Clovis and the Franks

After Roman power dissolves in Gaul, the upper hand is taken by Clovis, chief of the Salian Franks: he subdues the neighbouring regions, defeats the remnant of Roman administration and the Visigoths, and makes Paris his seat. Unlike the other Germanic rulers, who had adopted Arianism, Clovis is baptised into the Nicene faith — and this draws him close to the Gallo-Roman bishops and the population. Under him the Salic Law is written down, a code of customs with money payments for injuries. The Merovingian kingdom sets the outlines of the future France for centuries to come.