Modern Christian doctrine holds that conversion is a Gradual process of turning toward Jesus and his teachings. But in the early medieval world, conversion was perceived more as a one-time event determined by the tribal chieftain. This selection about the Frankish king Clovis is from The History of the Franks by Gregory, bishop of Tours (ca. 504-594), written about a century after the events it describes.
Queen Clotild continued to pray that her husband might recognize the true God and give up his idol-worship. Nothing could persuade him to accept Christianity. Finally war broke out against the Alamanni and in this conflict he was forced by necessity to accept what he had refused of his own free will. It so turned out that when the two armies met on the battlefield there was a great slaughter and the troops of Clovis were rapidly being annihilated. He raised his eyes to Heaven when he saw this, felt compunction in his heart and was moved to tears. “Jesus Christ,” he said, “you who Clotild maintains to be the Son of the living God, you who deign to give help to those in travail and victory to
Those who trust in you, in faith I beg the glory of your help. If you will give me victory over my enemies, and if I may have evidence to that miraculous power which the people dedicated to your name say that they have experienced, then I will believe in you and I will be baptized in your name. I have called upon my own gods, but, as I see only too clearly, they have no intention of helping me. I therefore cannot believe that they possess any power for they do not come to the assistance of those who trust them. I now call upon you. I want to believe in you, but I must first be saved from my enemies.” Even as he said this the Alamanni turned their backs and began to run away. As soon as they saw that their King was killed, they submitted to Clovis. “We beg you,” they said, “to put an end to this slaughter. We are prepared to obey you.” Clovis stopped the war. He made a speech in which he called for peace. Then he went home. He told the Queen how he had won a victory by calling on the name of Christ. This happened in the fifteenth year of his reign (496).
The Queen then ordered Saint Remigius, Bishop of the town of Rheims (reemz), to be summoned in secret. She begged him to impart the
Ninth-century ivory carving showing Clovis being baptized by Saint Remi. (Musee Conde, Chantilly/taurie Platt Winfrey, inc.)
Word of salvation to the King. The Bishop asked Clovis to meet him in private and began to urge him to believe in the true God, Maker of Heaven and earth, and to forsake his idols, which were powerless to help him or anyone else. The King replied: “I have listened to you willingly, holy father. There remains one obstacle. The people under my command will not agree to forsake their gods. I will go and put to them what you have just said to me.” He arranged a meeting with his people, but God in his power had preceded him, and before he could say a word all those present shouted in unison: “We will give up worshipping our mortal gods, pious King, and we are prepared to follow the immortal God about whom Remigius preaches.” This news was reported to the Bishop. He was greatly pleased and he ordered the baptismal pool to be made ready.
Questions for Analysis
1. According to this account, why did Clovis ultimately accept Christianity?
2. For the Salian Franks, what was the best proof of divine power?
3. On the basis of this selection, do you consider The History of the Franks reliable history? Why?
Sources: L. Thorpe, trans., The History of the Franks by Gregory of Tours (Harmondsworth, England: Penguin, 1974), p. 159; P. J. Geary, ed., Readings in Medieval History (Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press, 1991), pp. 165-166.
World History
