Battles & Campaigns · c. 496
Battle of Tolbiac
Zülpich, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
What happened
The Franks under King Clovis I and Sigebert the Lame fought the Alemanni. Alemanni raids into the lands of the Ripuarian Franks grew into an invasion, and Sigebert asked Clovis for help. According to the historian Gregory of Tours, when the battle went badly, Clovis prayed to his wife Clotilde's Christian God and promised to convert if he won. The Alemanni fled after their leader fell.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It ended the independence of the northern Alemanni.
What came next
Clovis was baptised at Reims, traditionally at Christmas 496. Fighting with the Alemanni went on until 506.
Did you know?
The battle is remembered in Paris in the name of the Rue de Tolbiac and the Tolbiac Métro station.
Timeline
- c. 496The Franks win at Tolbiac.
- Christmas 496Clovis is baptised at Reims (traditional date).
- 506Fighting with the Alemanni ends.