Terrible period that this one, the great Roman Empire crumbled to disappear, the great emperors lost their panache. The Germanic tribes have expanded, they have pushed back the borders of the Empire. The Roman legions have lost their effectiveness in the face of barbaric fervor. This period is dark and enigmatic, the world is gradually entering the Middle Ages.
Civilized Barbarians, the Frankish tribes moved at the same time as the Germans. The most active of them are the Riparian and Salian Franks. The Ripuaries (or Rhenans) extended over the Rhine valley to the right of the Rhine. The Salians originated from Dutch territory, moved southwest and entered northern Gaul. Like other barbarian peoples, the Franks recognized the authority of a king. The first rulers of the Salian Franks were legendary kings such as Clodion the Hairless and Merovingian (who gave his name to the Merovingian dynasty). The latter had helped the Romans of Aetius to drive Attila out of Gaul, a gigantic battle had taken place on the Catalaunic Fields where the Huns were defeated. Childéric I succeeded Mérovée, with whom no family relationship is established. He first led a life of debauchery and was driven out of his kingdom. Restored a few years later, he helped the Romans of Aegidius to drive out the Visigoths. (editor's note: an article on the Franks will be the subject of a more in-depth study).
Gaul was the most cultivated and richest province in the Roman West. Together with Brittany, it was one of the first provinces to be abandoned by the Romans. With the weakening of the imperial defences it quickly fell into the hands of the Barbarians:
The Central-East became the country of the Burgundians (one of the few peoples converted to Christianity).
Between the Loire and the Somme, a Roman general had carved out a kingdom whose capital was Soissons. Considering himself the "king of the Romans", he tried to maintain Latin civilization.
Thus Gaul represented a mosaic of cultures and a main challenge for the new king of the Salians: Chlodwig, son of Childéric.
The reign of Chlodwig
At 15 years old, Chlodwig was still an unblemished young boy when he was hoisted on the bulwark (shield) to be proclaimed King of the Franks in Tournai in 481. The kingdom was thin and other Salians controlled the neighboring regions, but Chlodwig benefited from the work of his father Childéric. Very quickly the young king wanted to assert himself and refused to share his power as his father had done. He gathered together the small neighboring tribes and allied himself with two other Salian kings (Ragnacaire and Chararic) in order to seize the kingdom of Syagrius and its city: Soissons. The war declared in 486, Chlodwig and his troops triumphed over the Romans at the gates of Soissons. Syagrius then took refuge with the Visigothic leader: Alaric, but for fear of reprisals, Alaric handed over the Roman leader to Chlodwig who slit his throat. Thanks to the ransoms obtained for the liberation of rich notables and the booty amassed during the conquest, he was able to form a permanent army. Continuing his victorious march, he extended the kingdom of the Franks to Brittany and the Loire.
Clotilde's influence
Meanwhile, Theodoric the Great Chief of the Ostrogoths imposed a great kingdom on himself in Italy, he married one of Chlodwig sisters. Wanting to escape the Goths' power, Chlodwig sought an alliance with the Burgundians. Thus a marriage was arranged between Chlodwig and Clotilde, the daughter of the Burgundian chief's daughter. Having received a Catholic education, Clotilde worked to convert her husband whose people practiced pagan worship. But in the East, the Alamans attacked the borders, threatening the Burgundians, the Salient and the Riparians. A confrontation took place in Tolbiac in 496, the battle went to the advantage of the Alamans, after invoking the pagan gods, Chlodwig returned to the god of Clotilde and swore to him to convert if he won the battle. Miraculously, the Alaman leader was killed. Soon his soldiers fled and were routed. It then remained for the Frankish leader to respect his wish.
The conversion of the Francs
Beyond the promise made to Tolbiac, Chlodwig knew that he could benefit from his conversion to Catholicism. Indeed, it could attract the benevolence of the Gallo-Roman populations, most of whom were governed by air kings. However, Chlodwig hesitated, half of his people were pagan worshippers, Queen Clotilde asked for the support of Bishop Remi, who had a strong influence on Chlodwig. Thus, in Reims on Christmas Eve 497 (or 498,499?), Saint-Rémi baptized Chlodwig with 3,000 of his soldiers. The Gallo-Roman populations welcomed the Franks no longer as invaders but as liberators. The Church, which was the highest spiritual authority, thus chose the camp of the Franks.
The Visigoths
Around the year 500, Chlodwig became involved in a family dispute in the Burgundians. Chilpéric, Clotilde's father was murdered by his brother Gondebaud. After confronting Gondebaud to avenge his wife, Chlodwig decided to sign an alliance treaty with him in 502. This new alliance worried Alaric more and more the leader of the Visigoths who informed Theodoric of the Ostrogoths. Chlodwig trained his Frankish tribes and the Burgundians in Vouillé near Poitiers to face the Visigoths, long-time enemies of the Franks. Alaric II was defeated and killed by Chlodwig own hands. Theodoric's army was contained by the Byzantines of Emperor Anastasius, who signed an alliance with the Franks. Chlodwig then seized Toulouse, capital of the Visigoths, as well as Alaric's legendary treasure.
The reunification of tribes
After Vouillé's victory, Chlodwig received in Tours the sign of the benevolent protection of the Eastern Roman Empire which gave him the title of consul and august. This investiture elevated him to the rank of legitimate ruler, so he worked to reunify the Frankish kingdom, which is still fragmented by the existence of small territories governed by kings. Chlodwig began to attack Chararic and Ragnacaire, his two Salian allies against Syagrius, he shaved his head first (the hair was the symbol of royal power, so the soldiers had their necks shaved), then he executed them. The unified Salient, there remained the Riparian Franks to be submitted. Chlodwig set up a demonic scheme, inciting the Prince of the Riparians to murder his father Sigebert the king. Later, the young prince was killed as he brought the treasures of his kingdom to Chlodwig. Chlodwig then convinced the riparian population to choose him as king. This barbaric attitude disconcerted the entourage of the King of the Franks.
The division of the kingdom
In 509, Chlodwig chose Paris as the new capital of his kingdom, the city is already an active pole of Gaul and was the place of residence of some Roman emperors, we also speak of the influence of Sainte-Geneviève (patron saint of the city) on Childéric then Chlodwig. Considering himself the head of the Church, Chlodwig worked to convert the whole of Gaul to Catholicism. In 511, Chlodwig brought the bishops together at the Council of Orléans, and the Merovingian Church was born. The same year, the great king died in Paris, he was buried near Sainte-Geneviève. The Salic law governing Frankish customs excluded women from inheritance. Thus, as tradition had it, the kingdom was divided between the four sons of Chlodwig. The Merovingian unity was lost and the territories thus formed would defy each other for years.