Patrick Geary starts his innovative study with, “The Germanic World was perhaps the greatest and most enduring creation of Roman political and military genius” (Geary, 1988, vi). Clovis, King of the Franks, constructed this Germanic World with distinct Roman influence. Throughout his study, Geary argues that Clovis is a complex mixture of both Frankish and Roman traditions. This mixture would lead to the foundation of a powerful Germanic dynasty, the ultimate creation of France, and a western civilization still recognized in the modern world. Clovis, a Barbarian referred to as “Augustus” syncretized these Germanic and Roman worlds by maintaining his Germans roots while fashioning his rule off Roman traditions.
I believe that Clovis owes a great deal of his success to his father and predecessor, Childeric. Childeric was the last Frankish commander in the Roman military tradition, which was the “primary means of Romanization” (Geary, 1998, 79). This service in the Roman army was a catalyst for the Romanization of Clovis during his rule. One funeral inscription in particular shows the depth of Roman influence on the Frankish commanders reading, “I am a Frank by nationality, but a Roman soldier under the arms” (Geary, 1998, 79.) Childeric set more examples for his son as he maintained positive relations
…show more content…
Controlled by Arian Christians, Clovis prayed to God to take Gaul saying, “Let us go with God’s help and conquer them and bring the land under control” (Tierney, 1999, 36). Clovis claimed victory and shortly thereafter received a quintessential Roman title. Emperor Anastasius presented Clovis with an official document that acknowledged him as an honorary consul (Geary, 1998). As Gregory of Tours details, he was now called “Augustus”, a Roman title often given to emperors (Tierney, 1999, 37). This new title only strengthened Clovis’ power over the Gallo-Roman aristocracy, which was essential to his success as a Barbarian