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Himiltrude (c. 742-c.780?) was the mother of Charlemagne's first-born son Pippin the Hunchback.



Himiltrude probably entered into a relationship with Charlemagne during the lifetime of his father, Pepin the Younger.[1][3] When Charlemagne acceded to the throne in 768, Himiltrude remained unnamed in official sources – contrary to the example set by Charlemagne's mother, Bertrada of Laon.[1] Himiltrude bore Charles a daughter called Amaudru,[3] who would later marry a Count of Paris; and at the end of 769 a son called Pépin.[3] Shortly after Pepin's birth, an alliance was formulated between Charlemagne and the King of the Lombards, Desiderius. To seal the alliance, it was agreed that Charlemagne should marry Desiderius' daughter (called Desiderata by modern scholars).

Himiltrude was dismissed at that time and disappears from historical records. A grave excavated in the monastery of Nivelles was found to contain the corpse of a forty-year old woman, possibly identifiable with Himiltrude. If so, Himiltrude would appear to have died long after 770, although if and when she retired to Nivelles cannot be deduced.[1]

Her son Pépin, who suffered from a spinal deformity and was called "the Hunchback", was eclipsed by Charlemagne's sons from the later marriage of this to Hildegard. Following an attempted rebellion against his father, he was confined to a monastery.[1]

Marital status[edit]




  3. ^ a b c d Gerd Treffer, Die französischen Königinnen. Von Bertrada bis Marie Antoinette (8.-18. Jahrhundert), p. 30.
  4. ^ Einhard, Vita Karoli Magni, ch. 20
  5. ^ Pierre Riché, The Carolingians, p.86.