Basilique St-Germain-des-Pres, Paris

Basilique St-Germain-des-Prés

Paris

Childebert I (496 - 511 - 558 (62)) was one of the four sons amongst whom Clovis I (c466 - 481 - 511 (44)) - the First Merovingian King of the Franks - divided his kingdom. Childebert expanded from his Paris base into Burgundy and Provence, took over Chartres and other western places, and also had an unsuccessful go at Spain - which is how come the tunic of St-Vincent arrived back in Paris and was ensconced in the purpose built abbey of St-Vincent (later renamed St-Germain-des-Prés), which was dedicated by Bishop Germain on 23 December 558 - ironically the day on which Childebert died.

St-Germain (496 - 576 (80)) - Appointed by Childebert I as Bishop of Paris, he was said to have exerted a "good influence" on the excesses of the king and his subjects (ie he was a wowser with a strong personality).

More about Medieval French (and other) Saints, Kings and Queens

St-Germain and Childebert I in a stained glass panel from St-Germain-des-Prés c1240 which somehow ended up in the V & A (London)

from "Medieval Stained Glass in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London"

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Childebert I - a c1240 trumeau statue originally part of the portal of the St-Germain-des-Prés (Paris) monastery refectory - now in the Louvre Museum.

This 1163 gisant of Childebert I from / holding the Abbey of St-Germain-des-Prés (Paris) is said to be the oldest surviving gisant in the north of France - it was moved to St-Denis from St-Germain in 1816 when they were repopulating their royal collection which had been badly monstered during the revolution.

In the gloomy corner of the west porch, this capital gives a hint of what a rich place St-Germain would have been in the middle ages before the decay set in.

MORE PHOTOS IN THE PIPELINE

St-Germain Capitals (c1030) in the Cluny Museum, Paris