Battle of Vouillé
Vouillé, near Poitiers, Vienne, France
What happened
King Clovis I of the Franks fought King Alaric II of the Visigoths. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the Franks ruled northern Gaul and the Visigoths ruled the south. In 507 Clovis led his army south and met the Visigoths near Vouillé, close to Poitiers. The Visigothic army broke, and Alaric II fell in the fighting.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It drove Visigothic power out of most of Gaul, and the Franks took south-western France and Toulouse. It was a major step toward the kingdom that later became France.
What came next
Clovis made Paris his capital. The Byzantine emperor Anastasius honoured him with the title of consul.
Did you know?
Clovis was the first king to unite all the Franks under one ruler, founding the Merovingian dynasty.
Timeline
- c. 496-508Clovis is baptised as a Christian.
- Spring 507Clovis defeats the Visigoths at Vouillé.
- 507The Franks take Toulouse.
- 511Clovis dies.