TOLBIAC 496 -  v 1.0 
by Chris Jackson
Symbol Set Required:  Master 1 


HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
 
In 496 the Ripuarian (or Rhineland) Franks were suffering invasion from
the Alamans (or Alamanni), a Germanic tribe (where the French word for 
Germany, Allemagne, is derived) based at this time in present-day
Switzerland. The Ripuarians under Sigibert called upon the aid of their
fellow tribe in the Merovingian Kingdom, the Salians under Clovis.  
Since his victory at Soissons, Clovis had been consolidating his gains,
subjecting cities like Paris (by 493) as well as a confederation of Germanic
tribes called the Thuringians (around 491). He answered Sigibert's call and
arrived in the east to defend the Frankish kingdom.  
Tolbiac, now Zulpich, lies east of Aachen and 25 miles from Colgne.
It was here that the Franks met the Alamans.
 Gregory of Tours writes that when the battle was going badly for the
Franks, Clovis realized his pagan gods had failed him, and he called upon
Jesus Christ and promised that if he would be granted victory that day, he
would be baptised as a christian. The battle suddenly turned in the Franks'
favor and the Alamans were routed off the battlefield. That Christmas Day, 
Clovis, 3000 of his warriors, and two of his sisters (Albofled and 
Lanthechild) were baptised by Saint Remi at Rheims. The victory at Tolbiac 
also drove the Alamans back across the Rhine which they would never cross
again, and virtually brought the Ripuarians under Clovis' rule.

Historians call Gregory's account a simplification of a complex political
event, played up to paint Clovis as a second Constantine. It has been 
pointed out that Gregory treats what must have beem entire campaigns as 
single battles. Clovis' conversion may have been nothing more than political
convenience, bringing his religion into line with neighbouring barbarian 
kingdoms which were now intermarrying to form alliances. However, all of 
these kingdoms were led by ARIAN christians, making Clovis the first and only
CATHOLIC leader. Still, there were catholics in many parts of the barbarian
kingdoms, most notably in Italy where Theodoric had married Clovis' sister 
Audofleda. There is another old tradition that Clovis converted after 
witnessing miracles at the tomb of St. Martin in Tours. At any rate there is
little doubt that Clovis' catholic wife Clotilda played a major part in 
guiding Clovis to the orthodox faith.  



Sources:

"Clovis". Encyclopedia Britannica, volume 3, p. 401. Chicago University Press, 
     1995.

Gregory of Tours. "History of the Franks". New York: Octagon Books, 1965.

James, Edward."The Franks". New York: Basil Blackwell, Ltd., 1988. 
 
James, Edward. "The Origins of France - From Clovis to the Capetians 500-1000".
     London: MacMillan Education, Ltd., 1982.

Wood, Ian. "The Merovingian Kingdoms 450-751." New York: Longman Group UK Ltd., 1994.



BATTLE NOTES

Sigibert the Lame, leader of the Ripuarians, got his nickname from an injury
he suffered battling the Alamans at Tolbiac. It is not known whether this is
the same battle as the one Clovis won his great victory, but I included him
anyway as the leader of the other wing. The Alamans made extensive use of
cavalry (by contrast, the only Franks who rode horses were the leaders),
so that's why so many Alamans are horsebound. The map is a generalized 
depiction of the area.


 Chris Jackson
October 22, 1998 