Gontran Boson
Duke / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gontran Boson, also known as Gontran The Cunning, was a Frankish duke in the service of the Merovingian kings Sigebert I and Childebert II. He was born around 545 and died in 587.
Gontran Boson was involved in the civil war (568-613) between the three parts of the Frankish kingdom: the eastern part, ruled by Sigebert and his son Childebert, the western part, ruled by Chilperic, and the former Burgundian kingdom, ruled by King Guntram. He fought against Thibert, Chilperic's first son, then became a companion in the adventures of Meroveta, the king's second son. He introduced Gondoald, a pretender to the kingdom of the Franks. Hated for this by King Gontran, he was eventually handed over to the latter when the latter came to terms with his nephew Childebert. He was stripped of his possessions and put to death.
Historians remember him particularly for his military skills and superstitious nature. They portray him as a volatile schemer, particularly hated by the main source of his story, Bishop Gregory of Tours.