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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 2, 12. Of King Childeric and Egidius
But Childeric,1 who reigned over the Franks, was sunk in debauchery, and began to dishonour their daughters. For which cause they were wroth, and expelled him from the kingdom. And when he learned that they were minded to slay him, he fled into Thuringia, leaving behind a friend who should essay to soothe their fury by smooth words, and send him a token when he might return to his country. For this purpose they divided a gold coin. Childeric took one half with him, and his friend kept the other, saying: ‘Whenever I send thee this part, and by joining the two halves thou make a single solidus, then with a mind free from anxiety thou mayest return to thine own land.’ Childeric therefore departed into Thuringia and took refuge with King Bisinus and Basina his queen. And after his expulsion, the Franks unanimously chose for their king Aegidius, who, as I stated above, had been sent from Rome as master of the soldiery. But in the eighth year of his reign over them the faithful friend, who had succeeded in secretly pacifying the Franks, sent a messenger to Childeric bearing the half of the divided solidus which he had kept. Then Childeric, receiving it as a sure sign that the Franks wished him back, returned from Thuringia at their invitation and was restored to his kingdom. The two being now joint kings, the above-mentioned Basina left her lord and came to Childeric. To his anxious question why she had come to him from so great a distance, she is said to have replied: ‘I know thee capable and strenuous in action, therefore am I come to dwell with thee. For be sure that if in the parts beyond the sea I were acquainted with one more capable than thou, I should in like manner have sought him for my husband.’ At which answer he rejoiced, and was united with her in wedlock. And she conceived, and bore a son, and called him Clovis. And he was a great man and a famous warrior.
Notes
- A mistake for Majorian.