Clovis I King of Salic Franks 481 511

Clovis I King of Salic Franks: 481 – 511 AD

Who was Clovis? • Clovis (c. 466– 511 AD) was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Frankish tribes under one ruler, changing the leadership from a group of royal chieftains, to rule by kings, ensuring that the kingship was held by his heirs. • While he was not the first Frankish king, he was the kingdom’s political and religious founder. • Clovis was not only a Frankish king, he was also a Roman official.

Conversion to Catholicism • The traditional date of the conversion of Clovis to Roman Catholicism is 496. • His conversion won him papal support and opened the way to wide conquests from the heretic (i. e. , Arian) German peoples. • Burgundy was conquered (after 500); the Visigoths defeated at Vouillé (507); and their whole kingdom north of the Pyrenees (except Septimania and Provence) was soon subjugated. • Clovis founded the Church of the Holy Apostles (Ste. Geneviève) at Paris, and shortly moved his "capital" from Soissons to Paris. Saint Remigius baptizes Clovis, in a painting of c. a. 1500

Salic Law • Under Clovis, the first codification of the Salian Franks' law took place. • Salic law provided written codification of both civil law, such as the statutes governing inheritance, and criminal law, such as the punishment for murder. • The Salic Law was written with the assistance of Gallo-Romans and the laws reflect the Roman Legal tradition and supported Christianity while at the same time containing much from the Salic traditions.

Clovis’ legacy Clovis committed three important actions: • The Unification of the Frankish nation; assured the influence of his people beyond the borders of Gaul, something no regional king could accomplish. • The Conquest of Gaul; he laid the foundations of a later nation-state, France. • His conversion to Christianity; he made himself the ally of the papacy and its protector as well as that of the people, who were mostly Catholics.