Chlodio I Long-Hair, King of the Franks

Clodion le Chevelu (c390-c450) is the earliest king of the Merovingian dynasty whose existence is certain. He is known only by two brief mentions, which makes it difficult to establish a biography. His father is not certain:

• Chronicle of Fredegar (7th century) says his father was Theudemeres, one of the leaders of the Salian Franks and king of Thérouanne (409–414).
• Liber Historiae Francorum (8th century) says his father was Pharamond, perhaps a legendary figure.

Chlodio was a king of the Salian Franks from the Merovingian dynasty. He was known as a Long-Haired King and lived at a place on the Thuringian border called Dispargum. From there he invaded the Roman Empire in 428 and settled in Northern Gaul, where already other groups of Salians were settled. Although he was attacked by Romans he was able to maintain his position and 3 years later in 431 he extended his kingdom down south to the Somme River. 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'. One legend has it that his father was Pharamond. The sources on Chlodio's history are Gregory of Tours and Sidonius Apollinaris.

Sources

• Gregory of ours, Historiën.
• Sidonius Apollinaris, Loeb Classical Edition.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlodio
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlodion_of_Franks
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clodion_the_Hairy
• https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clodion_le_Chevelu
• https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faux_M%C3%A9rovingiens

VERSIONS OF HIS NAME:

• - Chlodis Fow [wYoung]
• - Clodio [Jordan1929]
• - Clodion [Gardner1996] [O'Hart1923] [wDKBingham] [wPhilip5]
• - Clodius [Jordan1929] [wCharlemagne]
• - Clodius Crinitus [Jordan1929]

OTHER RELATIONSHIPS:

• - His father was supposedly Pharamond king of the Franks [374A-430A].
• - His mother was supposedly Argotta of the Salic Franks [374A-429A].
• - Basina of the Thuringians [390A-450A] was supposedly his spouse/partner.
• - fictitious Alberic lord of the Moselle [424A-491A] was supposedly his child.
• - fictitious Auberon

-
TITLES:

• - "the Hairy"
• - king of the Franks
• - chef des Francs

HIS LIFE:

• - Invaded Gaul, repulsed by Aetius

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EARLY FRANKISH LEADERS in GAUL

1. [CHLODIO, son of ---. Chlodio appears to have been the first Frankish leader to have invaded northern France. Gregory of Tours records that, according to "the consular lists", Chlodio "a man of high birth and marked ability among his people" was king of the Franks and lived in the castle of Duisburg [Dispargum] in Thuringia. He reports that Chlodio defeated the Romans and captured the town of Cambrai, before occupying Gaul as far as the river Somme[11]. Assuming that Chlodio was a historical figure, he was presumably only one of several local Frankish leaders as Gregory also reports that "the Franks…set up in each country district and each city long-haired kings chosen from the foremost and most noble family of their race"[12]. It is assumed that Chlodio was not the only Frankish leader who invaded Roman Gaul. There is no direct reference to the dating of the invasion, but it presumably took place during the first half of the 5th century. The Liber Historiæ Francorum names "Faramundo rege, Chlodionem filium eius" when recording that he succeeded his father, in a later passage stating that he reigned for 20 years[13], but there is no basis for assuming that Faramund was a historical figure.] https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/MEROVINGIANS.htm