Chimnechild of Burgundy

Chimnechild of Burgundy (also Himnechildis) (7th-century – fl. 662) was a Frankish queen consort by marriage to king Sigebert III the King of Austrasia.

Initially, their marriage was childless, and the manager (or 'mayor') of their palace, Grimoald, convinced them to adopt his son, Childebert. Afterwards, Chimnechild and Sigebert III had two children: a daughter, Bilichild, and a son and heir, Dagobert II (though some scholars, such as Wood, question whether Dagobert was Chimnechild's biological child).

In 656 CE, Sigebert III died, and the small child Dagobert II was placed on the throne, with Chimnechild and Grimoald apparently in power behind the scenes. A few years later, c. 660, Grimoald executed a coup to seize power and place his son, Childebert the Adopted, on the throne. They had Dagobert II tonsured and forced to go on pilgrimage to Ireland, while Chimnechild and her daughter Bilichild fled.

Following Childebert's death a mere year into his reign, she began manoeuvring. She opposed the succession of Theuderic III and of Dagobert II, and instead arranged a marriage between her daughter Bilichild and Childeric II, whose succession she supported. Apparently as part of the agreement for Childeric to take the throne, she was appointed to act as regent; she remained regent until 675 CE.