Clovis I (c. 466 – 27 November 511) was the first king to unite all the Frankish tribes under a single ruler, transitioning from a system of petty kings to a centralized monarchy. He is recognized as the founder of the Merovingian dynasty, which governed the Frankish kingdom for the following two centuries. Clovis succeeded his father, Childeric I, as king of the Salian Franks in 481 and expanded his rule from the southern Netherlands to northern France, an area corresponding to Roman Gallia Belgica. His military dominance was established at the Battle of Soissons in 486, where he defeated Syagrius, the last Roman ruler in Gaul. By his death in 511, Clovis had conquered several smaller Frankish kingdoms and expanded his territory into present-day Germany, as well as defeating the Alemanni and the Visigoths in Aquitaine.Clovis's baptism in 508, influenced by his wife Clotilde, marked a significant moment in his reign. His conversion to Catholicism, in contrast to the Arianism prevalent among other Germanic tribes, facilitated the widespread conversion of the Franks and contributed to the religious unification of the region that would become modern France, the Low Countries, and parts of Germany. This alliance with the Catholic Church laid the groundwork for future relationships between the Frankish monarchy and the papacy, culminating in Charlemagne's coronation by the Pope in 800.Clovis was born to Childeric I and Basina, a Thuringian princess. His dynasty is named after Merovech, a supposed ancestor. The Salian Franks were the first known Frankish tribe to settle within the Roman Empire, initially in Batavia and later in Toxandria. Childeric I, Clovis's father, was known for his military campaigns against the Visigoths and was buried in Tournai. Clovis became king at the age of 15 and began consolidating power by allying with other Frankish kings. His decisive victory at Soissons marked the decline of Roman authority in Gaul.During his early reign, Clovis sought to gain the support of the Gallo-Roman clergy, returning plundered church property to establish goodwill. He made Paris his capital and integrated the military forces of Syagrius into his own. By 491, Clovis had likely consolidated control over the Roman territories in Gaul. His middle reign saw strategic marriages, including an alliance with the Ostrogoths through his sister's marriage, and military campaigns against the Alamanni, culminating in a significant victory at the Battle of Tolbiac in 496.Clovis's military campaigns continued with his intervention in Burgundy, where he aided Godegisel against his brother Gundobad. He also sought to subjugate Armorica, integrating its people into his realm. In 507, Clovis launched a successful campaign against the Visigoths, culminating in the Battle of Vouillé, which resulted in the death of King Alaric II and the annexation of Aquitaine.Following his military successes, Clovis eliminated rival Frankish kings, including Ragnachar and Chlodoric, consolidating his power. He called a synod of bishops in Orléans to reform the Church and strengthen ties between the monarchy and the episcopate. Clovis died in 511, and his kingdom was divided among his four sons, establishing new political units that would lead to future disunity. His burial in Paris symbolized the city's importance, and the legacy of his reign influenced the political landscape of Western Europe for centuries.Clovis's conversion to Catholicism and his establishment of the Salian Frank law marked significant developments in the history of the region. His reign is often viewed as a foundational period for the emergence of the French state, and he was later venerated as a saint, with shrines dedicated to him in various locations. His legacy continued to shape the political and religious landscape of France and beyond.