Birth of Christianity in France

History is not an art any more. It became a science. Particularly when it is taught by Historians that use dates, figures, tables and analyze the cold facts. This becomes quickly annoying and seems only reserved to science.

The purpose of this lens is to have you discover the History of our old continent and our culture, under its real aspect: the one of passion. As behind most of the historical decisions, wars, battles, invasions, there's a love story.

As an example: France would probably never have existed if a women if a woman hadn't been the starting point of a fight. Castles, convents and other monuments wouldn't have been built without love: Louis XV ordered the Elysée Palate for Mrs de Pompadour, his mistress. Louis XIV built Versailles for Miss de la Vallière and Mrs de Montespan. Other European countries such as the United Kingdom, Belgium or the Netherlands aren't exceptions. They too showcase wonderful monuments or simply exist thanks to a love story.

So, let's embark in my Time Machine, we're going to visit the History.

During the 5th century, France was still a Barbarian country. Believing in several different Gods was the religion of the time. Christianity didn't settle in our countries yet.

In the year 492, Clovis was 25 years old. The young man was King of the Franks and researched a second wife and sent his embassadors all through the European continent, looking for the most beautiful woman.

At these times, an important character wouldn't have done such thing by himself. So the diplomats would choose for Clovis the woman that would meet his needs.

The idea of the beauty being a personal appreciation, we wonder whether Clotilde was really a beautiful woman or an ugly one; the the rest of the story proves to us, however, that Clovis fell in love as soon as he saw her.

Clovis' emissaries found "the most beautiful woman of the world": Clotilde. Her father was Chilperic, King of Lyon, who was assassinated by his brother Gondebaud, King of Dijon. Gondebaud then took over Chilperic's kingdom.

Clotilde was 18 years old when she was noticed by the embassadors. Clovis charged his friend Aurelius to ask Gondebaud's assent to Clovis and Clotilde's marriage. Gondebaud was shocked but didn't refuse. Thus Clotilde and the many objects that would be her dowry went away towards Clovis, in the Northern territories.

The travel wasn't peaceful: Gondebaud changed his mind the next day and wanted his niece back and, in order to get to a safe place quickly, Clotilde had to leave her dowry down the road, jump on a horse and leave Burgundy as fast as possible.

Once she arrived in Paris, she got married to Clovis. Oh boy! The King was very impatient!

Clotilde was a Christian as Christianity was already the main religion in Southern regions of the current France. She asked help to Saint-Remi as she wanted to get Clovis converted to Christianism.

The King of Franks adored the Barbarian Gods, disavowing his Father-Gods was risky both for him and his authority authority that was supposed to be God sent. Indeed, Barbarians were descendants of the Gods and converting to Christianity would have deprived him of his divine right to rule the country.

But Clotilde was a clever woman and found a way to win the battle: she asked for their first child to, Ingomir, to receive Christian baptism. Clovis agreed. Unfortunately, the baby died few days after the ceremony and Clovis blamed the Christian religion. However, their second child, Clodomir, was baptized according to the Christian rite as well.

Clovis, like any other king, liked beautiful things and, after having gone to the church, thought that this religion was as beautiful as their decorations and agreed to convert himself. So, on Christmas 496, he was baptized in Rheims. This conversion had crucial consequences in the Gallic policy but Clovis eventually was accepted as chief by millions of Catholics in Gaul.

This is how the "Catholic Kings" dynasty was born. As you can see, a woman was the cause of one of the most important changes in Europe. Without the love for Clotilde, Clovis would have never converted himself to Christianism.

Clovis and Clotilde settled in Paris and the town became capital of Gaul. Clovis died on November 27th, 511 and Clotilde retired in Tours. She died the year 545.