Clovis+the+Frank

Clovis the Frank was born 466 AD and died on November 27, 511 AD. During his lifetime he was able to accomplish many amazing things. At the age of 15, Clovis succeeded his father and became King of the Franks. He was prepared well by his father and had made a name for himself by the age of 20. He is considered to be the founder of a dynasty that ruled the Frankish kingdom for the next two centuries. He changed the form of leadership from a group of chieftains, uniting all Frankish tribes to be ruled by one king. He also made sure that the kingship was passed down to his heirs.

Historically, Clovis is significant because he was the first king of what would later become France. Although raised a pagan, he converted to Christianity in 496, realizing that being a Christian would be beneficial to help him secure the loyalty of the Frankish people. When Clovis converted to Christianity, a large number of Frankish people also converted. His wife, Clotilde, is said to have been a key reason he made this conversion and was later named a saint due to the act.

Clovis the Frank defeated the Romans in Gaul and founded the Frankish kingdom. Clovis’s military power, and policies brought together the Gaul regions under his rule and to this day he is considered the founder of France. He believed it was important to preserve many old Roman traditions, leaving behind a blended kingdom of Roman and Germanic cultures in worship, language and law. Upon his death, tradition says that his kingdom was divided among his four sons.