Behind Every Man...

In the earlier centuries, many kings had beliefs besides christianity. Christianity had begun to emerge across the different kingdoms which made many of them abandon their previous idols to accept the new doctrine. Whether that doctrine was Roman or Arian Christianity is not the important nor interesting part. The interesting part is that some kings during these beginning centuries had wives that had already adopted the doctrine of Christianity and were trying to get their husbands to follow them, living under the one True God. Examples of these kings were Maurice, King of Kent and his wife Bertha, and Edwin, King of Northumbria and his wife Ethelburga. The most notable conversion is that of Clovis I, King of Franks and his wife Clothilde.

In the 5th and 6th centuries, Clovis I believed in different idols than his christian wife, Clothilde. They had two sons, Ingomer and Cholodomer, that Clothilde had baptized behind Clovis' back. The first son, Ingomer, perished right after his baptism while the second son, Cholodomer, came very near death but recovered. Clovis I had then converted to Catholic Christianity later after the second baptism (CP 19-20). What is interesting is the fact that one son died from the baptism, the other near death and yet he still converted to Catholic Christianity and became a defender of the doctrine along side Bishop Gregory the Great (Bennett 37). It seems that Clothilde had influenced Clovis enough to have him convert to her religion. Clothilde later became the Patron Saint of Queens. You know the old saying, "behind every great man, is a great woman."

St. Clothilde at prayer

Baptism of Clovis I
 Master of Saint Giles
 c. 1500

For more information, check out these links:

St. Clothilde = http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=886

Clovis I = http://historymedren.about.com/od/cwho/fl/Clovis.htm