CHILDERICO, RE DEI FRANCHI

CHILDERIC, king of the FRANKS. — Son of Meroveus, he died about 481 at Tournai. Still very young, he set out to subjugate the other barbarian peoples settled in Aquitaine and Belgica, against whose power clashed the Frankish will to predominance. To carry out his plans of conquest, he allied himself with Aegidius, a Roman captain, and with his help defeated the Visigoths at Orléans in 463. Subsequently, he incorporated into his forces those of the Roman Aetius and, after achieving the brilliant victory of Angers against the Avars in 469, he consolidated his power. In addition to his excellent military qualities, Childeric displayed notable political acumen. He was tolerant toward Christians, though resisting the urgings of his wife Basina, who pressed him to embrace Catholicism.