Clotaire II

Clotaire II, son of Chilperie I and Fredegund, succeeded his father in 584. but only in Chilperic's original kingdom of Soissons. Clotaire, after many family strifes, became sole king of the Franks in 613. At an assembly in Paris, in 614, Clotaire issued art edict, which, among other provisions, decreed that election of bishops was to be by clergy and people (a clero et populo), with right of confirmation in the king, and reserving also a right of direct nomination to the king (c. 1). No bishop was to elect his own successor (c. 2). The clergy were only in special cases to be subject to the civil courts (c. 4). In disputes between the clergy and civilians, the cause was to be adjudged by a mixed tribunal (c. 5). Liberty of appeal was grained against oppressive taxation (c. 9); also liberty to relations of intestates to inherit (c. 6). In local administration natives of the locality alone were to be employed (c. 12). Finally, there was a clause that neither freeman nor slave, unless a thief caught in the act, should be condemned to death without a hearing. Clotaire died in 628, and was succeeded by his son, Dagobert.