Clodio
Encyclopedia
Chlodio was a king of the Salian Franks
from the Merovingian dynasty
. He was known as the Long-Haired King and lived in Thuringian territory at the castle of Duisburg
. He became chief of the Thérouanne
area in 414 AD. From there, he invaded the Roman Empire
in 428
, defeating a Roman force at Cambrai
, and settled in Northern Gaul
, where other groups of Salians were already settled. Although he was attacked by the Romans, he was able to maintain his position and, 3 years later in 431
, he extended his kingdom south to the Somme River
in the future Francia. In 448
, 20 years after his reign began, Chlodio was defeated at an unidentified place called Vicus Helena by Flavius Aëtius
, the commander of the Roman Army in Gaul.
Like all Merovingian kings
, Chlodio had long hair as a ritual custom. His successor may have been Merovech
, after whom the dynasty was named 'Merovingian'. The non-contemporary Liber Historiae Francorum
says his father was Pharamond
, who many believe to have been a legendary person linked to the lineage sometime in the 8th century. Current historical research suggests that Pharamond may indeed have been the same person as Varazdat
a deposed regent and prince of the exiled Siunia Dynasty
; however, the familial relationships cannot be proven with absolutely certainty. The Chronicle of Fredegar
makes Chlodio son of Theudemeres
, one of the leaders of the Salian Franks and king of Thérouanne (409–414).
Salian Franks
The Salian Franks or Salii were a subgroup of the early Franks who originally had been living north of the limes in the area above the Rhine. The Merovingian kings responsible for the conquest of Gaul were Salians. From the 3rd century on, the Salian Franks appear in the historical records as...
from the Merovingian dynasty
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
. He was known as the Long-Haired King and lived in Thuringian territory at the castle of Duisburg
Duisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
. He became chief of the Thérouanne
Thérouanne
Thérouanne is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Thérouanne is located 10 miles southwest of Saint-Omer, on the D157 and D341 road junction.-Population:-History:...
area in 414 AD. From there, he invaded the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
in 428
428
Year 428 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Felix and Taurus...
, defeating a Roman force at Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
, and settled in Northern Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
, where other groups of Salians were already settled. Although he was attacked by the Romans, he was able to maintain his position and, 3 years later in 431
431
Year 431 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Bassus and Antiochus...
, he extended his kingdom south to the Somme River
Somme River
The Somme is a river in Picardy, northern France. The name Somme comes from a Celtic word meaning tranquility. The department Somme was named after this river....
in the future Francia. In 448
448
Year 448 was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Praetextatus and Zeno...
, 20 years after his reign began, Chlodio was defeated at an unidentified place called Vicus Helena by Flavius Aëtius
Flavius Aëtius
Flavius Aëtius , dux et patricius, was a Roman general of the closing period of the Western Roman Empire. He was an able military commander and the most influential man in the Western Roman Empire for two decades . He managed policy in regard to the attacks of barbarian peoples pressing on the Empire...
, the commander of the Roman Army in Gaul.
Like all Merovingian kings
Merovingian dynasty
The Merovingians were a Salian Frankish dynasty that came to rule the Franks in a region largely corresponding to ancient Gaul from the middle of the 5th century. Their politics involved frequent civil warfare among branches of the family...
, Chlodio had long hair as a ritual custom. His successor may have been Merovech
Merovech
Merovech is the semi-legendary founder of the Merovingian dynasty of the Salian Franks , which later became the dominant Frankish tribe. He allegedly lived in the first half of the fifth century. His name is a Latinization of a form close to the Old High German given name Marwig, lit. "famed...
, after whom the dynasty was named 'Merovingian'. The non-contemporary Liber Historiae Francorum
Liber Historiae Francorum
Liber historiae Francorum is a book that briefly starts as secondary source for early Franks in the time of Marcomer, and it gives a short breviarum of events until the time of the late Merovingians, where it becomes an important primary source of the contemporaneous history...
says his father was Pharamond
Pharamond
Pharamond or Faramund is a legendary early king of the Franks, first referred to in the anonymous 8th century Carolingian text Liber Historiae Francorum, also known as the Gesta regnum Francorum. In this work, which is customarily dated to 727, the anonymous author begins by writing of a mythical...
, who many believe to have been a legendary person linked to the lineage sometime in the 8th century. Current historical research suggests that Pharamond may indeed have been the same person as Varazdat
Varazdat
Varazdat |Latinized]] as Varasdates) was an Armenian prince who succeeded his uncle King Pap as King of Armenia in 374.-Appointment:...
a deposed regent and prince of the exiled Siunia Dynasty
Siunia Dynasty
The Siunia Dynasty or Siak, Syunik were the first dynasty to rule Syunik, beginning in the 1st century. Their rulers belonged to an Armenian family of descendents of Sisak....
; however, the familial relationships cannot be proven with absolutely certainty. The Chronicle of Fredegar
Chronicle of Fredegar
The Chronicle of Fredegar is a chronicle that is a primary source of events in Frankish Gaul from 584 to around 641. Later authors continued the history to the coronation of Charlemagne and his brother Carloman on 9 October 768....
makes Chlodio son of Theudemeres
Theudemeres
Theudemeres was a Frankish king. He was the son of the Roman commander Richomeres and his wife Ascyla.Not much is known of Theudemeres. According to Gregory of Tours a war broke out between the Franks and the Romans some unknown time after the fall of the usurping Emperor Jovinus who had been...
, one of the leaders of the Salian Franks and king of Thérouanne (409–414).