Library › St Gregory of Tours › History of the Franks
History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 5, 26. How the Army Marched into Brittany
The men of Touraine, Poitou, the Bessin, Maine, and Anjou, with many others, now by command of Chilperic marched into Brittany, and encamped over against Waroch, the son of the dead Macliav,1 on the banks of the Vilaine. But the enemy by a surprise attack fell at night upon the Saxons of the Bessin, and slew the greater part of them. Three days later Waroch made peace with the leaders of King Chilperic’s forces, gave up his son as a hostage, and bound himself to that king by an oath of fealty. He also restored the city of Vannes, on condition that the king should allow his claim to hold the place; he, for his part, paying, without waiting for any demand, all the annual tribute due from the city. These terms having been made, the army withdrew from that region. Thereupon, King Chilperic ordered the ban to be enforced against the poor and the servants of the cathedral and the church of Martin for not marching with the army, though it was not the usage for these men to do any public service. After this, Waroch, disregardful of his promise and wishing to annul his act, sent Eunius, bishop of Vannes, to King Chilperic. But the king was wroth, and after chiding the bishop, ordered him to be sent into banishment.
Notes
- Cf. above, ch. 10 (16).