Born: c395
Died: 447
Father: Pharamond (d427)
Mother: ?
Spouse: ?
Children:
Image from KRS ===>>
From Kings, Rulers and Statesmen, eds. L F Wise / E W Egan, Sterling (Oak Tree), 1967, 446pp, own
Born: c395
Father: Pharamond (d427) Spouse: ?
Children: Image from KRS ===>> |
From Kings, Rulers and Statesmen, eds. L F Wise / E W Egan, Sterling (Oak Tree), 1967, 446pp, own |
Theodoric's Goths, who "from the study of the Roman jurisprudence [had] acquired the theory, at least, of law and justice; and the harmonious sense of Virgil contributed to soften the asperity of their native manners" (560) were allied with Aetius' Romans in seeking to check Genseric's Vandals, but the latter allied with Attila's Huns and prepared to invade Gaul, which Aetius famously repulsed at Chalons in 451. Meanwhile, "the Franks, whose monarchy was still confined to the neighborhood of the Lower Rhine, had wisely established the right of hereditary succession in the noble family of the Merovingians. These princes were elevated on a buckler, the symbol of military command; and the royal fashion of long hair was the ensign of their birth and dignity. Their flaxen [yellow] locks, which they combed and dressed with singular care, hung down in flowing ringlets on their back and shoulders; while the rest of the nation were obliged, either by law or custom, to shave the hinder part of their head, to comb their hair over the forehead, and to content themselves with the ornament of 2 small whiskers. The lofty stature of the Franks and their blue eyes denoted a Germanic origin; their close apparel accurately expressed the figure of their limbs ... Clodion, the 1rst of their long-haired kings whose name and actions are mentioned in authentic history, held his residence at Dispargum, a village or fortress ... between Louvain and Brussels ... informed [by spies that] the 2nd Belgic [province was vulnerable, having earlier been invaded by Burgundians, repulsed by Aetius, he attacked and] through the ... Carbonarian forest [and] occupied Tournay and Cambray, the only cities which existed [there] in the 5C; and extended his conquests [to] the river Somme ... While Clodion lay encamped in the plains of Artois, and celebrated with vain and ostentatious security the marriage perhaps of his son [Merovich], the nuptial feast was interrupted by the unexpected and unwelcome presence of Aetius, who had passed the Somme at the head of his light cavalry. The tables, which had been spread under the shelter of a hill along the banks of a pleasant stream, were rudely overturned ... [they were caught by surprise and defeated, supplies and bride et al taken, tho Clodion lived,] soon regained his strength and reputation, and still maintained his the possession of his Gallic kingdom from the Rhine to the Somme. Under his reign, and most probably from the enterprising spirit of his subjects, the 3 capitals, Mentz, Treves, and Cologne, experienced the effects of hostile cruelty and avarice [of displaced marauders] ... The death of Clodion, after a reign of 20yrs, exposed his kingdom to the discord and ambition of his 2 sons. Meroveus, the younger, was persuaded to implore the protection of Rome ... rcv'd at the Imperial court as the ally of Valentinian and the adopted son of Aetius ... [but] during his absence his elder bro had [allied w/] Attila [who then invaded Gaul, for that reason and also due to Honoria's proclaimed 'love', at Huns defeat, Meroveus also triumphed over his bro]" (Gibbon's DFRE pp560-1 '420-51 [AD] The Franks in Gaul under the Merovingian Kings').
"We read in the consular lists that Theudemer [#66 Odomir d. c128], King of the Franks, son of Richemer [#67 d. c114], and his mother Ascyla, were executed with the sword. They also say that Clodio [i.e. Clodion], a man of high birth and marked ability among his people, was King of the Franks and that he lived in the castle of Duisburg in Thuringian territory. In those parts, i.e. toward the S, the Romans occupied the territory as far as the River Loire. Beyond the Loire the Goths were in command. The Burgundes, who believed in the Arian heresy, lived across the Rhone, which flows through the city of Lyons. Clodio sent spies to the town of Cambrai [Roman territory?]. When they had discovered all that they needed to know, he himself followed and crushed the Romans and captured the town. He lived there only a short time and then occupied the country up to the River Somme. Some say that Merovech, the father of Childeric, was descended from Clodio" (HoF p125).
HBHG: Hmmm, the genealogy chart on pp248-9 shows the parents of Merovee 'the Young' r448-58 to be Merovee [the elder] of Sicambrian origin and a Frankish leader in 417 and his spouse Siegse, whom is shown having also married (earlier or later?) Clodion VI, King of Cambrai 438-48 of Salian Frank origin. Not sure if Clodion VI is the same as 'Clodio[n] the Hairy' or whether the actual father of Merovich is Merovee c417 or Clodion?
Sources:
- Gibbon's DFRE.
- HoF = The History of the Franks, Gregory of Tours, 6C [Penguin 1974], own.
- HBHG = Holy Blood Holy Grail, Michael Baigent, Henry Lincoln, Richard Leigh, 1983, FHL.
