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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 5, 33. Of Signs and Wonders

In the fifth year of King Childebert¹ the country of Auvergne suffered from great floods; for twelve days the rain never ceased, and the Limagne was so sodden through the inundation that it was impossible for many to proceed with sowing. The river Loire, the Flavaris, which they call Allier,² and the torrents flowing into them were in such wise swollen that they rose above marks never passed before, causing great havoc among the flocks and herds, great damage to the cultivated land, and the ruin of many buildings. The Rhône, in conjunction with the Saône, likewise overflowed its banks, and brought heavy loss to the inhabitants, undermining part of the walls of Lyons. After the rains had ceased, the trees burgeoned anew, though it was the month of September. In Touraine this year, one morning before the day had dawned, there was seen a great light traversing the heaven, and sinking towards the east. Moreover, a sound as of a tree crashing down was heard over all that country, which could not be attributed to any tree, because it was heard more than fifty miles away. The same year the city of Bordeaux was sorely shaken by an earthquake, and the walls were in danger of falling down; the whole people was so terrified by the fear of death that they thought they must be swallowed up with the city unless they could escape by flight; wherefore many fled to other cities. This terror extended to neighbouring towns, and even reached Spain, though in that country it was less intense. But huge rocks were detached from the Pyrenaean mountains, crushing both herds and men. Moreover, a supernatural fire burned down villages about Bordeaux; it took so swift a hold that houses and threshing-floors with all their grain were consumed to ashes. As there was absolutely no other apparent cause of the fire, it may well have arisen by the divine will. The city of Orleans was also ablaze with so great a fire that even the rich lost almost their all; if any one snatched anything from the flames, it was torn from him by thieves pressing round him. In the district of Chartres blood flowed forth at the breaking of bread. The city of Bourges also at this time was scourged by hail.

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