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Handout #90 |
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The conversion of Clovis |
| Gregory, of Tours (538-594
A.D.) was born at Clermont-Ferrand, lived at Lyons and in 573 A.D. became
Bishop of Tours. In his writings and particularly in his History of the
Franks he is our main informant on the political and religious life of
the fifth and sixth centuries in Gaul- the Soissons vase, the royal
massacres among the Merovingians, and so on.
When the two hosts joined battle there was grievous slaughter, and the army of Clovis was being swept to utter ruin. When the king saw this, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and knew compunction in his heart and, moved to tears, cried aloud: Jesus Christ, thou that art proclaimed by Clotilde, Son of the living God, thou that art said to give aid to those in stress, and to grant victory to those that hope in thee, I entreat front a devout heart the glory of thy succour. If thou grant me victory over these enemies, and experience confirms the power which the people dedicated to thy name claims to have proved, then will I also believe on thee and be baptized in thy name. I have called upon my own gods but here is proof that they have withdrawn themselves from helping me: I believe that they have no power, since they came not to the succour of their servants. Thee do I now invoke, on thee I fain to believe, if but I maybe plucked out of the hands of my adversaries. And as he said this, lo the Alamanni turned their backs and began to flee. Gregory of Tours, History II,21 (30), ed. 0. M. Dalston, Clarendon Press 1927. |
