Clovis was not the only prince amongst the Franks who had invaded Gaul. Many of his
relatives had penetrated into this country with particular tribes; but
as he had met with much greater success, and could grant considerable
settlements to such as followed him, the Franks flocked to him from all
parts, so that the other chiefs found themselves too weak to resist him.
He formed a design of exterminating his whole race, and he
succeeded.
[53]
He feared, says Gregory of Tours,
[54]
lest the Franks
should choose another chief. His children and successors followed this
practice to the utmost of their power. Thus the brother, the uncle, the
nephew, and, what is still worse, the father or the son, were
perpetually conspiring against their whole family. The law continually
divided the monarchy; while fear, ambition, and cruelty wanted to
reunite it.
