Treasures from the tomb of Childeric I
Date:
ca. 482
Location or Findspot (Modern-Day Country):
Belgium
Description:
Childeric I (ca. 436–ca. 482) was the son of the semi-legendary Merovech, whose name is the basis of the Merovingian dynasty. Childeric's tomb was discovered in Tournai (modern-day Belgium) in 1653 and included gold and silver coins, fittings for the hilt of a double-edged sword (spatha), fittings for the scabbard of a singled-edged sword (sax), a horse skull, a bracelet, a gold signet ring inscribed CHILDERICI REGIS ("of Childeric the king"), and around 300 winged insects (often identified as bees) made from gold inlaid with garnet. These were originally sewn to the king's cloak (imagery that Napoleon later incorporated into his coat of arms). In 1656, the treasure was sent to the Habsburg treasury in Vienna. Nine years later, it was presented to King Louis XIV, who stored it in France's Royal library (later the Bibliothèque nationale de France). Childeric's treasure was stolen from the Royal Library in 1831 but certain pieces were later recovered, including the two bees and sword fittings reproduced here.
Relevant Textbook Chapter(s):
2
Image Credits:
Bibliothèque nationale de France
