[Footnote5:SeeProcopiusdeBell。Gothico，l。i。c。12，intom。
ii。p。81。ThecharacterofGrotiusinclinesmetobelieve，thathehasnotsubstitutedtheRhinefortheRhoneHist。Gothorum，p。175withouttheauthorityofsomeMs。]
[Footnote6:Sidonius，l。viii。epist。3，9，intom。i。p。800。
JornandesdeRebusGeticis，c。47p。680justifies，insomemeasure，thisportraitoftheGothichero。]
[Footnote7:IusethefamiliarappellationofClovis，fromtheLatinChlodovechus，orChlodovoeus。ButtheChexpressesonlytheGermanaspiration，andthetruenameisnotdifferentfromLewis，Mem。de\'AcademiedesInscriptions，tom。xx。p。68。]
WhileChilderic，thefatherofClovis，livedanexileinGermany，hewashospitablyentertainedbythequeen，aswellasbytheking，oftheThuringians。Afterhisrestoration，Basinaescapedfromherhusband\'sbedtothearmsofherlover；freelydeclaring，thatifshehadknownamanwiser，stronger，ormorebeautiful，thanChilderic，thatmanshouldhavebeentheobjectofherpreference。^8Cloviswastheoffspringofthisvoluntaryunion；and，whenhewasnomorethanfifteenyearsofage，hesucceeded，byhisfather\'sdeath，tothecommandoftheSaliantribe。ThenarrowlimitsofhiskingdomwereconfinedtotheislandoftheBatavians，withtheancientdiocesesofTournayandArras；^10andatthebaptismofClovisthenumberofhiswarriorscouldnotexceedfivethousand。ThekindredtribesoftheFranks，whohadseatedthemselvesalongtheBelgicrivers，theScheld，theMeuse，theMoselle，andtheRhine，weregovernedbytheirindependentkings，oftheMerovingianrace；theequals，theallies，andsometimestheenemiesoftheSalicprince。ButtheGermans，whoobeyed，inpeace，thehereditaryjurisdictionoftheirchiefs，werefreetofollowthestandardofapopularandvictoriousgeneral；andthesuperiormeritofClovisattractedtherespectandallegianceofthenationalconfederacy。Whenhefirsttookthefield，hehadneithergoldandsilverinhiscoffers，norwineandcorninhismagazine；^11butheimitatedtheexampleofCaesar，who，inthesamecountry，hadacquiredwealthbythesword，andpurchasedsoldierswiththefruitsofconquest。Aftereachsuccessfulbattleorexpedition，thespoilswereaccumulatedinonecommonmass；everywarriorreceivedhisproportionableshare；andtheroyalprerogativesubmittedtotheequalregulationsofmilitarylaw。TheuntamedspiritoftheBarbarianswastaughttoacknowledgetheadvantagesofregulardiscipline。^12AttheannualreviewofthemonthofMarch，theirarmswerediligentlyinspected；andwhentheytraversedapeacefulterritory，theywereprohibitedfromtouchingabladeofgrass。ThejusticeofCloviswasinexorable；andhiscarelessordisobedientsoldierswerepunishedwithinstantdeath。ItwouldbesuperfluoustopraisethevalorofaFrank；butthevalorofCloviswasdirectedbycoolandconsummateprudence。^13Inallhistransactionswithmankind，hecalculatedtheweightofinterest，ofpassion，andofopinion；andhismeasuresweresometimesadaptedtothesanguinarymannersoftheGermans，andsometimesmoderatedbythemildergeniusofRome，andChristianity。Hewasinterceptedinthecareerofvictory，sincehediedintheforty—fifthyearofhisage:buthehadalreadyaccomplished，inareignofthirtyyears，theestablishmentoftheFrenchmonarchyinGaul。
[Footnote8:Greg。l。ii。c。12，intom。i。p。168。Basinaspeaksthelanguageofnature；theFranks，whohadseenherintheiryouth，mightconversewithGregoryintheiroldage；andthebishopofTourscouldnotwishtodefamethemotherofthefirstChristianking。]
[Footnote9:TheAbbeDubosHist。Critiquedel\'EtablissementdelaMonarchieFrancoisedanslesGaules，tom。i。p。630—650hasthemeritofdefiningtheprimitivekingdomofClovis，andofascertainingthegenuinenumberofhissubjects。]
[Footnote10:EcclesiamincultamacnegligentiaciviumPaganorumpraetermissam，vepriumdensitateoppletam，&c。Vit。St。Vedasti，intom。iii。p。372。ThisdescriptionsupposesthatArraswaspossessedbythePagansmanyyearsbeforethebaptismofClovis。]
[Footnote11:GregoryofTourslv。c。i。tom。ii。p。232
contraststhepovertyofCloviswiththewealthofhisgrandsons。
YetRemigiusintom。iv。p。52mentionshispaternasopes，assufficientfortheredemptionofcaptives。]
[Footnote12:SeeGregory，l。ii。c。27，37，intom。ii。p。175，181，182。ThefamousstoryofthevaseofSoissonsexplainsboththepowerandthecharacterofClovis。Asapointofcontroversy，ithasbeenstrangelytorturedbyBoulainvilliersDubos，andtheotherpoliticalantiquarians。]
[Footnote13:ThedukeofNivernois，anoblestatesman，whohasmanagedweightyanddelicatenegotiations，ingeniouslyillustratesMem。del\'Acad。desInscriptions，tom。xx。p。147—
184thepoliticalsystemofClovis。]
ThefirstexploitofCloviswasthedefeatofSyagrius，thesonofAegidius；andthepublicquarrelmight，onthisoccasion，beinflamedbyprivateresentment。ThegloryofthefatherstillinsultedtheMerovingianrace；thepowerofthesonmightexcitethejealousambitionofthekingoftheFranks。Syagriusinherited，asapatrimonialestate，thecityanddioceseofSoissons:thedesolateremnantofthesecondBelgic，RheimsandTroyes，BeauvaisandAmiens，wouldnaturallysubmittothecountorpatrician:^14andafterthedissolutionoftheWesternempire，hemightreignwiththetitle，oratleastwiththeauthority，ofkingoftheRomans。^15AsaRoman，hehadbeeneducatedintheliberalstudiesofrhetoricandjurisprudence；
buthewasengagedbyaccidentandpolicyinthefamiliaruseoftheGermanicidiom。TheindependentBarbariansresortedtothetribunalofastranger，whopossessedthesingulartalentofexplaining，intheirnativetongue，thedictatesofreasonandequity。Thediligenceandaffabilityoftheirjudgerenderedhimpopular，theimpartialwisdomofhisdecreesobtainedtheirvoluntaryobedience，andthereignofSyagriusovertheFranksandBurgundiansseemedtorevivetheoriginalinstitutionofcivilsociety。^16Inthemidstofthesepeacefuloccupations，Syagriusreceived，andboldlyaccepted，thehostiledefianceofClovis；whochallengedhisrivalinthespirit，andalmostinthelanguage，ofchivalry，toappointthedayandthefield^17ofbattle。InthetimeofCaesarSoissonswouldhavepouredforthabodyoffiftythousandhorseandsuchanarmymighthavebeenplentifullysuppliedwithshields，cuirasses，andmilitaryengines，fromthethreearsenalsormanufacturesofthecity。^18
ButthecourageandnumbersoftheGallicyouthwerelongsinceexhausted；andtheloosebandsofvolunteers，ormercenaries，whomarchedunderthestandardofSyagrius，wereincapableofcontendingwiththenationalvaloroftheFranks。Itwouldbeungenerouswithoutsomemoreaccurateknowledgeofhisstrengthandresources，tocondemntherapidflightofSyagrius，whoescaped，afterthelossofabattle，tothedistantcourtofThoulouse。ThefeebleminorityofAlariccouldnotassistorprotectanunfortunatefugitive；thepusillanimous^19GothswereintimidatedbythemenacesofClovis；andtheRomanking，afterashortconfinement，wasdeliveredintothehandsoftheexecutioner。TheBelgiccitiessurrenderedtothekingoftheFranks；andhisdominionswereenlargedtowardstheEastbytheampledioceseofTongres^20whichClovissubduedinthetenthyearofhisreign。
[Footnote14:M。BietinaDissertationwhichdeservedtheprizeoftheAcademyofSoissons，p。178—226，hasaccuratelydefinedthenatureandextentofthekingdomofSyagriusandhisfather；
buthetooreadilyallowstheslightevidenceofDubostom。ii。
p。54—57todeprivehimofBeauvaisandAmiens。]
[Footnote15:ImayobservethatFredegarius，inhisepitomeofGregoryofTours，tom。ii。p。398，hasprudentlysubstitutedthenameofPatriciusfortheincredibletitleofRexRomanorum。]
[Footnote16:Sidonius，l。v。Epist。5，intom。i。p。794，whostyleshimtheSolon，theAmphion，oftheBarbarians，addressesthisimaginarykinginthetoneoffriendshipandequality。Fromsuchofficesofarbitration，thecraftyDejoceshadraisedhimselftothethroneoftheMedes，Herodot。l。i。c。96—
100。]
[Footnote17:Campumsibipraepararijussit。M。Bietp。226—
251hasdiligentlyascertainedthisfieldofbattle，atNogent，aBenedictineabbey，abouttenmilestothenorthofSoissons。
ThegroundwasmarkedbyacircleofPagansepulchres；andClovisbestowedtheadjacentlandsofLeullyandCoucyonthechurchofRheims。]
[Footnote18:SeeCaesar。Comment。deBell。Gallic。ii。4，intom。i。p。220，andtheNotitiae，tom。i。p。126。ThethreeFabricaeofSoissonswere，Seutaria，Balistaria，andClinabaria。
Thelastsuppliedthecompletearmoroftheheavycuirassiers。]
[Footnote19:Theepithetmustbeconfinedtothecircumstances；
andhistorycannotjustifytheFrenchprejudiceofGregory，l。
ii。c。27，intom。ii。p。175，utGothorumpaveremosest。]
[Footnote20:Duboshassatisfiedmetom。i。p。277—286thatGregoryofTours，histranscribers，orhisreaders，haverepeatedlyconfoundedtheGermankingdomofThuringia，beyondtheRhine，andtheGalliccityofTongria，ontheMeuse，whichwasmoreancientlythecountryoftheEburones，andmorerecentlythedioceseofLiege。]
ThenameoftheAlemannihasbeenabsurdlyderivedfromtheirimaginarysettlementonthebanksoftheLemanLake。^21
Thatfortunatedistrict，fromthelaketotheAvenche，andMountJura，wasoccupiedbytheBurgundians。^22ThenorthernpartsofHelvetiahadindeedbeensubduedbytheferociousAlemanni，whodestroyedwiththeirownhandsthefruitsoftheirconquest。A
province，improvedandadornedbytheartsofRome，wasagainreducedtoasavagewilderness；andsomevestigeofthestatelyVindonissamaystillbediscoveredinthefertileandpopulousvalleyoftheAar。^23FromthesourceoftheRhinetoitsconfluxwiththeMeinandtheMoselle，theformidableswarmsoftheAlemannicommandedeithersideoftheriver，bytherightofancientpossession，orrecentvictory。TheyhadspreadthemselvesintoGaul，overthemodernprovincesofAlsaceandLorraine；andtheirboldinvasionofthekingdomofColognesummonedtheSalicprincetothedefenceofhisRipuarianallies。
ClovisencounteredtheinvadersofGaulintheplainofTolbiac，abouttwenty—fourmilesfromCologne；andthetwofiercestnationsofGermanyweremutuallyanimatedbythememoryofpastexploits，andtheprospectoffuturegreatness。TheFranks，afteranobstinatestruggle，gaveway；andtheAlemanni，raisingashoutofvictory，impetuouslypressedtheirretreat。Butthebattlewasrestoredbythevalor，andtheconduct，andperhapsbythepiety，ofClovis；andtheeventofthebloodydaydecidedforeverthealternativeofempireorservitude。ThelastkingoftheAlemanniwasslaininthefield，andhispeoplewereslaughteredorpursued，tilltheythrewdowntheirarms，andyieldedtothemercyoftheconqueror。Withoutdisciplineitwasimpossibleforthemtorally:theyhadcontemptuouslydemolishedthewallsandfortificationswhichmighthaveprotectedtheirdistress；andtheywerefollowedintotheheartoftheirforestsbyanenemynotlessactive，orintrepid，thanthemselves。ThegreatTheodoriccongratulatedthevictoryofClovis，whosesisterAlbofledathekingofItalyhadlatelymarried；buthemildlyintercededwithhisbrotherinfavorofthesuppliantsandfugitives，whohadimploredhisprotection。TheGallicterritories，whichwerepossessedbytheAlemanni，becametheprizeoftheirconqueror；andthehaughtynation，invincible，orrebellious，tothearmsofRome，acknowledgedthesovereigntyoftheMerovingiankings，whograciouslypermittedthemtoenjoytheirpeculiarmannersandinstitutions，underthegovernmentofofficial，and，atlength，ofhereditary，dukes。AftertheconquestoftheWesternprovinces，theFranksalonemaintainedtheirancienthabitationsbeyondtheRhine。Theygraduallysubdued，andcivilized，theexhaustedcountries，asfarastheElbe，andthemountainsofBohemia；andthepeaceofEuropewassecuredbytheobedienceofGermany。^24
[Footnote21:PopulihabitantesjuxtaLemannumlacum，Alemannidicuntur。Servius，adVirgil。Georgic。iv。278。DonBouquettom。i。p。817hasonlyallegedthemorerecentandcorrupttextofIsidoreofSeville。]
[Footnote22:GregoryofTourssendsSt。LupicinusinterillaJurensisdesertisecreta，quae，interBurgundiamAlamanniamquesita，Aventicaeadjacentcivitati，intom。i。p。648。M。deWattevilleHist。delaConfederationHelvetique，tom。i。p。9，10hasaccuratelydefinedtheHelvetianlimitsoftheDuchyofAlemannia，andtheTransjuraneBurgundy。TheywerecommensuratewiththediocesesofConstanceandAvenche，orLausanne，andarestilldiscriminated，inmodernSwitzerland，bytheuseoftheGerman，orFrench，language。]
[Footnote23:SeeGuillimandeRebusHelveticis，li。c。3，p。
11，12。WithintheancientwallsofVindonissa，thecastleofHapsburgh，theabbeyofKonigsfield，andthetownofBruck，havesuccessivelyrisen。ThephilosophictravellermaycomparethemonumentsofRomanconquestoffeudalorAustriantyranny，ofmonkishsuperstition，andofindustriousfreedom。Ifhebetrulyaphilosopher，hewillapplaudthemeritandhappinessofhisowntimes。]
[Footnote24:GregoryofTours，l。ii。30，37，intom。ii。p。
176，177，182，theGestaFrancorum，intom。ii。p。551，andtheepistleofTheodoric，Cassiodor。Variar。l。ii。c。41，intom。iv。p。4，representthedefeatoftheAlemanni。SomeoftheirtribessettledinRhaetia，undertheprotectionofTheodoric；whosesuccessorscededthecolonyandtheircountrytothegrandsonofClovis。ThestateoftheAlemanniundertheMerovingiankingsmaybeseeninMascouHist。oftheAncientGermans，xi。8，&c。Annotationxxxvi。andGuilliman，deReb。
Helvet。l。ii。c。10—12，p。72—80。]
Tillthethirtiethyearofhisage，Cloviscontinuedtoworshipthegodsofhisancestors。^25Hisdisbelief，orratherdisregard，ofChristianity，mightencouragehimtopillagewithlessremorsethechurchesofahostileterritory:buthissubjectsofGaulenjoyedthefreeexerciseofreligiousworship；
andthebishopsentertainedamorefavorablehopeoftheidolater，thanoftheheretics。TheMerovingianprincehadcontractedafortunatealliancewiththefairClotilda，thenieceofthekingofBurgundy，who，inthemidstofanAriancourt，waseducatedintheprofessionoftheCatholicfaith。Itwasherinterest，aswellasherduty，toachievetheconversion^26ofaPaganhusband；andClovisinsensiblylistenedtothevoiceofloveandreligion。Heconesntedperhapssuchtermshadbeenpreviouslystipulatedtothebaptismofhiseldestson；andthoughthesuddendeathoftheinfantexcitedsomesuperstitiousfears，hewaspersuaded，asecondtime，torepeatthedangerousexperiment。InthedistressofthebattleofTolbiac，ClovisloudlyinvokedtheGodofClotildaandtheChristians；andvictorydisposedhimtohear，withrespectfulgratitude，theeloquent^27Remigius，^28bishopofRheims，whoforciblydisplayedthetemporalandspiritualadvantagesofhisconversion。ThekingdeclaredhimselfsatisfiedofthetruthoftheCatholicfaith；andthepoliticalreasonswhichmighthavesuspendedhispublicprofession，wereremovedbythedevoutorloyalacclamationsoftheFranks，whoshowedthemselvesalikepreparedtofollowtheirheroicleadertothefieldofbattle，ortothebaptismalfont。TheimportantceremonywasperformedinthecathedralofRheims，witheverycircumstanceofmagnificenceandsolemnitythatcouldimpressanawfulsenseofreligiononthemindsofitsrudeproselytes。^29ThenewConstantinewasimmediatelybaptized，withthreethousandofhiswarlikesubjects；andtheirexamplewasimitatedbytheremainderofthegentleBarbarians，who，inobediencetothevictoriousprelate，adoredthecrosswhichtheyhadburnt，andburnttheidolswhichtheyhadformerlyadored。^30ThemindofCloviswassusceptibleoftransientfervor:hewasexasperatedbythepathetictaleofthepassionanddeathofChrist；and，insteadofweighingthesalutaryconsequencesofthatmysterioussacrifice，heexclaimed，withindiscreetfury，\"HadIbeenpresentattheheadofmyvaliantFranks，Iwouldhaverevengedhisinjuries。\"^31ButthesavageconquerorofGaulwasincapableofexaminingtheproofsofareligion，whichdependsonthelaboriousinvestigationofhistoricevidenceandspeculativetheology。Hewasstillmoreincapableoffeelingthemildinfluenceofthegospel，whichpersuadesandpurifiestheheartofagenuineconvert。HisambitiousreignwasaperpetualviolationofmoralandChristianduties:hishandswerestainedwithbloodinpeaceaswellasinwar；and，assoonasClovishaddismissedasynodoftheGallicanchurch，hecalmlyassassinatedalltheprincesoftheMerovingianrace。^32YetthekingoftheFranksmightsincerelyworshiptheChristianGod，asaBeingmoreexcellentandpowerfulthanhisnationaldeities；andthesignaldeliveranceandvictoryofTolbiacencouragedClovistoconfideinthefutureprotectionoftheLordofHosts。Martin，themostpopularofthesaints，hadfilledtheWesternworldwiththefameofthosemiracleswhichwereincessantlyperformedathisholysepulchreofTours。Hisvisibleorinvisibleaidpromotedthecauseofaliberalandorthodoxprince；andtheprofaneremarkofClovishimself，thatSt。Martinwasanexpensivefriend，^33neednotbeinterpretedasthesymptomofanypermanentorrationalscepticism。Butearth，aswellasheaven，rejoicedintheconversionoftheFranks。OnthememorabledaywhenClovisascendedfromthebaptismalfont，healone，intheChristianworld，deservedthenameandprerogativesofaCatholicking。TheemperorAnastasiusentertainedsomedangerouserrorsconcerningthenatureofthedivineincarnation；andtheBarbariansofItaly，Africa，Spain，andGaul，wereinvolvedintheArianheresy。Theeldest，orrathertheonly，sonofthechurch，wasacknowledgedbytheclergyastheirlawfulsovereign，orgloriousdeliverer；andthearmiesofCloviswerestrenuouslysupportedbythezealandfervoroftheCatholicfaction。^34
[Footnote25:Clotilda，orratherGregory，supposesthatClovisworshippedthegodsofGreeceandRome。Thefactisincredible，andthemistakeonlyshowshowcompletely，inlessthanacentury，thenationalreligionoftheFrankshadbeenabolishedandevenforgotten]
[Footnote26:GregoryofToursrelatesthemarriageandconversionofClovis，l。ii。c。28—31，intom。ii。p。175—
178。EvenFredegarius，orthenamelessEpitomizer，intom。ii。
p。398—400，theauthoroftheGestaFrancorum，intom。ii。p。
548—552，andAimoinhimself，l。i。c。13，intom。iii。p。37
—40，maybeheardwithoutdisdain。Traditionmightlongpreservesomecuriouscircumstancesoftheseimportanttransactions。]