Battle of Soissons (486)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of the Soissons
Date 486 Location near Soissons Result Frankish victory
Combatants
Domain of Soissons	Franks
Commanders
Syagrius	Clovis I

Battles of Clovis I
Battle of Soissons (486) · Frankish-Thuringian battle (491) · Battle of Tolbiac (496) · Battle of Dijon (500) · Battle of Vouillé (507)

The Battle of Soissons in the year 486 was a milestone for the Franks (under Clovis I) in their attempt to establish themselves as a major power. It was fought between the Franks and the remains of the Western Roman Empire (the inaccurately named Kingdom of Soissons), under Syagrius.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the year 476, Syagrius was the only remaining representative of former Roman rule in the area between the Loire and the Somme.

The central location of Soissons in Gaul and its largely intact infrastructure allowed a level of stability in the years of the Völkerwanderung, but also made the area tempting for the Frankish neighbours to the East.

The realm of Syagrius was of almost the same size as the Frankish one, though the Frankish one was subdivided into small kingdoms, and, on the right bank of the Rhine, untouched by Roman culture. Nevertheless, Clovis I managed to unite the Franks, and to motivate them to strike a decisive blow against Syagrius.

The ensuing battle was a major success for the Franks with the Romans army effectively destroyed. Syagrius attempted to flee into exile to the Visigoths (under Alaric II), but was instead extradited to Clovis, where he was immediately executed.

Consequently the realm of the Franks almost doubled in size, its border was now on the Loire adajcent to the realm of the Visigoths, who were finally routed at the Battle of Vouillé in 507 and forced to retreat south of the Pyrenées.

[edit] See also

• Vase of Soissons