Gundemar

Gundemar, here a statue of him from the Jardines del Retiro de Madrid, in a place popularly called El paseo de las estatuas. It is one of a series of statues of Spanish monarchs commissioned for the decoration of the Palacio Real de Madrid during the rule of Ferdinand VI. At first meant to enliven the cornice of the finished palace, none made it there, appearing instead in many distinct places in the city: the Plaza de Oriente, Jardines del Retiro de Madrid, Puerta de Toledo and even in other provinces. Sculpted by Olivieri and Felipe de Castro.

Gundemar was king of the Visigoths in Hispania (610-612).

Gundemar continued a policy of amity with Clotaire II of Neustria and Theodobert II of Austrasia. To this end, he sent grand sums of money to support their cause against their relative (cousin and brother, respectively) Theodoric II of Burgundy. At other times, he demonstrated a politic of hostility against Brunhilda.

In 611, there was an attempt to reestablish the old quadruple alliance of the former king, Witteric, but the death of Gundemar killed these plans.

He died in Toledo, a natural death, sometime around February or March in 612. Ensuing civil wars and rebellions saw the power of king migrate to the nobility and the church. He was succeeded by Sisebut, a man of culture.