Clotilde (died 531) facts for kids

Clotilde (also called Chrodechildis) was a queen who lived a long time ago, from about 500 to 531 AD. She was the daughter of a powerful king named Clovis I, who ruled the Franks. Her mother was also named Clotilde. Our Clotilde became the queen of the Visigoths when she married their king, Amalaric.

Who Was Clotilde?

Clotilde was born around the year 500. She was very special to her parents. When her father, King Clovis, passed away in 511, she was very sad. She grew up as a princess of the Franks, a group of people who lived in what is now France.

Her Marriage and Faith

Around 526, Clotilde married King Amalaric. He was the ruler of the Visigoths, another important group of people. At first, the marriage helped create good ties between the two families.

However, Clotilde was a Catholic. Her husband, Amalaric, and most of his people were Arians. This was a different type of Christian faith at the time. Clotilde did not want to change her religion. She felt that her husband was treating her badly because of her faith. She sent messages to her family, complaining about this.

A Royal Conflict

Clotilde's brother was King Childebert I of the Franks. He heard about his sister's troubles. This led to a big problem between the Franks and the Visigoths.

In 531, a war started between King Childebert I and King Amalaric. The battle happened near a city called Barcelona in Spain. Amalaric was defeated in this war. Some stories say his own soldiers later killed him.

Clotilde was traveling back to Francia (the land of the Franks) with her brother's army. Sadly, she died during this journey. The exact reason for her death is not known. King Childebert I brought her body to Paris for burial. Her mother and siblings were very sad about her death.

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