Clovis

466–511

'IN FULL BATTLE ARAY HE CAME TO TAKE LEAVE OF CLOTHILDE AND HIS SMALL SON'

Clovis was the first Frankish king to unite all of the various tribes under a single ruler as well as the first Catholic king to rule over Gaul. Ascending to the throne at the young age of fifteen, Clovis quickly set about conquering the Salian Frankish kingdoms that neighbored his own area of dominion, a region along the modern-day frontier between France and Belgium. He also defeated Syagrius, the last Roman official in nothern Gaul, and soon after he emerged triumphant from battles with the Thuringians and the Alamanni. He married the Burgundian princess Clotilda--later canonized St. Clotilda--and after his victory in the Battle of Tolbiac, he agreed to be baptised into the Catholic Church. He later engaged in the Battle at Dijon but was unable to subdue the Burgundians.

Shortly before his death, Clovis called together the First Council of Orleans to reform the church and create a stronger link between the State and the Catholic episcopate. The thirty-three decrees passed by the council established the first laws of unity between stronger and weaker peoples. Clovis passed away in 511, and the kingdom was divided among his four sons.

Key events during the life of Clovis:

Year	Event
466	Born.
481	Succeeded his father to the throne.
486	Defeated the Roman official Syagrius in the battle of Soissons.
493	Married Clotilda of Burgundy.
496	Battle of Tolbiac.
496	Clovis is baptised at Rheims.
500	Battle of Dijon.
507	Defeat of the Visigothic kingdom of Toulouse.
511	First Council of Orleans renewed link between Crown and Catholic church.
511	Died.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
Rise of the Franks  in	Stories from German History  by   Florence Aston
Queen Clothilde and King Clovis  in	Stories from French History  by  Lena Dalkeith
King Clovis Becomes a Christian  in	Old Time Tales  by  Lawton B. Evans
Gauls and the Franks  in	France: Peeps at History  by  John Finnemore
Conversion and Conquests of Clovis  in	The Story of Old France  by  H. A. Guerber
Clovis  in	Famous Men of the Middle Ages  by  John H. Haaren
Rise of the Franks  in	The Story of the Middle Ages  by  Samuel B. Harding
Clovis, King of the Franks  in	Barbarian and Noble  by  Marion Florence Lansing
First King of France  in	The Story of France  by  Mary Macgregor
Rise of the Franks  in	The Story of Europe  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Wooing of Clotilde  in	Historical Tales: French  by  Charles Morris
Clovis Becomes the First King of Franks  in	European Hero Stories  by  Eva March Tappan

Image Links
In full battle aray he came to take leave of Clothilde and his small son.  in Stories from French History	Victorious return of Clovis  in The Story of Old France	The baptism of Clovis  in Famous Men of the Middle Ages
Clovis finds fault with the soldier  in Famous Men of the Middle Ages	Baptism of Clovis  in The Story of the Middle Ages	The Revenge of Clovis  in Greatest Nations - Germany
Clotilde Receiving the Ring of Clovis  in Greatest Nations - Germany	Clovis at the Ford of the Vienne  in Greatest Nations - Germany	Covis the First Covis the First  in Back Matter
Clovis punishing a rebel Clovis punishing a rebel  in Back Matter	Clovis  in Barbarian and Noble	Clovis utters his Challenge  in Barbarian and Noble
Baptism of Clovis  in Barbarian and Noble	If thou give me victory over these foes I will be baptized in thy name.'  in The Story of France	The vow of Clovis  in Historical Tales: French
Baptism of Clovis  in European Hero Stories

Contemporary	Short Biography
Clotilda	Christian wife of Clovis; converted him to Christianity, and built a church.