Name |
Clovis I'the Great' |
Suffix |
Merovingian King of the Franks |
Born |
466 |
Reims, Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France |
Christened |
25 Dec 496 |
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, Reims, Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France |
Gender |
Male |
History |
507 |
Poitiers, Vienne, Poitou-Charentes, France |
The Visigoths rule in Gaul was cut short in 507 by Clovis I leader of a confederation of Germanic Tribes, calling themselves The Franks, at the Battle of Vouillé. Here in the northern marches of the Visigoths territory, at a place near Poitiers in the spring of 507, Alaric II, the conqueror of Spain, an Arian, was killed by Clovis I.
Arianism was the theological teaching of Arius (abt 250 to 336) a Christian priest, ruled a heretic at the First Council of Nicea in 325, exonerated in 335 at the First Synod of Tyre and then pronounced a heretic again after his death at the First Council of Constantinople of 381.
Having been baptised, not submissively but conveniently to attain the backing of an intimidatingly all poerful God. As a symbol of his new christian status, Clovis would sport a 'salvation-giving war helmet'
Clovis I was ceremoniously made a (suffect) Consul of Rome by the 'Basileus', the ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius I |
Baptism |
508 |
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims, Reims, Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France |
Although France in 1996 officially celebrated Clovis 1500th anniversary of christian conversion, historians increasing believe 508 was much likelier |
Died |
27 Nov 511 |
Paris, Île-de-France, France [2] |
Buried |
Basilique Saint Denis, Paris, Île-de-France, France [3] |
Notes |
- The young king began his course of conquest early by attacking Syagrius, son of Aegidius, the Roman Count. Having established himself at Soissons, he acquired sovereign authority over so great a part of Northern Gaul as to be known to his contemporaries as the King of Soissons. Syagrius, being defeated, fled for protection to Alaric II, King of the Visigoths, but the latter, alarmed by a summons from Clovis, delivered Syagrius to his conqueror, who had him decapitated in 486. Clovis then remained master of the dominions of Syagrius and took up his residence at Soissons.
It would seem as if the episode of the celebrated vase of Soissons were an incident of the campaign against Syagrius, and it proves that, although a pagan, Clovis continued his father's policy by remaining on amicable terms with Gaulish episcopate. The vase, taken by the Frankish soldiers while plundering a church, formed part of the booty that was to be divided among the army. It was claimed by the bishop (St. Remigius?), and the king sought to have it awarded to himself in order to return it intact to the bishop, but a dissatisfied soldier split the vase with his battle-axe, saying to this king: 'You will get only the share allotted you by fate'. Clovis did not openly resent the insult, but the following year, when reviewing his army he came upon this same soldier and, reproving him for the the defective condition of his arms, he split his skull with an axe, saying: 'It was thus that you treated the Soissons vase.' This incident has often been cited to show that although in time of war a king has unlimited authority over his army, after the war his power is restricted and that in the division of booty the rights of the soldiers must be respected.
Through a ruse, he obtained possession of Chararic and his son and threw them into prison; he then had their heads shaved, and both were ordained, the father to the priesthood and the son to the diaconate. When Chararic bemoaned and wept over this humiliation his son exclaimed: 'The leaves of a green tree have been cut but they will quickly bud forth again; may he who has done this perish as quickly!' This remark was reported to Clovis, and he had both father and son beheaded. Tradition goes on to say that Ragnacaire King of Cambrai, was a man of such loose morals he hardly respected his own kindred, and Farron, his favourite, was equally licentious. So great was the king's infatuation for this man that, if given a present, he would accept it for himself and his Farron. This filled his subjects with indignation and Clovis, to win them over to his side before taking the field, distributed among them money, bracelets, and baldries, all in gilded copper in fraudulent imitation of genuine gold.
- Ancestry and Progeny of Captain James Blount - Inmigrant. by Robert Ffafman p. E- 25.
The name Colvis evolved into Louis.
|
Person ID |
I1748567997 |
Red1st |
Last Modified |
17 Jan 2009 |
Family |
Clotilde of Burgundy, Queen of France, b. 475, Lyon (Lugdunum, Gaul), Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France , d. 03 Jun 545, Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France (Age 70 years) |
Married |
492 |
France |
Children |
| 1. Theuderic I, Merovingian King of Austrasia, b. 484, d. 533/4 |
+ | 2. Chlodomer, Merovingian King of Orléans, b. Abt 495, d. Bef 524 (Age ~ 29 years) |
| 3. Childebert I, Merovingian King of the Franks, b. 496, d. 23 Dec 558, Paris, Île-de-France, France (Age 63 years) |
+ | 4. Clotaire (Chlothar) I'the Old', Merovingian King of the Franks, King in Soissons, b. 497, Reims, Marne, Champagne-Ardenne, France , d. 23 Nov 561, Braines, Loire-Atlantique, Pays de la Loire, France (Age 64 years) |
|
Last Modified |
5 Jan 2009 14:24:42 |
Family ID |
F672171863 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |