Dagobert II

Reign: 676 – 679
Life: 652–679

He is one of the more obscure Merovingians. He has been considered a martyr since at least the ninth century. None of the narrative histories of the Merovingian period give an account of Dagobert's reign, which has been reconstructed from several different sources. Upon the death of his father in 656, he was deprived of the succession and exiled to Ireland to live as a monk. His return to Austrasia was arranged by Wilfrid, bishop of York. During his brief reign, he was at war with Neustria, signed a peace treaty with the Lombard Kingdom in Italy and reintroduced gold coinage.

During Dagobert II's reign, Constantine IV ruled Rome, Emperor Gaozong of Tang ruled China, and Emperor Tenmu ruled Japan.

Further reading: The Merovingian Kingdoms, 450–751 by Ian Wood

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Dagobert II

The World During Their Reign

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Further Reading

The Merovingian Kingdoms, 450–751