Chlotar I
Chlotar I, also known as Clothar I, was a significant figure in the early history of the Franks, reigning after the death of his father, Clovis I, in 511 CE. As the third son of Clovis and Chlotilde, he inherited the kingdom of Soissons, which served as a power base in northern Gaul. Following the death of his elder brother Clodomir, Chlotar displayed a ruthless approach to consolidating power, notably by eliminating his nephews to secure his claims to their territories. In 558 CE, he expanded his reign further by incorporating the kingdom of his brother Childebert after his death. Chlotar's legacy includes the reunification of the fragmented Frankish territories, a feat achieved through both his military actions and longevity. His rule produced seven sons and one daughter, and he faced familial strife, including the execution of his youngest son Chramn after a failed rebellion. Despite his accomplishments, Chlotar's kingdom was ultimately divided among his surviving sons, but his efforts left a lasting influence on the concept of a unified Frankish Gaul, which resonates in the historical narrative of France.
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Chlotar I
Related civilizations:Franks, Rome
Major role/position: King of the Franks
Life
As the third surviving son of Clovis and Chlotilde, Chlotar (KLOH-tahr) shared a patrimony with his three brothers upon his father’s death in 511 c.e. Given the portion known as the kingdom of Soissons, Chlotar inherited Clovis’s power base in northern Gaul.
When the eldest of Chlotilde’s sons, Clodomir, was killed in action, Chlotar partitioned his kingdom with his other full brother, Childebert. Chlotar apparently stabbed to death two of his young nephews with his own hand to ensure his claim to their father’s throne. He added Childebert’s kingdom in 558 c.e., when that king died of “the fever.”
Chlotar had seven sons and one daughter by three of his four wives. His youngest child, Chramn, was executed at his command after leading a failed rebellion in alliance with the Bretons.
Influence
Chlotar’s place in history is as the Frankish king who, by ruthlessness and longevity, was able to reunite the disparate territories of Clovis under one rule. It was, however, a short-lived enterprise, as Chlotar’s lands were divided again among his four surviving sons, Charibert, Guntram, Sigibert, and Chilperic. Nevertheless, Chlotar made a dynamic statement that encouraged the notion that Frankish Gaul should be unified, a lasting and powerful concept for French history.
Bibliography
Thorpe, Lewis, trans. Gregory of Tours: The History of the Franks. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin, 1982.
Wood, Ian. The Merovingian Kingdoms, 450-751. London: Longman, 1994.