Clovis I, the first King of the Franks, was a military and political leader who revolutionized the government and united the Frankish tribes under his rule. He founded the Merovingian dynasty and is considered the first king of what would become France. His adoption of the Catholic faith, prompted by his wife Clotilde, led to the widespread adoption of Catholicism in modern-day France, Belgium, and Germany.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Chlodovechus
- Died At Age: 45
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Clotilde (m. 493 AD)
- Father: Childeric I
- Mother: Basina of Thuringia
- Born Country: Belgium
- Died on: November 27, 511
- Place of death: Paris, France
Childhood & Early Life
Clovis was born in 466 in Tournai (present-day Belgium). His parents were Childeric I, a Merovingian king of the Salian Franks, and Basina, a Thuringian princess. His grandfather was Merovich, from whom the name of the Merovingian dynasty is derived.
Accession & Reign
In 481, when he was around 15 years old, Clovis became the King of Salian Franks and other Frankish groups around Tournai, following the death of his father. He unified the Franks and expanded his domain to include the former Roman province of Belgica Secunda in 486, the territories of the Alemanni in 496, the Burgundians in 500, and the Visigoths in 507. He received the title of “Consul” from the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I after his victory over the Visigoths at the Battle of Vouillé in 507.
Conflict and Alliances
During his reign, Clovis had various conflicts and alliances. He had allies who later betrayed him, such as Chalaric and Prince Chlodoric, whom he ordered to be killed. He also triumphed over his ally-turned-foe Ragnachar and had him executed. Clovis maintained diplomatic and political relationships with the Catholic bishops of Gaul, who held significant power in the land.
Gregory of Tours’ Account
Gregory of Tours wrote about Clovis’ life in his work ‘Histories’, which was released five decades after Clovis’ death. Gregory depicted Clovis as a single-minded warrior and emphasized his conversion to Catholicism. He compared Clovis to the Roman Emperor Constantine and described his baptism in 496.
Clovis’ Conversion and Legacy
Recent examination of contemporary sources suggests that Clovis initially considered converting to the Christian heresy Arianism. However, he eventually converted to Catholicism and was baptized by Bishop Remigius in 508. After his conversion, it took decades for the people of his kingdom to fully adopt Catholicism.
Clovis had multiple wives and children. His most well-known wife was Clotilde, with whom he had five children. Clovis organized the First Council of Orléans in 511 to reform the Church and strengthen the connection between the crown and the Catholic episcopate. He passed away in 511 and was buried in the Abbey of St Genevieve before being reinterred in Saint-Denis Basilica.
Clovis’ significance in French history cannot be overstated. He is regarded as the man who created the French nation and his baptism is seen as a crucial moment in French history. The name Clovis later became the French given name Louis, which became the most common name among French monarchs. In 1996, Pope John Paul II held a mass in Reims to commemorate the 15th centenary of Clovis’ baptism.