sisenand was the governor of septimania, when the nobles revolted against the visigothic king, suintila, over the latter's confiscations of lands and distribution of privileges between the nobility and clergy. sisenand joined the rebellion and overthrew suintila with the aid of dagobert i, king of the franks, to whom gothic nobles offered a plate of pure gold in return, weighing 500 pounds. the plate was allegedly a gift that aetius, a roman general, gave to thorismund, then king of the visigoths, in 451. after successfully overthrowing suintila and capturing zaragoza on 26 march 631, sisenand proclaimed himself king. the victory of sisenand also represented the triumph of the nobility over the common people, although the greatest beneficiary was the clergy, who took advantage of the weariness of the other contenders to enhance their own influence.