The Cowherd's Daughter

More Merovingian connections to Provence: Charibert I (c. 517–567) was the Merovingian King of Paris, the second-eldest son of Chlothar I and Ingund. He was evidently a Morman: He had a wife, Ingoberga, and several concubines: sisters Merofleda and Marcovefa, a wool-carder's daughters. A third concubine or wife was Theudechild, a cowherd's daughter. She bore Charibert his only son, who died in infancy.

His family life resulted in his excommunication.

His surviving queen, Theudechild, proposed a marriage with his brother Guntram. Unfortunately a council held at Paris ten years earlier had banned such marriages as incestuous. (In opposition to Old Testament law, by which a man was supposed to marry his brother's widow.)

Guntram instead put Theudechild into a nunnery in Arles. She went unwillingly.

Early Merovingian ties to Provence

Saint Clodoald (522 – c. 560), better known as Cloud, was the son of King Chlodomer of Orleans.
Clodoald was raised in Paris by his grandmother, Saint Clotilde. One of three brothers, he was targeted for assassination by his uncle, Clotaire I. His two brothers, Theodoald and Gunther, were killed by Clotaire when they were ten and nine respectively—Clodoald survived by escaping to Provence. (According to Katherine Rabenstein, author of Saints O' the Day for September 7.

Next comes the Frankish/Merovingian invasion of western Provence (Septimania) in 534: Theudebert son of Theuderic I of Austrasia invaded Septimania allied with Prince Gunthar son of King Chlothar. Gunthar stopped at Rodez and did not invade Septimania. Theudebert conquered the country as far as Beziers and Carbiriers, where he met Deuteria, a Gallo-Roman, (pdf!) and they married. Theudebert and his half brother Childebert invaded Spain as far as Saragossa 534-538. Soon after the Visigoths regained the territory they had lost in Theudebert's invasion.

Bearing Witness to Savage Sixth & Seventh C Gaul

Novelist Katherine Christensen has a blog "bearing witness to savage sixth and seventh century Gaul..."

And it was savage. The Merovingians were an odd bunch to claim to be descended from Jesus. They killed off brothers and nephews and then bed the widows of the dearly departed. Her "general research" category is a good one, with posts like "The Age of the Merovingians. . .Europe Without Borders:"

Imagine the complete collapse of a civilized society. The riverbanks of law, order, and economic stability have been breached. A powerful people burst over the former banks like a raging river in full flood. . .
One fierce Pagan family line emerges as clear leaders in mayhem of Caucasian tribal dominion. . .the Merovingian Line of Kings and the women that they call wife, consort, mother, daughter, sister. . . .
It was a Europe without borders and laid the foundation for those who would someday be defined as leaders of the modern world.

I suppose she means Germanic as opposed to Celt when she says Caucasian?