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3RD DRAFT OF BIOGRAPHY

Waifre was ruling Duke of Aquitaine from 744 to his death in 768.

Name

His name in surviving texts shows many variations. Cawley refers to him as Waifar[1] while the English version of Wikipedia calls him Waiofar. [2] In Du Mège's history, he is Waifre,[3] and other versions found inclide Gaifer, Gaifier, Gaïfier, Guaiferio, Guyver, Waifarius, Waifer, Waïfer, Waiffre, Waifre, Waifré, Waïfre, and Waifred.

720 Birth and parentage

He was born in approximately 720 at an unknown place,[1] the son of Hunoald, ruling Duke of Aquitaine, and a mother whose name is unknown.[3][1] According to Du Mège, writing in 1840, he married his cousin Adèle, granddaughter of his uncle Hatton,[3] but this is now generally discredited, as is the claim that they had a son named Loup. Cawley notes the reported marriage to Adela, daughter and heiress of Loup, Duke of Gascony, and a resulting son called Loup but adds that the sole source, an alleged charter dated 30 Jan 845, is probably spurious.[1]

744 Succeeding to duchy

In 744 his father retired to a monastery on the Île de Ré off the Atlantic coast, naming Waifre as next Duke.[3][1] He was referred to in 749 as Duke of Aquitaine.[1]

Aquitaine at the time formed, with Gascony, the south-western part of present-day France, not very different from the modern region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.[4] To its north was the Frankish realm of Neustria under the control of the dynamic Pepin, who had declared himself King in 751, and to its south-east was the Saracen province of Septimania, since 719 under the rule of the Umayyad Caliphs who had conquered Spain.[5] Most of the rest of Waifre's life was spent defending Aquitaine against these neighbours or seeking to expand it at their expense. Since the sources concentrate on his wars, less is known of the internal affairs of the duchy.[2]

748 Support for Pepin's brother Grifo

Just as his father had found, Aquitaine was in the sights of the ambitious Pepin, who Waifre soon fell out with over various issues.[2] One was in 748 when he gave refuge to Pepin's estranged brother Grifo and then refused to release him to Pepin's emissaries.[6] [1]

751 Attack on Septimania

In 751, rather than confront Pepin directly, he decided to invade Septimania, hoping to conquer it at least in part and so deny it to both Saracens and Franks. He attacked the capital city of Narbonne, but his incursion alarmed several of the Visigothic magnates of Septimania, who transferred their allegiance to Pepin.[6] [2]

753 Murder of Pepin's brother Grifo

In 753 Pepin's fugitive brother Grifo, who had planned to leave Aquitaine for sanctuary in Rome, was assassinated. Presumably this was done by agents or partisans of Pepin, and created another reason for conflict between Waifre and his neighbour.[2]

A charter issued by Waifre in 756 or 757 ("in the month of September in the 12th year of lord Waifarius, prince") has survived, in which he grants an estate to a supporter. Holders of such lands would supply money and men in the event of war. A chronicler notes that he seized church lands to reward his followers.[2]

760 Pepin invades Aquitaine

On the pretext that he was defending the church from Waifre's exactions, in 760 Pepin invaded Aquitaine on two fronts. [1] In an attack from the south-east, the cities of Rodez, Albi, and Toulouse fell to his forces.[2] An assault from the noth-east took the provinces of Berry and Auvergne, ravaging much of the duchy.[2] In the treaty which followed, Pepin kept permanent control of several fortresses in Auvergne, while Waifre gave hostages and undertook to respect ecclesiastical property.[1] [2]

Peace did not hold, and in 762 Pepin invaded Aquitaine again.[1] Advancing this time from the north, he took the provinces of Berry and Poitou, capturing the cities of Bourges, after a lengthy siege, Thouars, and Poitiers. Many prisoners were taken back to Neustria.[2] There was also fighting around Narbonne in the south, in which the Aquitanians came off worse.[2] In 763, Waifre offered to submit to Pepin, if he could receive back Bourges and other Aquitanian cities subject to paying tribute, but nothing came of it. Instead, Pepin raided deep into the Aquitanian provinces of Limousin and Quercy. [2] By 765 Waifre had raised a large army, including many Gascons from south of the River Garonne, but by 766 most of his followers had abandoned him and he had been forced to abandon many cities: Poitiers, Limoges, Saintes, Périgueux and Angoulême. Pepin repeated his campaigns in Aquitaine each year, culminating in 768 when most of the duchy was under his control and he was determined to end the confrontation.[1]

768 End of the war

This final phase of the war was fought with increasing brutality, and the chroniclers record that Pepin burnt villas, despoiled vineyards and depopulated monasteries.[2] He sent armed columns to comb the countryside and, it was reported, was able to bribe some of Waifre's retainers. It was they who, according to one account, murdered him somewhere in Périgord on 2 Jun 768, possibly in his bed.[7] Other accounts gave him a more honourable death in battle.[1] Pepin's forces captured Waifre's mother, one of his two sisters, and his nieces, who he is reported to have spared.[8] Pepin only outlived Waifre by a few weeks, dying on 24 Sep 768.[9]

Sources

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families, Online at Foundation for Medieval Genealogy Website. Aquitaine: Entry for Waifar Accessed 3 July 2020 jhd
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 Wikipedia:Waiofar Accessed 3 July 2020 jhd
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Du Mège. Histoire Générale De Languedoc, Avec Des Notes Et Les Pièces Justificatives Composée Sur Les Auteurs Et Les Titres Originaux, Et Enrichie De Divers Monumens”, Par Dom Claude De Vic Et Dom Vaissete, Religieux Bénédictins De La Congrégation De Saint-Maur; Commentée Et Continuée Jusqu'en 1830, Et Augmentée D'un Grand Nombre De Chartes Et De Documens Inédits, Par M. Le Chev. Al. Du Mège. Tome Second. Toulouse, J.-B. Paya , Propriétaire-Éditeur , Hôtel Castellane. M DCCC Xl. Genealogie d'Eudes, Duc D'Aquitaine, Suivant La Charte D'Alaon. Accessed 1 July 2020 jhd
  4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouvelle-Aquitaine
  5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiofar#/media/File:Francia_at_the_death_of_Pepin_of_Heristal,_714.jpg
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Grippon ne fût pas encore satisfait de cet appanage, soit qu'il appréhendât que Pepin lui manquât de parole et le fist enfermer une seconde fois, il abandonna la Neustrie et alla chercher un azile en Aquitaine chez le duc Waifre qui le reçut fort volontiers. Pepin envoia l'année suivante (an 750) des ambassadeurs à ce duc pour le prier de lui remettre son frere; ce que celui-ci refusa de faire avec beaucoup de hauteur. Du Mège p752
  7. ↑ Il avoit gagné quelques-uns des domestiques du même duc ou des gens de sa suite, qui promirent de s'en défaire. Ces malheureux trop exacts à s'acquitter de leurs promesses, l'assassinerent dans le Perigord la nuit du deuxiéme de Juin de l'an 768. et ce fut apparemment dans son lit. Du Mège p768
  8. ↑ Nous savons du moins qu'il usa de clémence envers la mere, la soeur et les niéces de Waifre qu'on prit et qu'on lui présenta en même-tems, qu'il se contenta de s'assûrer de leurs personnes, et qu'il ordonna de les traiter avec honneur. Du Mège p768
  9. ↑ Pépin, tombé malade à Saintes, décide de se rendre à Saint-Denis en passant d'abord par Poitiers puis par Tours. Arrivé à Saint-Denis, il convoque les grands du royaume et leur fait approuver un partage de celui-ci. Il meurt peu de temps après, le 24 septembre 768 à l'abbaye de Saint-Denis https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9pin_le_Bref

Bibliography Du Mège. “Histoire Générale De Languedoc, Avec Des Notes Et Les Pièces Justificatives Composée Sur Les Auteurs Et Les Titres Originaux, Et Enrichie De Divers Monumens”, Par Dom Claude De Vic Et Dom Vaissete, Religieux Bénédictins De La Congrégation De Saint-Maur; Commentée Et Continuée Jusqu'en 1830, Et Augmentée D'un Grand Nombre De Chartes Et De Documens Inédits, Par M. Le Chev. Al. Du Mège. Tome Second. Toulouse, J.-B. Paya , Propriétaire-Éditeur , Hôtel Castellane. M DCCC Xl. Genealogie d'Eudes, Duc D'Aquitaine, Suivant La Charte D'Alaon.

Acknowledgements

  • Special thanks to Stanley Flower for his translation of Du Mege's book and work on this biography.


VERSION 2

Name

Cawley refers to him as Waifar[1] while Wikipedia refers to him as Waiofar. [2] His name in Western European texts shows many variations: Gaifer, Gaifier, Gaïfier, Guaiferio, Guyver, Waifar, Waifarius, Waifer, Waïfer, Waiffre, Waifre, Waifré, Waïfre, Waifred, and Waiofar. [3]

720 Birth and Parents

Cawley states that he was born in approximaely 720 at an unknown place. [1]

He was the son of Hunold, ruling Duke of Aquitaine, and a mother whose name is unknown. [10][1]

The charter of Charles II "le Chauve" King of the West Franks dated 30 Jan 845 (possibly spurious, as explained in the Introduction) names "primogenito Vifario" as "nepote" of "Eudone Boggisi filio", implying but not stating explicitly that he was the son of Duke Hunoald[33]. [1]

Marriage

According to Du Mege, writing in 1840, some sources claim that he married his cousin Adèle, granddaughter of his uncle Hatton,[11] but this is now generally discredited, as is the claim that he had a son named Loup.

Cawley also reports the marriage to Adela, daughter and heiress of Loup, Duke of Gascony. The charter of Charles II "le Chauve" King of the West Franks dated 30 Jan 845, which Cawley notes is possibly spurious, names "Adelæ…Ducis Lupi filiæ" as mother of his son "Lupus". Cawley adds that Adela's parentage and marriage have not been corroborated by other primary sources consulted. [1]

744 Rule

He succeeded his father in 745 as Duke of Aquitaine. [1]

ruling Duke of Aquitaine from 744 to 768, was born in approximately 720 at an unknown place. [1]

He began rule as Duke in 744. The Annales Metenses records that "Hunaldus" retired as a monk to the monastery “Radis insola” [L'Isle de Ré] in 744 and left “filium...suum Waifarium in principatu”. [1]

He was named "Waifarium dux Aquitaniorum" in 749 by the Annales Metenses. [1]

In 744 his father retired to a monastery in the Île de Ré off the Atlantic coast, naming Waifre as next Duke.[12]

Waifre was Duke of Aquitaine. [6]

Waiofar, also spelled Waifar, Waifer or Waiffre was the last independent Duke of Aquitaine from 745 to 768. [2] In this approximate time period, the area of present-day France had four major components, Austrasia to the northeast, Neustria to the northwest, Aquitaine to the southwest, and Burgundy to the southeast.

He peacefully succeeded his father, Hunald I, after the latter entered a monastery. [2]

Although much is known of Waiofar's wars with Pepin the Short,[14] little is known of his administration of Aquitaine. He did use counts (Latin comites, singular comes) to govern major cities (civitates, sing. civitas) in the Frankish manner. At least Bourges, Poitiers and the Auvergne had Aquitainian counts.[29] In the case of Thouars, which was merely a castle (castra), a count was appointed to command the garrison (custodes).[30] [2]

748 Offers Refuge to Pepin's brother Grifo

In 748, Grifo, brother of Pepin, the maior domus of the Franks, fled to Gascony in 748 and joined Duke Waifar there. [1]

He fell out with Pepin over various issues. One was in 749 when he gave refuge to Pepin's estranged brother and then refused to release him to Pepin's emissaries.[13]

He inherited the conflict with the rising Carolingian family and its leader, Pepin the Short, who was king of the Franks after 751 and thus Waiofar's nominal suzerain.[2]

The beginning of open conflict between Waiofar and Pepin can be dated to 753, when the duke of Aquitaine granted asylum to Pepin's brother Grifo after the latter was forced to flee Francia because of his failed attempt at usurping the Duchy of Bavaria from its rightful lord.[5][3] Pepin's immediate reaction is not recorded, but Grifo was subsequently assassinated while preparing to leave Aquitaine for Rome. [2]

751 Septimania

Most of the rest of his life was spent fighting against the forces of Pepin, King of the Franks, against the Saracens, and against the Visigoths in Septimania. [6]

Another source of contention was the neighbouring realm of Septimania, which he hoped to conquer at least in part and so deny it to both Saracens and Franks.[14]

In 751, according to the Chronicle of Moissac, Waiofar sacked the city of Narbonne (Narbonam depraedat), the centre of Islamic rule north of the Pyrenees, having been conquered by the Arabs in 720. The following year several other formerly Visigothic cities north of the Pyrenees, under a certain Count Ansemund, went over to the Franks. Between 752 and 759, Pepin's forces besieged Narbonne. For reasons unknown, Waiofar attacked Pepin's forces while they were camped by the city, "as his father had attacked Charles Martel" in the words of the Annals of Aniane. Only the local sources, the Chronicle of Moissac and Annals of Aniane, record this attack. Although the Chronicle of Uzès records that the Rouergue was conquered by Pepin in 754, during the siege of Narbonne, it is more likely that its conquest was effected with the assistance of the local Visigoths only after the fall of Narbonne (a Gothic city prior to the Arab conquest). [2]

756 A Charter

There is one charter issued by Waiofar preserved in the cartulary of the basilica of Saint-Julien at Brioude.[25] Styling himself and his predecessor, Hunald, "princes" (principes), Waiofar granted a villa to one Gedeon as a precarium for life in exchange for another villa and two pounds of silver.[26] The charter was drawn up around 756–57 ("in the month of September in the 12th year of lord Waifarius, prince") in the Limagne ("in pago limanico"). Waiofar may have been copying the policy of his rival Pepin from 743–44, when the latter ordered his followers who had received church lands to return them to the church, make a payment (cens) and receive them back as precaria verbo regis ("by the king's word") from the church. By creating precaria, Waiofar could raise men and troops to defend Aquitaine from the impending war with Pepin.[27] The continuator of Fredegar records how Waiofar confiscated church lands and distributed them to his followers.[10] [2]

760 Pepin Invades Aquitaine

King Pepin invaded Aquitaine in 760 to require Duke Waifar to respect the rights of the church. The duke gave Adalgar and Either as hostages as assurance of his obedience to the king, but rebelled in 761 provoking Pepin to invade Aquitaine again. [1]

The Annals of Aniane and Chronicle of Moissac indicate that the Frankish army under Pepin began the conquest of southern Aquitaine immediately after the fall of Narbonne in 759, and by 760 Toulouse, Rodez (capital of the Rouergue) and Albi had fallen into their hands.[10] [2]

In 760, Pepin denounced Waiofar's seizure of church lands and prepared to march against him. Ignoring the latter's request for peace, Pepin invaded Berry and the Auvergne and ravaged "a large part of Aquitaine" (maximam partem Aquitaniae).[10] In 761, Waiofar responded by ordering Count Chunibert of Bourges and Count Blandinus of the Auvergne, his followers who controlled the northeastern borders of Aquitaine, to assemble their forces for an attack on Chalon-sur-Saône. This army probably consisted mostly of local levies, since no Gascon (Basque) presence is mentioned.[11] The Gascons (or Basques, Latin Vascones), whose presence the continuator of the Chronicle of Fredegar is otherwise scrupulous to record, were recruited from Gascony and served a professional core of Waiofar's army.[12] In the ensuing campaign, Burgundy was ravaged, but Pepin pushed the invaders back and took the fortresses of Bourbon, Chantelle and Clermont in the Auvergne, forcing Count Blandinus to surrender. The garrison at Bourbon is described by the continuator of Fredegar as the "men of Waiofar" (homines Waiofarii).[12] At the end of this campaign, Pepin obtained permanent control of many fortresses in the Auvergne by treaty. [2]

In 762, Pepin invaded Berry and Poitou. He captured Bourges, forcing the surrender of Count Chunibert, after a lengthy siege in which breastworks were erected around the city and ramparts constructed for putting siege weapons up to the walls.[13] Thouars fell the same year, and the count of Poitiers made submission to Pepin.[14] The Annales Laurissenses maiores record that many Gascons in the following of the counts of Bourges and Poitiers were captured and brought back to Neustria.[15] [2]

In 762, Waiofar's cousin Count Mantio, with a Gascon levy, lay an ambush for a Carolingian force, either as it was entering or leaving Narbonne. His men dismounted and lay in wait, but in the subsequent battle they were routed. Mantio and his retinue were all killed and the Gascons fled on foot, with the Carolingians taking their horses as booty. [2]

In 763, Waiofar offered to submit to Pepin if he would receive Bourges and other Aquitainian cities in exchange for "whatever tribute and gifts (tributa uel munera) Frankish kings had been accustomed to receive from the province of Aquitaine". Nothing came of it. In 763, Pepin raided deep into Aquitaine as far as the Limousin and Quercy. In 764, Pepin held a Mayfeld, the Frankish annual assembly, in the city of Worms. Waiofar and Duke Tassilo III of Bavaria attended. [2]

According to the continuator of Fredegar, Waiofar opposed Pepin "with a great army and many Vascones [Gascons] from across the Garonne, who in antiquity were called Vaceti [Basques]" in 765. The "great army" and the "large levy" of Gascons may be distinct forces brought together for this campaign. In 764, Count Chilping of the Auvergne led such a dual force of local levies complemented by some Gascon soldiers taken from the garrison of Clermont. [2]

Between 763 and 766, Waiofar withdrew his garrisons from the cities (civitates) of Poitiers, Limoges, Saintes, Périgueux and Angoulême. Most of these fortifications were restored after the cities were occupied by Pepin's forces. Archibald Lewis believes it was Pepin who destroyed the walls after he had conquered the cities if he judged he could not hold them.[15] His interpretation is contradicted by Bernard Bachrach, who believes it was Waiofar who, before abandoning his cities, destroyed their defences and walls to prevent Pepin from using them against him.[21] [2]

The Annales Metenses record that in 765 "Waiferius" sent "Mancionem comitem consobrinum suum" against the Franks. The king repeated his campaigns in Aquitaine each year, culminating in 768 when he captured Duke Waifar's mother, one of his two sisters and his nieces, and killed Duke Waifar himself. [1]

Archibald Lewis suggests that the abundance of Gascon (Basque) troops among Waiofar's forces stems from an unrecorded alliance with Duke Lupus II of Gascony; in the same way he suggests Pepin formed an alliance with the Goths of Septimania after his conquest of Narbonne.[10] [2]

Waiofar's uncle Remistanius, although he was not in the service of the duke, was wealthy enough to form an army to besiege several Carolingian garrisons.[12] In 765, Pepin bribed Remistanius with gold, silver, cloth, horses and arms to come over to his side. He appointed him to govern eastern half of the region of Bourges up to the river Cher and granted him control of the citadel in the city itself.[30] At the time, Chunibert, who had served as count of Bourges under Waiofar until he lost the city to Pepin in 762,[31] was again serving as count, this time to Pepin.[32] [2]

768 Death

He was killed in battle 2 Jun 768. [1]

The Annales Sancti Amandi record the death "768 IV Non Iun" of "Waifarius"[. [1]

By 768 most of his domains were under the control of the implacable Pepin, who was determined to end the confrontation. He sent armed columns to comb the countryside and, it was reported, was able to bribe some of Waifre's retainers. It was they who, according to one account, murdered him somewhere in Périgord on 2 Jun 768, possibly in his bed.[15] Other accounts gave him a more honourable death in battle.

The remaining members of his family were captured by Pepin, who was reported to have spared his mother, sister and nieces.[16]

The next Duke was named Hunoald, but his relationship to Waifre is unknown.

This final phase of the war was fought with increasing brutality, and the chroniclers record that Pepin burnt villas, despoiled vineyards and depopulated monasteries.[15] During this period (763–66) the fortress of Berry was held by a Frankish garrison.[22] [2]

By 766 most of Waiofar's followers had abandoned him, but the war over Aquitaine did not end even with his death, shortly before Pepin's own, in 768.[23] The final active phase of the war between the two (766–67) was fought mainly in the Périgord, the Angoumois and the Bordelais, all regions closer to Gascony, which if not ruled directly by Waiofar was either under his control or allied to him. The chroniclers record how Pepin destroyed fortresses and cities, castella and civitates, and so devastated the countryside that "there was no settler to work the land" (nullus colonus terram ad laborandam).[15] Around this time, Pepin defeated the Gascons in pitched battle.[15] [2]

In 768, the erstwhile count of Bourges, Blandinus, submitted to Pepin. Most of Waiofar's family was captured and executed in the forest of Périgord.[15] Waiofar himself was assassinated by his own men, allegedly at Pepin's instigation.[24] A kinsman, perhaps his son, Hunald II, succeeded to his claims on Aquitaine and continued to fight against Pepin's successor, Charles.[23][15] [2]

Waifar, Duke of Aquitaine (d. 02 Jun 768 in battle)[1]

Issue

Cawley reports that Duke Waifar and his wife were the parents of at least one child: [1]

  1. Loup. The charter of Charles II "le Chauve" King of the West Franks dated 30 Jan 845 (possibly spurious, as explained in the Introduction) names "Vifarii" as father of "Lupus"[40]. His name and parentage have not been corroborated by other primary sources consulted.] [1]
  • (unproven) Loup[2]


Sources

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families, Online at Foundation for Medieval Genealogy Website. Aquitaine: Entry for Waifar Accessed 3 July 2020 jhd
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 Wikipedia:Waiofar Accessed 3 July 2020 jhd
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Du Mège. Histoire Générale De Languedoc, Avec Des Notes Et Les Pièces Justificatives Composée Sur Les Auteurs Et Les Titres Originaux, Et Enrichie De Divers Monumens”, Par Dom Claude De Vic Et Dom Vaissete, Religieux Bénédictins De La Congrégation De Saint-Maur; Commentée Et Continuée Jusqu'en 1830, Et Augmentée D'un Grand Nombre De Chartes Et De Documens Inédits, Par M. Le Chev. Al. Du Mège. Tome Second. Toulouse, J.-B. Paya , Propriétaire-Éditeur , Hôtel Castellane. M DCCC Xl. Genealogie d'Eudes, Duc D'Aquitaine, Suivant La Charte D'Alaon. Accessed 1 July 2020 jhd
  4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouvelle-Aquitaine
  5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiofar#/media/File:Francia_at_the_death_of_Pepin_of_Heristal,_714.jpg
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Grippon ne fût pas encore satisfait de cet appanage, soit qu'il appréhendât que Pepin lui manquât de parole et le fist enfermer une seconde fois, il abandonna la Neustrie et alla chercher un azile en Aquitaine chez le duc Waifre qui le reçut fort volontiers. Pepin envoia l'année suivante (an 750) des ambassadeurs à ce duc pour le prier de lui remettre son frere; ce que celui-ci refusa de faire avec beaucoup de hauteur. Du Mège p752
  7. ↑ Il avoit gagné quelques-uns des domestiques du même duc ou des gens de sa suite, qui promirent de s'en défaire. Ces malheureux trop exacts à s'acquitter de leurs promesses, l'assassinerent dans le Perigord la nuit du deuxiéme de Juin de l'an 768. et ce fut apparemment dans son lit. Du Mège p768
  8. ↑ Nous savons du moins qu'il usa de clémence envers la mere, la soeur et les niéces de Waifre qu'on prit et qu'on lui présenta en même-tems, qu'il se contenta de s'assûrer de leurs personnes, et qu'il ordonna de les traiter avec honneur. Du Mège p768
  9. ↑ Pépin, tombé malade à Saintes, décide de se rendre à Saint-Denis en passant d'abord par Poitiers puis par Tours. Arrivé à Saint-Denis, il convoque les grands du royaume et leur fait approuver un partage de celui-ci. Il meurt peu de temps après, le 24 septembre 768 à l'abbaye de Saint-Denis https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9pin_le_Bref
  10. ↑ Du Mege, p. 745
  11. ↑ Hatton laissa plusieurs enfans de Vandrade son épouse dont nous avons parlé ailleurs. L'aîné qui s'appelloit Loup, fut dans la suite duc de Gascogne, et donna en mariage à Waifre sa fille unique nommée Adèle Du Mège p745
  12. ↑ Hunold abdiqua quelques jours après sa couronne ducale, se revêtit de l'habit monastique dans le monastère de l'isle de Ré sur la côte du pays d'Aunis, et laissa sa principauté d'Aquitaine à Waifre son fils. Du Mège p745
  13. ↑ Grippon ne fût pas encore satisfait de cet appanage, soit qu'il appréhendât que Pepin lui manquât de parole et le fist enfermer une seconde fois , il abandonna la Neustrie et alla chercher un azile en Aquitaine chez le duc Waifre qui le reçut fort volontiers. Pepin envoia l'année suivante (an 750) des ambassadeurs à ce duc pour le prier de lui remettre son frere; ce que celui-ci refusa de faire avec beaucoup de hauteur. Du Mège p752
  14. ↑ Il paroît que Waifre duc d'Aquitaine avoit des vues sur la Septimanie, et qu'il fit quel ques efforts vers le même-tems pour la soûmettre à sa domination. Cette province étoit d'autant plus à sa bienséance, qu'elle étoit limitrophe de ses états, et que par sa conquête il pouvoit esperer d'en fermer pour toûjours l'entrée aux Sarasins, aux courses desquels ils étoient fort exposez. Nous sçavons en effet que ce prince fit alors une excursion jusqu'à Narbonne où il fit le dégât; et il paroît d'ailleurs qu'il eut à combattre contre les Visigots, dont il tua un grand nombre dans une occasion; ce qui nous donne lieu de croire qu'il vouloit assujettir ces peuples et qu'ils s'opposerent à ses entreprises. Quoi qu'il en soit, Ansemond et les autres seigneurs de la Septimanie aimerent mieux vivre sous la dépendance de Pepin que sous celle de Waifre, et s'offrirent au premier Du Mège p752
  15. ↑ Il avoit gagné quelques-uns des domestiques du même duc ou des gens de sa suite, qui promirent de s'en défaire. Ces malheureux trop exacts à s'acquitter de leurs promesses, l'assassinerent dans le Perigord la nuit du deuxiéme de Juin de l'an 768. et ce fut apparemment dans son lit. Du Mège p768
  16. ↑ Nous savons du moins qu'il usa de clémence envers la mere, la soeur et les niéces de Waifre qu'on prit et qu'on lui présenta en même-tems, qu'il se contenta de s'assûrer de leurs personnes, et qu'il ordonna de les traiter avec honneur. Du Mège p768

Bibliography

Du Mège. “Histoire Générale De Languedoc, Avec Des Notes Et Les Pièces Justificatives Composée Sur Les Auteurs Et Les Titres Originaux, Et Enrichie De Divers Monumens”, Par Dom Claude De Vic Et Dom Vaissete, Religieux Bénédictins De La Congrégation De Saint-Maur; Commentée Et Continuée Jusqu'en 1830, Et Augmentée D'un Grand Nombre De Chartes Et De Documens Inédits, Par M. Le Chev. Al. Du Mège. Tome Second. Toulouse, J.-B. Paya , Propriétaire-Éditeur , Hôtel Castellane. M DCCC Xl. Genealogie d'Eudes, Duc D'Aquitaine, Suivant La Charte D'Alaon.

Acknowledgements

  • Special thanks to Stanley Flower for his translation of Du Mege' book and work on this biography.


Old Biography of Waifre

Waifre,[17] ruling Duke of Aquitaine from 744 to 768, was born in approximately 720 at an unknown place.

He was the son of Hunold, ruling Duke of Aquitaine, and a mother whose name is unknown. In 744 his father retired to a monastery in the Île de Ré off the Atlantic coast, naming Waifre as next Duke.[18] Most of the rest of his life was spent fighting against the forces of Pepin, King of the Franks, against the Saracens, and against the Visigoths in Septimanie.

He fell out with Pepin over various issues. One was in 749 when he gave refuge to Pepin's estranged brother and then refused to release him to Pepin's emissaries.[19] Another source of contention was the neighbouring realm of Septimanie, which he hoped to conquer at least in part and so deny it to both Saracens and Franks.[20]

By 768 most of his domains were under the control of the implacable Pepin, who was determined to end the confrontation. He sent armed columns to comb the countryside and, it was reported, was able to bribe some of Waifre's retainers. It was they who, according to one account, murdered him somewhere in Périgord on 2 Jun 768, possibly in his bed.[21] Other accounts gave him a more honourable death in battle.

The remaining members of his family were captured by Pepin, who was reported to have spared his mother, sister and nieces.[22] Some sources claim that he married his cousin Adèle, granddaughter of his uncle Hatton,[23] but this is now generally discredited, as is the claim that he had a son named Loup.

The next Duke was named Hunoald, but his relationship to Waifre is unknown.

Sources

Du Mège. “Histoire Générale De Languedoc, Avec Des Notes Et Les Pièces Justificatives Composée Sur Les Auteurs Et Les Titres Originaux, Et Enrichie De Divers Monumens”, Par Dom Claude De Vic Et Dom Vaissete, Religieux Bénédictins De La Congrégation De Saint-Maur; Commentée Et Continuée Jusqu'en 1830, Et Augmentée D'un Grand Nombre De Chartes Et De Documens Inédits, Par M. Le Chev. Al. Du Mège. Tome Second. Toulouse, J.-B. Paya , Propriétaire-Éditeur , Hôtel Castellane. M DCCC Xl.

  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families, Online at Foundation for Medieval Genealogy Website. Aquitaine: Entry for Waifar Accessed 3 July 2020 jhd
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 Wikipedia:Waiofar Accessed 3 July 2020 jhd
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Du Mège. Histoire Générale De Languedoc, Avec Des Notes Et Les Pièces Justificatives Composée Sur Les Auteurs Et Les Titres Originaux, Et Enrichie De Divers Monumens”, Par Dom Claude De Vic Et Dom Vaissete, Religieux Bénédictins De La Congrégation De Saint-Maur; Commentée Et Continuée Jusqu'en 1830, Et Augmentée D'un Grand Nombre De Chartes Et De Documens Inédits, Par M. Le Chev. Al. Du Mège. Tome Second. Toulouse, J.-B. Paya , Propriétaire-Éditeur , Hôtel Castellane. M DCCC Xl. Genealogie d'Eudes, Duc D'Aquitaine, Suivant La Charte D'Alaon. Accessed 1 July 2020 jhd
  4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouvelle-Aquitaine
  5. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiofar#/media/File:Francia_at_the_death_of_Pepin_of_Heristal,_714.jpg
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Grippon ne fût pas encore satisfait de cet appanage, soit qu'il appréhendât que Pepin lui manquât de parole et le fist enfermer une seconde fois, il abandonna la Neustrie et alla chercher un azile en Aquitaine chez le duc Waifre qui le reçut fort volontiers. Pepin envoia l'année suivante (an 750) des ambassadeurs à ce duc pour le prier de lui remettre son frere; ce que celui-ci refusa de faire avec beaucoup de hauteur. Du Mège p752
  7. ↑ Il avoit gagné quelques-uns des domestiques du même duc ou des gens de sa suite, qui promirent de s'en défaire. Ces malheureux trop exacts à s'acquitter de leurs promesses, l'assassinerent dans le Perigord la nuit du deuxiéme de Juin de l'an 768. et ce fut apparemment dans son lit. Du Mège p768
  8. ↑ Nous savons du moins qu'il usa de clémence envers la mere, la soeur et les niéces de Waifre qu'on prit et qu'on lui présenta en même-tems, qu'il se contenta de s'assûrer de leurs personnes, et qu'il ordonna de les traiter avec honneur. Du Mège p768
  9. ↑ Pépin, tombé malade à Saintes, décide de se rendre à Saint-Denis en passant d'abord par Poitiers puis par Tours. Arrivé à Saint-Denis, il convoque les grands du royaume et leur fait approuver un partage de celui-ci. Il meurt peu de temps après, le 24 septembre 768 à l'abbaye de Saint-Denis https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%A9pin_le_Bref
  10. ↑ Du Mege, p. 745
  11. ↑ Hatton laissa plusieurs enfans de Vandrade son épouse dont nous avons parlé ailleurs. L'aîné qui s'appelloit Loup, fut dans la suite duc de Gascogne, et donna en mariage à Waifre sa fille unique nommée Adèle Du Mège p745
  12. ↑ Hunold abdiqua quelques jours après sa couronne ducale, se revêtit de l'habit monastique dans le monastère de l'isle de Ré sur la côte du pays d'Aunis, et laissa sa principauté d'Aquitaine à Waifre son fils. Du Mège p745
  13. ↑ Grippon ne fût pas encore satisfait de cet appanage, soit qu'il appréhendât que Pepin lui manquât de parole et le fist enfermer une seconde fois , il abandonna la Neustrie et alla chercher un azile en Aquitaine chez le duc Waifre qui le reçut fort volontiers. Pepin envoia l'année suivante (an 750) des ambassadeurs à ce duc pour le prier de lui remettre son frere; ce que celui-ci refusa de faire avec beaucoup de hauteur. Du Mège p752
  14. ↑ Il paroît que Waifre duc d'Aquitaine avoit des vues sur la Septimanie, et qu'il fit quel ques efforts vers le même-tems pour la soûmettre à sa domination. Cette province étoit d'autant plus à sa bienséance, qu'elle étoit limitrophe de ses états, et que par sa conquête il pouvoit esperer d'en fermer pour toûjours l'entrée aux Sarasins, aux courses desquels ils étoient fort exposez. Nous sçavons en effet que ce prince fit alors une excursion jusqu'à Narbonne où il fit le dégât; et il paroît d'ailleurs qu'il eut à combattre contre les Visigots, dont il tua un grand nombre dans une occasion; ce qui nous donne lieu de croire qu'il vouloit assujettir ces peuples et qu'ils s'opposerent à ses entreprises. Quoi qu'il en soit, Ansemond et les autres seigneurs de la Septimanie aimerent mieux vivre sous la dépendance de Pepin que sous celle de Waifre, et s'offrirent au premier Du Mège p752
  15. ↑ Il avoit gagné quelques-uns des domestiques du même duc ou des gens de sa suite, qui promirent de s'en défaire. Ces malheureux trop exacts à s'acquitter de leurs promesses, l'assassinerent dans le Perigord la nuit du deuxiéme de Juin de l'an 768. et ce fut apparemment dans son lit. Du Mège p768
  16. ↑ Nous savons du moins qu'il usa de clémence envers la mere, la soeur et les niéces de Waifre qu'on prit et qu'on lui présenta en même-tems, qu'il se contenta de s'assûrer de leurs personnes, et qu'il ordonna de les traiter avec honneur. Du Mège p768
  17. ↑ His name in Western European texts shows many variations: Gaifer, Gaifier, Gaïfier, Guaiferio, Guyver, Waifar, Waifarius, Waifer, Waïfer, Waiffre, Waifre, Waifré, Waïfre, Waifred, and Waiofar,
  18. ↑ Hunold abdiqua quelques jours après sa couronne ducale, se revêtit de l'habit monastique dans le monastère de l'isle de Ré sur la côte du pays d'Aunis, et laissa sa principauté d'Aquitaine à Waifre son fils. Du Mège p745
  19. ↑ Grippon ne fût pas encore satisfait de cet appanage, soit qu'il appréhendât que Pepin lui manquât de parole et le fist enfermer une seconde fois , il abandonna la Neustrie et alla chercher un azile en Aquitaine chez le duc Waifre qui le reçut fort volontiers. Pepin envoia l'année suivante (an 750) des ambassadeurs à ce duc pour le prier de lui remettre son frere; ce que celui-ci refusa de faire avec beaucoup de hauteur. Du Mège p752
  20. ↑ Il paroît que Waifre duc d'Aquitaine avoit des vues sur la Septimanie, et qu'il fit quel ques efforts vers le même-tems pour la soûmettre à sa domination. Cette province étoit d'autant plus à sa bienséance, qu'elle étoit limitrophe de ses états, et que par sa conquête il pouvoit esperer d'en fermer pour toûjours l'entrée aux Sarasins, aux courses desquels ils étoient fort exposez. Nous sçavons en effet que ce prince fit alors une excursion jusqu'à Narbonne où il fit le dégât; et il paroît d'ailleurs qu'il eut à combattre contre les Visigots, dont il tua un grand nombre dans une occasion; ce qui nous donne lieu de croire qu'il vouloit assujettir ces peuples et qu'ils s'opposerent à ses entreprises. Quoi qu'il en soit, Ansemond et les autres seigneurs de la Septimanie aimerent mieux vivre sous la dépendance de Pepin que sous celle de Waifre, et s'offrirent au premier Du Mège p752
  21. ↑ Il avoit gagné quelques-uns des domestiques du même duc ou des gens de sa suite, qui promirent de s'en défaire. Ces malheureux trop exacts à s'acquitter de leurs promesses, l'assassinerent dans le Perigord la nuit du deuxiéme de Juin de l'an 768. et ce fut apparemment dans son lit. Du Mège p768
  22. ↑ Nous savons du moins qu'il usa de clémence envers la mere, la soeur et les niéces de Waifre qu'on prit et qu'on lui présenta en même-tems, qu'il se contenta de s'assûrer de leurs personnes, et qu'il ordonna de les traiter avec honneur. Du Mège p768
  23. ↑ Hatton laissa plusieurs enfans de Vandrade son épouse dont nous avons parlé ailleurs. L'aîné qui s'appelloit Loup, fut dans la suite duc de Gascogne, et donna en mariage à Waifre sa fille unique nommée Adèle Du Mège p745


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