Battle of Vouillé facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Vouillé |
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| Part of Franco-Visigothic Wars | |||||||||
 A picture of the battle, around 1335. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Kingdom of the Franks | Kingdom of the Visigoths | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Clovis I | Alaric II † Apollinaris of Clermont |
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The Battle of Vouillé was a big fight that happened in the year 507. It took place near a town called Vouillé in what is now France. This battle was between two powerful groups: the Franks, led by their king Clovis I, and the Visigoths, led by their king Alaric II. The Franks won this important battle. Their victory helped them take control of a large area called Gallia Aquitania. King Alaric II also died during this battle.
Why the Battle Happened
Before this battle, King Clovis of the Franks had won many fights. He had defeated the Alemanni and the Burgundians. This made the Frankish kingdom very strong. Their growing power started to worry Alaric II, the king of the Visigoths. The Visigoths controlled a large area in what is now France and Spain.
A powerful king named Theodoric the Great tried to make peace between Clovis and Alaric. But Clovis still wanted to take over the Visigoths' land in Aquitaine. This land was important to Alaric, and his main city, Toulouse, was there.
So, Clovis started a military campaign to capture Aquitaine. Alaric gathered his army, including soldiers from Auvergne led by Apollinaris of Clermont. They marched north to meet the Frankish army in Gaul.
How the Battle Unfolded
Clovis's army faced a challenge when they reached the Vienne River. The river was swollen from rain, which slowed them down. However, they managed to cross and meet the Visigoths south of Vouillé.
Clovis placed his soldiers who used missile weapons (like bows or spears) at the back. The rest of his army moved forward to fight the Visigoths hand-to-hand. The Visigoths had a larger army and good equipment. But their soldiers began to lose courage. Most of their commanders from Auvergne were killed, except for Apollinaris.
During the fierce fighting, it is said that Clovis himself killed the Visigothic king Alaric. When their king died, the Visigothic army broke apart and ran away. Clovis's army then continued south. They captured and took the treasures from Alaric's city of Toulouse.
What Happened After
After Clovis won this big battle, the Byzantine Emperor Anastasius gave him special honors. He made Clovis an honorary consul and patrician.
The battle forced the Visigoths to move their kingdom to a smaller area called Septimania. They managed to keep control of Septimania. But the Franks' victory at Vouillé meant they now controlled most of southwestern France. They also captured the important city of Toulouse.
Alaric's son, Gesalec, tried to fight back from Narbonne. But he was removed from power and later killed when Narbonne was taken by the Burgundians, who were allies of the Franks. Clovis continued to push the Goths out of other areas, like Angoulême. Later, Clovis's son, Theuderic I, also defeated the Goths in Spain.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Vouillé para niños
