Library › St Gregory of Tours › History of the Franks

History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 2, 41. Of the Death of Chararic and His Son

After this he marched against King Chararic. For during his war with Syagrius, this Chararic, summoned to his aid, stood aloof, joining neither side, but awaiting the issue in order to ally himself with the victor, for which cause Clovis marched against him full of wrath. And he cunningly circumvented him and took him, together with his son; he then bound them, and cut off their hair, commanding that Chararic should be ordained priest, and his son deacon. Chararic lamented his humiliation and wept; but they say that his son replied: ‘These branches have been cut from a green tree, nor are they all withered, but shall soon shoot forth, and grow again. May he who has done these things as swiftly perish! ’ This saying reached the ears of Clovis, who thought that they threatened to let their hair grow again and compass his death. He therefore ordered both of their heads to be cut off. After their death, he took possession of their kingdom, together with their treasure and their people.