The alleged "banner of the Franks"

Last modified: 2003-01-18 by ivan sache
Keywords: franks | clovis | toad | fleur-de-lys |
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• Clovis, king of the Franks
• The "banner of the Franks"

See also:

• France
• France: Historical flags
• France: Historical chronology until 1792
• Kingdom of France until 1792
• France: The bees as Imperial symbol

Clovis, king of the Franks

Clovis [Chlodweg] (465-511), became king of the Salian Franks in Tournai after the death of his father Childéric I in 481. He defeated Syagrus in Soissons (486°, the Alamans (495 and/or 505 or 506), the Burgunds (506), and the Wisigoths in Vouillé (507).
He founded the unified Frank monarchy and became the only king of the whole Gaul. The Byzantine emperor granted him the title of patrice. Clovis protected the Roman Catholic religion and called a Council in Orléans (511).

His baptism c. 496 made him the first "Barbarian" king to adopt Roman Catholicism as personal religion. The only documentation on his baptism is the book by St. Gregor of Tours and the year of the event is still controversial, as well as most of the "historical" events of Clovis' life.

After his death, the kingdom was divided among his four sons Thierry I (king of Austrasie), Clodomir (king of Orléans), Clotaire I (king of Neustrie), and Childebert (king of Paris).

Ivan Sache, 22 October 2000

The "banner of the Franks"

An heraldic legend from the XIIIth century claims that Clovis used a banner charged with toads before his conversion to Christianism. The toads were considered as pagan and devilish animals.

During his bapt