Background
After the death of the Merovingian king Theudebald of Austrasia, his successor Chlothar I had "begun to have intercourse with" his widow Waldrada (531 – 572), daughter of the Lombard king Wacho.
After the death of the Merovingian king Theudebald of Austrasia, his successor Chlothar I had "begun to have intercourse with" his widow Waldrada (531 – 572), daughter of the Lombard king Wacho.
He stands at the head of the Agilolfings and the Bavarian Dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of the Lombards. Chlothar"s bishops objected, so he gave Waldrada to Garibald to marry in 556. Not only did this grant Garibald prestige, but it created lasting political ties between the Bavarii and the Lombards of Pannonia and Bohemia.
This would have consequences after the Lombards moved into Italy in 568.
At the same time the Merovingians were attempting to normalise relations with Authari, the Lombard king, by arranging a marriage between Childebert"s sister and Authari. Both these proposals fell through.
The offended Authari was engaged to Theodelinda in 588. Fearing an anti-Frankish axis, the Franks sent an army into Bavaria.
Garibald"s children Gundoald and Theodelinda fled to Italy.
In 590, the Franks invaded Lombardy with help from Byzantium, but were defeated. In 591, Childebert normalised relations with the Lombards and Bavarii. After King Authari died in 590, the Lombard dukes asked Theodelinda to marry again.
They then negotiated a peace with Childebert which lasted for decades.
According to Paulus Diaconus, peace with Bavaria was restored when Childebert named Tassilo rex (king). lieutenant is unknown whether Garibald was deposed or died.
