Clovis I

Clovis I (A.D. 466–511), Frankish king (481–511), founder of the Merovingian monarchy. He amassed a huge kingdom from the Rhine River to the Mediterranean, defeating the Romans at Soissons (486) and the Visigoths under Alaric II of Spain at Vouillé (507). He became a Christian c.498 and compiled the code of Salic law.

See also: Merovingian.