Born
466
Died
511
Nationality
Frankish
Events involving Clovis I (19)
466
ID: 2814
Birth of Clovis - son of Childeric and Basina, future unifier of Frankish tribes and conqueror of Gaul
ID: 2814
481
ID: 2815
Death of Childeric I - buried with rich grave goods (discovered 1653), 15-year-old Clovis inherits small kingdom around Tournai
ID: 2815
486
ID: 2816
Battle of Soissons - Clovis defeats Syagrius, last Roman ruler in Gaul, 'Kingdom of Soissons' falls, Clovis controls northern Gaul
ID: 2816
486
ID: 2817
Vase of Soissons incident - soldier breaks Church vase Clovis wanted intact, Clovis later splits soldier's skull, establishing royal authority
ID: 2817
493
ID: 2818
Clovis marries Clotilde - Burgundian Catholic princess, begins influencing him toward Catholicism rather than Arianism
ID: 2818
493
ID: 5255
Genevieve influences Clovis through Queen Clotilde - helps persuade Frankish king toward Christianity before his conversion
ID: 5255
496
ID: 2819
Battle of Tolbiac - Clovis facing defeat against Alamanni, vows to convert if Christian God gives victory, Alamanni flee
ID: 2819
496
ID: 2821
Miracle of Holy Ampulla - dove brings vial of chrism from heaven for Clovis's baptism, used for French coronations until 1825
ID: 2821
496
ID: 2820
December 25, 496
Baptism of Clovis at Reims - St. Remigius baptizes Clovis with 3,000 warriors on Christmas, 'Bend thy neck, Sicamber!', France becomes 'Eldest Daughter of the Church'
ID: 2820
500
ID: 2822
Clovis attacks Burgundy - allies with Theodoric the Great, defeats Gundobad, increases Frankish territory
ID: 2822
502
ID: 5256
Clovis begins church of Saints-Apostles - builds church at Genevieve's suggestion, will become her burial place
ID: 5256
503
ID: 2823
Salic Law codified - Clovis issues written law code for Franks, includes famous inheritance clause excluding women
ID: 2823
507
ID: 2824
Clovis declares war on Visigoths - claims divine mission to defeat Arian heretics, Byzantine Emperor supports with fleet
ID: 2824
507
ID: 2825
Battle of Vouillé - Clovis personally kills Alaric II in combat, Visigoths driven into Spain, Aquitaine becomes Frankish
ID: 2825
508
ID: 2826
Clovis makes Paris his capital - moves from Tournai to Paris, builds church of Saints-Apostles (later Sainte-Geneviève)
ID: 2826
508
ID: 2827
Clovis named honorary consul - Byzantine Emperor Anastasius recognizes him, parades in purple at Tours, legitimizes rule
ID: 2827
509
ID: 2828
Clovis eliminates rival Frankish kings - murders Sigebert of Cologne, Chararic, and others, unifies all Franks under Merovingians
ID: 2828
511
ID: 2829
First Council of Orleans - Clovis convenes 32 bishops, establishes Frankish Church organization, royal authority over Church
ID: 2829
511
ID: 2830
November 27, 511
Death of Clovis - dies at 45, kingdom divided among four sons: Theuderic (Reims), Chlodomer (Orleans), Childebert (Paris), Chlothar (Soissons)
ID: 2830