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Clovis I of the Merovingian dynasty is one of the most famous and legendary figures in European history. He formed a state that would last for centuries, but his untimely death would mean that his kingdom fell to his son Theodoric, who, although only eight years old at his coronation, would eventually expand the state's frontiers to the Loire and Saone rivers, to then settle down and start with the cultural aspects of building an empire: fostering a national culture and identity, establishing churches and monasteries to spread the Catholic faith to the edges of his empire. He succeeded, and his state would last for a thousand years.

The Legacy of the Merovingians: A TL
By Ares96

PoD: Clovis I dies in battle while conquering Alemannia in 493. With only one son to succeed him, the empire never splits, and while the Franks don't conquer almost all of Western Europe, they manage to settle down and create a long-lasting state.

With the death of Clovis, his son Theodoric became King of the Franks. Although he was only eight years old, it was decided that he should still be crowned, and a ceremony was held in Rheims on the 4th of August 493. Theodoric was now Theodoric I, first king of all the Franks. As he was only a child, much of the governing was done by his stepmother Clothild (the Saint) in the early years of his reign. It was on her advice that he converted to Catholicism, preferring good relations with the pope in Rome to carrying on his father's Arian Christian tradition. Deals were struck with the Pope as well as several monk orders. In exchange for the conversion of all the Franks to Catholicism, the Church would provide knowledge and education to them.

In this period the Frankish kingdom flourished, although there were still threats to it. To the south, the Visigoths ruled Hispania and large parts of southern Gaul. To the east several barbarian tribes were encroaching upon Frankish land. To the north, there were the Frisians. They were a small group of fishermen whose language was similar to that of the Franks. However, they did not follow the Holy Father's word. In the year 500, Clothild sent out Sigobert the Lame, a petty king of a Frankish tribe, to conquer the area. Saint Gregory of Rheims, a famed historian of the time, writes that Sigobert returned fifteen months later with his army, having conquered the area for Theodoric's gain.

In 504, Clothild suffered an incapacitation (presumably a stroke, though history books don't state the exact nature of her disease), and Theodoric started governing the kingdom for himself. He decided to finally conquer the Alemannian kingdom, and left Rheims in May. He had more luck than his father, and the Alemannians were under Frankish domination by late March of 505. After the conquest, Theodoric returned to Rheims and, five months later, went to Burgundy to negotiate a treaty of friendship with King Gundobad. The results were that in exchange for the cession of a piece of land in Burgundy's far north, Francia and Burgundy would fight together against the Visigoths and any other threats that may arise.


Next chapter:
The Visigoth Wars, 505-520
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