Swanachild (also ''Swanahild'' or ''Serenahilt'') was the second wife of

Charles Martel Charles Martel (; – 22 October 741), ''Martel'' being a sobriquet in Old French for "The Hammer", was a Franks, Frankish political and military leader who, as Duke and Prince of the Franks and Mayor of the Palace, was the de facto ruler of ...

Reign

Swanachild belonged to the clan of the Agilolfing, though her parentage is not quite clear. Her parents could be Tassilo II,

duke of Bavaria The following is a list of monarchs during the history of Bavaria. Bavaria was ruled by several dukes and kings, partitioned and reunited, under several dynasties. Since 1918, Bavaria has been under a republican form of government, and from 19 ...

, and his wife Imma. Alternatively, her parents could be Theudebert of Bavaria, duke of Bavaria and his wife Regintrud. In the 720s

married Swanachild. After an initial conflict, Martel established amicable relations with

Bavaria Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a States of Germany, state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the list of German states by area, largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total l ...

. The ''Reichenau Codex'' listed her as ''Suanahil regina''. With Martel she had one child, Grifo. After the death of Martel, she supported her son's failed attempt to gain a portion of his inheritance. This she did with the support of her uncle Odilo of Bavaria. Afterwards she was relegated to the position of abbess of Chelles Abbey.

References

{{Authority control Year of birth missing 8th-century deaths 8th-century Frankish women 8th-century Frankish people People of medieval Bavaria Charles Martel