(also Brunichildis). Born c. 534, died Feb. 28, 613, at Renève. French queen, wife of Sigebert I, king of Austrasia.
Brunhilda was the daughter of the king of the Visigoths. She opposed Chilperic I, the king of Neustria, and his mistress Fredegund, who was responsible for the murder of Brunhilda’s sister. In 575, after the death of her husband, who had been killed in an internecine struggle with Chilperic, she became the actual ruler of Austrasia; and from 593 A.D., of Burgundy as well. She tried to reunite the Frankish kingdom. In a bloody struggle against the Austrasian nobles, who had called on King Clotaire of Neustria, son of Fredegund, she was defeated and put to a cruel death.