Theodebert I (French Thibert I^er or Théodebert I^er), (circa 500 - 547 or 548), Merovingian king of Austrasia from 533 - 548, residence: Reims, now in northeast France.

Son of Frankish king Theuderich I. Married in 533 Deuteria , a Gallo-Roman. Later abandoned Deuteria to marry Wisigarda (daughter of Wacho , king of the Langobards). Children: Theudebald (533/535 - 555), Berthoara.

In the year 532 Theodebert completed, together with Gunthar (son of Chlothar I) the reconquest of territories held by his grandfather Clovis I, which had been taken by Goths following Clovis's death. After the death of Theuderich at the end of 533, Theodebert inherited his father's possessions, prevailing against the claims of his uncles Childebert I and Chlothar. The childless Childebert then allied himself with his newphew, and split with him the inheritance of Chlodomer's lands in Burgundy. Soon afterward, he adopted Theodebert.

The Merovingian kings then joined to fight the Ostrogoths. Allying himself with the Gepids and the Langobards (wedding their king's daughter Wisigarda), Theodebert won the northern provinces as well as Raetien . Large parts of Venice were taken in 545, but Theodebert's party avoided a confrontation with the Byzantine Emperor.

Theodebert displayed both the gifts of his family and its flaws: high statesmanship and unruly sensualism, unthinking lust for power mixed with intelligent power politics and perfidiousness. He celebrated his coronation with the striking of gold coins with his own picture and the staging of circus performances in Arles.

Theodebert died in the 14th year of his reign (at the end of 547 or the beginning of 548) and his son Theudebald succeeded him.

See Also

• List of Frankish Kings
• History of France