Clovis I and the Franks Convert to Catholicism
496
Donna Morley
Sixth-century Gallo-Roman bishop and historian Gregory of Tours, whose History
of the Franks is the fullest account of the early Germanic peoples, tells us that
Clovis I, (also known as Chlodovocar, 466-511) became king of a small Frankish
kingdom at the age of 15.
Clovis had never really thought much about spiritual matters, but did so at the
moment he and his army faced a difficult battle against the Alemanni army.
Alemanni was one of the many Germanic tribes, whose name became the French
word for Germany, Allemagne. As Clovis was facing defeat he called upon Christ:
O Christ....if you accord me the victory....
I will believe in you and be baptized in your name.
I have called on my gods, but I have found from experience
that they are far from my aid....it is you
whom I believe to be able to defeat my enemies. [1]
Clovis and his army defeated Alemanni and they credited Christ as the reason for
their victory. Showing their gratitude, Clovis and his entire army decided to be
baptized in the Catholic church.
Although Clovis had never, since his desperate day, displayed a true interest in
spiritual things he understood that being an orthodox Roman Catholic gave him
political advantages. He received support from the Gallo-Roman bishops, and the
Catholic leaders in Gaul. The Arian Visigothic and Burgundian kings who rivaled for
control in the region didn’t have such grand support from the Catholic church. As a
matter of fact, because the Burgundian and Visigothic people understood the
support Clovis had, they looked to him to deliver them from their Arian kings.
The last years of Clovis’ life were spent in Paris, which he made the capital of his
empire. It was in Paris he built the church of the Holy Apostles, later known as the
church of St. Genevieve. By murdering the Frankish kings who reigned at Cambrai,
Cologne and other residences in Germany, Clovis became sole king of all the
Frankish (Germanic) tribes. Clovis always credited the Catholic church for his
success. To show his gratitude he took the church property under his protection,
but too, he maintained his authority over the church.
Historians say that Clovis’ conversion to Catholicism was a momentous event in
church history because it gave Clovis the ability to form an alliance with the church
hierarchy (papal rule wouldn’t take place until Gregory I, in 590). This meant that
all the Germanic tribes, now under the power of Clovis, finally united in peace with
the most powerful force in Western Europe--the Catholic church. Together, the
Germanic government and the Catholic church protected each other’s interest.
Such a marriage created unbelievable power for both parties for about 1, 450
years. The marriage would eventually come to an end because of a German monk
by the name of Martin Luther.
The story of Clovis’ conversion gave the chroniclers of the time an opportunity to
write up many illustrious anecdotes. Below are two samples:
Chronicle of St. Denis: Chlodovocar, King of the Franks
From The Chronicle of St. Denis, I.18-19, 23:
At this time the King was yet in the errors of his idolatry and went to war with the
Alemanni, since he wished to render them tributary. Long was the battle, many
were slain on one side or the other, for the Franks fought to win glory and renown,
the Alemanni to save life and freedom. When the King at length saw the slaughter
of his people and the boldness of his foes, he had greater expectation of disaster
than of victory. He looked up to heaven humbly, and spoke thus: "Most mighty
God, whom my queen Clothilde worships and adores with heart and soul, I pledge
you perpetual service unto your faith, if only you give me now the victory over my
enemies."
Instantly when he had said this, his men were filled with burning valor, and a great
fear smote his enemies, so that they turned their backs and fled the battle; and
victory remained with the King and with the Franks. The king of the Alemanni were
slain; and as for the Alemanni, seeing themselves discomfited, and that their king
had fallen, they yielded themselves to Chlodovocar and his Franks and became his
tributaries.
The King returned after this victory into Frankland. He went to Rheims, and told the
Queen what had befallen; and they together gave thanks unto Our Lord. The King
made his confession of faith from his heart, and with right good will. The Queen,
who was wondrously overjoyed at the conversion of her lord, went at once to St.
Remi, at that time archbishop of the city. Straightway he hastened to the palace to
teach the King the way by which he could come unto God, for his mind was still in
doubt about it. He presented himself boldly before his face, although a little while
before he [the bishop] had not dared to come before him.
When St. Remi had preached to the King the Christian faith and taught him the way
of the Cross, and when the king had known what the faith was, Chlodovocar
promised fervently that he would henceforth never serve any save the all-powerful
God. After that he said he would put to the test and try the hearts and wills of his
chieftains and lesser people: for he would convert them more easily if they were
converted by pleasant means and by mild words, than if they were driven to it by
force; and this method seemed best to St. Remi. The folk and the chieftains were
assembled by the command of the King. He arose in the midst of them, and spoke
to this effect: "Lords of the Franks, it seems to me highly profitable that you
should know first of all what are those gods which you worship. For we are certain
of their falsity: and we come right freely into the knowledge of Him who is the true
God. Know of a surety that this same God which I preach to you has given victory
over your enemies in the recent battle against the Alemanni. Lift, therefore, your
hearts in just hope; and ask the Sovereign Defender, that He give to you all, that
which you desire---that He save our souls and give us victory over our enemies."
When the King full of faith had thus preached to and admonished his people, one
and all banished from their hearts all unbelief, and recognized their Creator.
When shortly afterward Chlodovocar set out for the church for baptism, St. Remi
prepared a great procession. The streets of Rheims were hung with banners and
tapestry. The church was decorated. The baptistry was covered with balsams and
all sorts of perfumes. The people believed they were already breathing the delights
of paradise. The cortege set out from the palace, the clergy led the way bearing
the holy Gospels, the cross and banners, chanting hymns and psalms. Then came
the bishop leading the King by the hand, next the Queen with the multitude. Whilst
on the way the King asked of the bishop, "If this was the Kingdom of Heaven which
he had promised him." "Not so," replied the prelate; "it is the road that leads to it."
When in the church, in the act of bestowing baptism the holy pontiff lifted his eyes
to heaven in silent prayer and wept. Straightway a dove, white as snow,
descended bearing in his beak a vial of holy oil. A delicious odor exhaled from it:
which intoxicated those near by with an inexpressible delight. The holy bishop took
the vial, and suddenly the dove vanished. Transported with joy at the sight of this
notable miracle, the King renounced Satan, his pomps and his works; and
demanded with earnestness the baptism; at the moment when he bent his head
over the fountain of life, the eloquent pontiff cried, "Bow down thine head, fierce
Sicambrian! Adore that which once thou hast burned: burn that which thou hast
adored!"
After having made his profession of the orthodox faith, the King is plunged thrice in
the waters of baptism. Then in the name of the holy and indivisible Trinity---Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost---the prelate consecrated him with the divine unction. Two
sisters of the king and 3000 fighting men of the Franks and a great number of
women and children were likewise baptized. Thus we many well believe that day
was a day of joy in heaven for the holy angels; likewise of rejoicing on earth for
devout and faithful men!
The King showed vast zeal for his new faith. He built a splendid church at Paris,
called St. Genevieve, where later he and Clothilde were buried. Faith and religion
and zeal for justice were pursued by him all the days of his life. Certain Franks still
held to paganism, and found a leader in Prince Ragnachairus but he was presently
delivered up in fetters to Chlodovocar who put him to death. Thus all the Frankish
people were converted and baptized by the merits of St. Remi....
At this time there came to Chlodovocar messengers from Anastasius, the Emperor
of Constantinople, who brought him presents from their master, and letters
whereof the effect was, that it pleased the Emperor and the Senators that he
[Chlodovocar] be made a "Friend of the Emperor," and a "Patrician" and
"Councilor" of the Romans. When the King had read these letters, he arrayed
himself in the robe of a senator, which the Emperor had sent to him. He mounted
upon hi