Clovis I, King of the Franks

466 - 511  (45 years)

• Name	Clovis I
  Nickname	the Great
  Birth	About 466  [1, 2, 3]
  Crowned	481 (15 years)  [2, 3]
  In 481, he was crowned the King of the Salic Franks.
  History	birth to death
  Clovis I's name was also spelt Chlodovech. [3] Clovis is considered the founder of the French State. In 486, in co-operation with other Frankish chieftains, he defeated the last great Roman army in Gaul under the commander Syagrius near Soissons. He then went on to defeat many minor princes, kings and tribal chieftains to form the first Frankish Kingdom. However, the exact chronology of Clovis' reign is hopelessly obscure; even the identity of the various peoples he is said to have defeated and absorbed into his kingdom is debatable. According to legend, an angel gave Clovis I an iris flower or "fleur-de-lis" after accepting the Christian faith, and Clovis I then used fleur-de-lis as his symbol. However, it is entirely unlikely that Clovis underwent an experience of profound enlightenment during which he renounced the many Celtic, Germanic and Roman deities to embrace Jesus Christ. He more likely viewed Christ as another powerful god; an ally he could call upon to give him victory in battle. At the time of his death, his kingdom covered most of what is now France and the western part of Germany. According to ancient Frankish law and tradition, the kingdom was split up among his sons Clodomir, Theodoric I (also Thierri I), Childebert I and Clothaire I. [see picture below] The situation was far from peaceful as the Merovingian Kings spent much of the next two centuries squabbling over the various thrones. Although a temporary union of the Frankish Kingdoms occurred several times when a single heir survived, the situation was chaotic as various kings sought to displace one another. [1, 3] Clovis I was baptized as an adult on 22 Sep 496. [1]
  Reign	From 481 to 511 (15 years)
  King of the Franks (Merovingian dynasty)
  Death	27 Nov 511	Paris, Île-de-France, France   [1, 2, 3]
  Burial	Abbey of Saint Genevieve, Paris, Île-de-France, France
  Siblings	3 sisters
  + 1. Clovis I, King of the Franks,   b. About 466   d. 27 Nov 511, Paris, Île-de-France, France  (Age 45 years) ▻ unknown wife;   Saint Clothilda,  m. 492   2. Lantide + 3. Audefleda ▻ Theodoric I, King of the Ostrogoths   4. Alboflede   d. After 496
  Patriarch & Matriarch	Ersdron, King of Troy   (62 x Great Grandfather)  Basina of Thuringia  (Mother)
  Person ID, Branch	I5865	Roy Line, Boudreau Line
  Last Modified	4 Feb 2022

  
  

  Father	Childeric I, Chieftain of the Salian Franks,   b. About 436   d. 481, Tournai, Wallonia, Belgium (Age 45 years)
  Relationship	Birth
  Mother	Basina of Thuringia
  Relationship	Birth
  Family ID	F4446	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Spouse / Partner 1	unknown wife
  Children	1. Theoderich I, King of the Franks  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]
  Family ID	F4445	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Sep 2019

  
  

  Spouse / Partner 2	Saint Clothilda,   b. Abt 480   d. 544, Basilica of Saint Martin, Tours, Centre-Val de Loire, France (Age 64 years)  [2, 3]
  Marriage	492  [2]
  Age at Marriage	He : ~ 26 years - She : ~ 12 years.
  Children	4 sons and 2 daughters
  1. Ingomer,   b. 493   d. 493 (Age 0 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] >   2. Chlodomer, King of the Franks at Orléans,   b. 495   d. 21 Jun 524 (Age 29 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] ▻ Guntheuca  m. 514 or 521 >   3. Childebert I, Kings of the Neustrian Franks ,   b. 497   d. 23 Dec 558 (Age 61 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth] ▻ Ultrogotha +   4. Clothaire I, King of the Franks,   b. About 501, Soissons, Aisne, Hauts-de-France, France d. 30 Nov 561 - 31 Dec 561 (Age 60 years) ▻ Guntheuca  m. 524;   Saint Radegund of Thuringia  m. 531;   Ingunde  m. 532;   Aregunde  m. Yes, date unknown;   Waldrada  m. 555;   Chunsina     5. Theod  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]     6. chro 502  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]
  Family ID	F4100	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Sep 2019

  
  

• Pedigree

  ← Click to display 1Clovis I, King of the Franks(466 – 511) 2Childeric I, Chieftain of the Salian Franks(436 – 481) 4Merovech, Chieftain of the Salian Franks( – 457) 8Chlodio, Chieftain of the Salian Franks(Abt 380 – 448) 16Pharamond, King of the Salic Franks(370 – 427) 17 9 18 19 5 10 20 21 11 22 23 3Basina of Thuringia 6 12 24 25 13 26 27 7 14 28 29 15 30 31

  
  

• Event Map		Death - 27 Nov 511 - Paris, Île-de-France, France Burial - - Abbey of Saint Genevieve, Paris, Île-de-France, France  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  
  

• Sources 🟢 Primary Evidence 🟡 Secondary Evidence 🟠 Tertiary Evidence 🔴 Unreliable Evidence

  [S65] Sewell, Robert James. Sewell: A History of the Sewell Family from the Earliest Times, (unknown: manuscript, March 2008). [S60] Stuart, Roderick W., Royalty for Commoners, The Complete Known Lineage of John of Gaunt, Son of Edward III, King of England, and Queen Philippa Fourth Edition, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2002). [S1508] anonymous. Franks, Merovingian Kings , (manuscript, 2007).