Roy Family Genealogy
Genealogy of the Roy family, including Boudreau, Burnett, Myers, Ward, Whelpley, and Woodman
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Clovis I "the Great", King of the Franks

Clovis I "the Great", King of the Franks

Male 466 - 511  (45 years)

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  • Name Clovis I  
    Relationshipwith Robert Alan Roy
    Birth About 466  [1, 2, 3
    Crowned 481 (Age 15)  [2, 3
    History birth to death 
    • Clovis I's name was also spelt Chlodovech. [3]
    • Clovis is considered the founder of the French State. In 486, in co-operation with other Frankish chieftains, he defeated the last great Roman army in Gaul under the commander Syagrius near Soissons. He then went on to defeat many minor princes, kings and tribal chieftains to form the first Frankish Kingdom. However, the exact chronology of Clovis' reign is hopelessly obscure; even the identity of the various peoples he is said to have defeated and absorbed into his kingdom is debatable. According to legend, an angel gave Clovis I an iris flower or "fleur-de-lis" after accepting the Christian faith, and Clovis I then used fleur-de-lis as his symbol. However, it is entirely unlikely that Clovis underwent an experience of profound enlightenment during which he renounced the many Celtic, Germanic and Roman deities to embrace Jesus Christ. He more likely viewed Christ as another powerful god; an ally he could call upon to give him victory in battle. At the time of his death, his kingdom covered most of what is now France and the western part of Germany. According to ancient Frankish law and tradition, the kingdom was split up among his sons Clodomir, Theodoric I (also Thierri I), Childebert I and Clothaire I. [see picture below] The situation was far from peaceful as the Merovingian Kings spent much of the next two centuries squabbling over the various thrones. Although a temporary union of the Frankish Kingdoms occurred several times when a single heir survived, the situation was chaotic as various kings sought to displace one another. [1, 3]
    • Clovis I was baptized as an adult on 22 Sep 496. [1]
    Death 27 Nov 511  Paris, Île-de-France, France Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Burial Abbey of Saint Genevieve, Paris, Île-de-France, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Siblings 3 Siblings 
    Person ID I5865  | Roy Line, Boudreau Line
    Last Modified 4 Feb 2022 

    Father Childeric I, Chieftain of the Salian Franks,   b. About 436   d. 481, Tournai, Wallonia, Belgium Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 45 years) 
    Mother Basina of Thuringia 
    Family ID F4446  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 unknown wife 
    Children 
     1. Theoderich I, King of the Franks
    Family ID F4445  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 27 Sep 2019 

    Family 2 Saint Clothilda,   b. Abt 480   d. 544, Basilica of Saint Martin, Tours, Centre-Val de Loire, France Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 64 years)  [2, 3
    Marriage 492  [2
    Age at Marriage He : ~ 26 years - She : ~ 12 years
    Children 
     1. Ingomer,   b. 493   d. 493 (Age 0 years)
     2. Chlodomer, King of the Franks at Orléans,   b. 495   d. 21 Jun 524 (Age 29 years)
     3. Childebert I, Kings of the Neustrian Franks ,   b. 497   d. 23 Dec 558 (Age 61 years)
     4. Clothaire I, King of the Franks,   b. About 501, Soissons, Aisne, Hauts-de-France, France Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 Nov 561 - 31 Dec 561 (Age 60 years)
     5. Theod
     6. chro 502
    Family ID F4100  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 27 Sep 2019 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsChild - Clothaire I, King of the Franks - About 501 - Soissons, Aisne, Hauts-de-France, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 27 Nov 511 - Paris, Île-de-France, France Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Abbey of Saint Genevieve, Paris, Île-de-France, France Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Photos
    Clovis I, King of the Franks
    Division of the Kingdom

  • Sources 
    1. [S65] Sewell, Robert James. Sewell: A History of the Sewell Family from the Earliest Times, (unknown: manuscript, March 2008).

    2. [S60] Stuart, Roderick W. Royalty for Commoners, The Complete Known Lineage of John of Gaunt, Son of Edward III, King of England, and Queen Philippa Fourth Edition, (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2002).

    3. [S1508] anonymous. Franks, Merovingian Kings , (manuscript, 2007).