Clovis I

Frankish king who unified most of Gaul and converted to Catholicism; "France" begins with him.

Life

Chief of the Salian Franks

Clovis I was chief of the Salian Franks and succeeded his father in 481 CE. In 486 CE he defeated the last Western Roman power in Gaul at Soissons and then expanded steadily.

Baptized at Reims

According to tradition, while fighting the Alemanni he prayed to Christ, and after his victory he was baptized at Reims and converted to Catholicism (traditionally dated 496 CE; another view says c. 508 CE). This won him the support of the Gallo-Romans and the Church, while most other Germanic kings at the time were Arians.

Vouillé and Paris

In 507 CE he defeated the Visigoths at Vouillé, taking southwestern Gaul; he made Paris his capital and oversaw the compilation of the Salic Law. He died in 511 CE, and the kingdom was divided among his four sons according to Frankish custom.

Legacy

Clovis I's conversion allied the Frankish Kingdom with the Roman Church, laying the foundations for Charlemagne's later empire and for France; thereafter most kings of France were crowned at Reims.

Major works & achievements

• Salic Law

Did you know? "Louis," the most common name among French kings, evolved from "Clovis."

Key dates

• 481Succeeded to the throne
• 486Battle of Soissons
• 496Baptized at Reims (traditional date)
• 507Defeated the Visigoths at the Battle of Vouillé
• 511Died