born 570
died Dec. 595
Merovingian king of Austrasia (575–95) and king of Burgundy (592–95).
(See Merovingian dynasty .) He inherited the eastern Frankish kingdom of Austrasia on the death of his father, Sigebert I , and was dominated by his mother in the early years of his reign. His uncle, Guntram of Burgundy, adopted Childebert as his heir in 577. When he came of age he purged the Austrasian nobility (584) and launched a series of unsuccessful campaigns against the Lombards of Italy. He became ruler of Burgundy on his uncle's death in 592.