Ron Paul Curriculum 7th Grade History Class Lesson 20 Essay: Ancient France and the Merovingians

Ron Paul Curriculum 7th Grade History Class
Taughty by Professor Bradley Fish
Lesson 20 Essay: Ancient France and the Merovingians
Written by KryssaLee Baze

      France was originally called Gaul, and in the beginning of the history of Gaul several tribes inhabited France.  The biggest of these tribes was the Franks.

      The Franks congregated on the banks of the Rhine River, the largest river in France.  The Franks began to organize into territories which were governed by sub-governors, though the Roman Empire was still in control of Gaul at this time.  Some of these early territories were Aquitaine, Burgundy, and Austrasia.

     One of the northern tribes of France was called the Salian Franks, commonly known as the Merovingians.  They were called the Merovingians because of their 1st king, Merovich.  However it was his grandson, Clovis I, who is the best remembered early French king.

      Clovis became king of the Merovingians in 481 AD, at the young age of 15.  Despite his youth he was an extraordinarily good military leader.  He was extremely ambitious and in 486 A.D. he battled the Romans.

      The Roman general Syagrius underestimated the young king, and didn't take the battle seriously.  The Battle of Soissons was won by Clovis, and the Romans quickly lost control of most of Gaul.  Clovis went on to conquer the rest of the Frankish tribes.  Some of these new additions were Toulouse and Aquitaine.  

      Clovis married the niece of the king of Burgundy, Clotilde, strengthening his kingdom.  His wife was a Christian, and was constantly trying to convert him, but Clovis refused.  He remained a pagan until 496 A.D., when he was fighting a battle that was not going very well.  He decided to pray to the god of Clotilde, and ended up winning the battle.  He then converted to Christianity and was baptized into the Roman Catholic Church as that was what Clotilde was.  This was quite rare, as the Arian Church was much more popular.

      He continued expanding his territory until by 509 A.D., when he became king of all of the Franks and united Gaul.  Clovis died in 511 A.D., king of all of Gaul.