, as he dies in 632 CE, possibly assassinated on Dagobert’s orders.
• After his death, Dagobert quickly absorbs Aquitaine, reinforcing his position as the strongest Merovingian king of the seventh century.

Conclusion: A Temporary Concession to Preserve Stability

The division between Dagobert I and Charibert II in 629 CE represents a temporary political compromise to avoid a full-scale Merovingian civil war. While Dagobert secures Neustria and eliminates Brodulf, he allows Charibert to rule Aquitaine, effectively recognizing the region’s semi-autonomy. However, this balance is short-lived, as Charibert’s early death in 632 CE allows Dagobert to reunify the Frankish kingdom once again.

Charibert II’s Realm and the Expansion of the Aquitanian Kingdom (629–632 CE)

Following the death of Chlothar II in 629 CE, Charibert II, the younger half-brother of Dagobert I, is granted Aquitaine as a near-autonomous kingdom, with his capital at Toulouse. His realm includes not only Toulouse but also the strategic cities of Agen, Cahors, Périgueux, and Saintes, to which he later adds Gascony, further expanding his control over southern Gaul.

1. The Composition of Charibert II’s Kingdom

Charibert’s realm, though technically a Frankish sub-kingdom, comprises some of the most Romanized and culturally distinct regions of

Charibert II’s Realm and the Expansion of the Aquitanian Kingdom (629–632 CE)

Following the death of Chlothar II in 629 CE, Charibert II, the younger half-brother of Dagobert I, is granted Aquitaine as a near-autonomous kingdom, with his capital at Toulouse. His realm includes not only Toulouse but also the strategic cities of Agen, Cahors, Périgueux, and Saintes, to which he later adds Gascony, further expanding his control over southern Gaul.

1. The Composition of Charibert II’s Kingdom

Charibert’s realm, though technically a Frankish sub-kingdom, comprises some of the most Romanized and culturally distinct regions of Gaul:

• Agen – A key Gallo-Roman settlement on the Garonne River, controlling trade routes between Toulouse and the Atlantic coast.

• Périgueux – A former Gallo-Roman city, crucial for controlling the Dordogne region.

• Saintes – A fortified city with strong ecclesiastical and military influence.
• Gascony – A rugged region with a strong Basque presence, added to Charibert’s holdings to secure Frankish influence in the southwest.

By consolidating these territories, Charibert establishes one of the first distinct Frankish sub-kingdoms in Aquitaine, a foreshadowing of future divisions in the Merovingian realm.

2. Charibert II’s Rule from Toulouse

• Charibert governs from Toulouse, making it the political and military hub of Aquitaine.
• His rule is semi-autonomous, meaning he owes allegiance to Dagobert I but governs independently.
• His kingdom serves as a buffer against the Vascones (Basques) in the Pyrenees, reinforcing Frankish control in the southwest.

3. The Short-Lived Aquitanian Kingdom

• Charibert’s reign is brief, lasting only three years.
• In 632 CE, he dies under mysterious circumstances, possibly assassinated on Dagobert’s orders.
• His infant son, Chilperic of Toulouse, is also killed shortly after, effectively ending the independent rule of Aquitaine.
• Following their deaths, Dagobert I absorbs the entire kingdom, reuniting the Frankish realm under his rule.

4. The Legacy of Charibert II’s Rule

• Though short-lived, his reign establishes Aquitaine as a distinct political entity, setting a precedent for later Merovingian and Carolingian sub-kingdoms.
• His control over Gascony marks one of the earliest Frankish efforts to govern the Basque frontier, an issue that will persist for centuries.
• The collapse of his kingdom after his death in 632 CE reinforces the centralized power of Dagobert I, at least temporarily.

Conclusion: A Brief but Significant Expansion of Frankish Power

Charibert II’s rule over Aquitaine, Agen, Cahors, Périgueux, Saintes, and Gascony represents a key moment in the territorial organization of the Frankish kingdom. His death in 632 CE leads to the reabsorption of Aquitaine into Dagobert I’s realm, but his reign foreshadows future struggles for regional autonomy in southern Gaul.

Dagobert I Consolidates Power: Victory for Chilperic’s Dynasty (629 CE)

With the death of Chlothar II in 629 CE, the long and bloody dynastic struggle among the Merovingians finally ends with Chilperic I’s family emerging victorious. His grandson, Dagobert I, ascends the throne, inheriting Burgundy and Neustria, while facing challenges from his half-brother Charibert II over Neustria.

1. The Inheritance of Dagobert I and the Succession Dispute

• Upon Chlothar II’s death, his eldest son, Dagobert I, assumes control of the core Frankish realms, including:
  • Neustria (northern Frankish lands, including Paris)
  • Burgundy (eastern and central Frankish territories)
• His half-brother Charibert II, son of Chlothar’s second wife Sichilde, lays claim to Neustria, challenging Dagobert’s authority.

2. The Petition of Brodulf and Dagobert’s Ruthless Response

• Brodulf, Sichilde’s brother, steps in as an advocate for his young nephew Charibert II, attempting to secure his share of the inheritance.
• Brodulf petitions Dagobert to recognize Charibert’s claim, but rather than negotiating, Dagobert orders Brodulf’s assassination, eliminating a key supporter of his half-brother.
• This ruthless act of political maneuvering ensures that Dagobert maintains full control over Neustria and Burgundy without opposition from Sichilde’s faction.

3. The Settlement: Charibert II Given Aquitaine

• To prevent further conflict, Dagobert grants his younger brother Charibert II the newly formed sub-kingdom of Aquitaine, which had recently grown in importance.
• This move serves multiple purposes:
  • Pacifies Charibert, giving him an independent domain.
  • Establishes Aquitaine as a semi-autonomous realm, reducing pressure on Dagobert’s main territories.
  • Strengthens Frankish rule over southern Gaul, an area traditionally more Romanized and resistant to direct Frankish control.

4. The Final Victory of Chilperic’s Line

• With Dagobert as the supreme ruler of the central Frankish lands and Charibert confined to Aquitaine, Chilperic’s descendants firmly secure their dynasty’s dominance.
• The long civil war between the Merovingian factions, which had begun with Chilperic’s murder of Galswintha in 568, effectively ends with Dagobert’s triumph.
• However, Charibert II’s death in 632 CE will later allow Dagobert to reabsorb Aquitaine, further consolidating his power.

Conclusion: Dagobert I’s Ruthless Consolidation of Power

Dagobert I ensures his supremacy through assassination, political strategy, and territorial concessions, emerging as the strongest Merovingian king since Clovis I. His decisive actions against Brodulf and Charibert II solidify his control, marking the final victory of Chilperic’s lineage in the Frankish succession wars. However, his granting of Aquitaine foreshadows the increasing fragmentation of the Frankish realm, setting a precedent for future regional autonomy and aristocratic power struggles.

Emperor Heraclius, after a tour of the Empire, on March 21, 629, marches into Jerusalem at the head of his army with the support of Jewish inhabitants, his mission the restoration of the True Cross to the city in a majestic ceremony.

The Jews, who had previously fought with the Persians against Roman rule, support him in return for a promise of amnesty.