King Gundobad

Author: * Anarane Burgundian - 3 Posts on this thread out of 2,107 Posts sitewide.
Date: Nov 4, 2004 - 03:04

Gundobad who incidentally was a Roman patrician, is considered the most important of the Burgundian kings. He reigned from 473 to 516 AD, and his most important contribution contibution to history was Burgundian law. The Lex Gundobada also referred to as Lex Burgundionum, was developed in 484 B.C. for his own people. Later in his reign, the Lex Romana Burgundinum was developed for occasions where both Roman and Burgundian subjects were involved in a dispute or other matter.

Gundobad originally split control of Burgundy with his brothers: Godegisel, Chilperic and Godomar. However, he killed Gundomar and Chilperic rather early on and without much trouble. His brother Godegisel was another story.

The two brothers battled each other for years and both tried to use Clovis I against the other. Clovis took Godesigel's side and eventually Gundobad was forced to pay an annual tribute to Clovis in order to save his life. After a few years, Gundobad's forces increased in strength and he chose to end the tribute and once again set out against Godesigel.
Besieged in Vienne (in the west center of France) Godesigel panicked and drove the commoners out of the city in order to avoid his own starvation. Angered citizens helped Gundobad into the city where he killed his brother and became the sole king of Burgundy in 501 B.C.

Later in his reign he converted to Christianity and made peace with the Franks. At his death, his son Sigismund became king of Burgundy.

Source:
Wikipedia