Famous Men of the Middle Ages · Ch. V, part 1 · Unit 2: The barbarian kingdoms

8. Clovis, part 1: The boy king of the Franks

Goal: Your child can tell who the Franks were, how France got its name, and how sixteen-year-old Clovis beat the Romans at Soissons.

⏱ About 20 minutes · 6 steps

Open it at the Internet Archive ↗ 🖨 Copywork sheet

You'll need

  • The book, open to this chapter
  • A map of Europe and the Mediterranean (a free online map or a globe)
  • Paper and colored pencils
  • Your timeline strip (see the tips at the top)

What's in the book

Chapter V, sections I and II (481-511 A.D.): the Franks, whose name means free, cross the Rhine into Gaul, which is later named France after them. Clovis becomes king at sixteen. The Roman general Syagrius laughs at him as a boy, but the Franks win the battle of Soissons, and Clovis goes on to make himself king of all the Franks.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Set the scene

    Find the Rhine, then France. Say: In Roman times this land was called Gaul. Find Soissons, northeast of Paris.

  2. Read the chapter

    Read sections I and II, up to the taking of Soissons. It begins:

    While the power of the Roman Empire was declining there dwelt on the banks of the River Rhine a number of savage Teuton tribes called Franks.

  3. Tell it back

    Prompts:

    - What does the word Frank mean?

    - How old was Clovis when he became king?

    - What did Syagrius shout when he saw Clovis?

    - What happened to Syagrius during the battle?

  4. Remember it

    Read the two shouts across the battlefield:

    A boy! A boy has come to fight me!

    Ay, but the boy will conquer you.

    SayFrance is named after the Franks. Frank means free.

  5. Talk it over

    Ask: Syagrius judged Clovis by his age. Has anyone ever thought you couldn't do something because you were young? What did you do?

  6. Extra (optional)

    Add "481 Clovis becomes king of the Franks" to the timeline. Draw young Clovis on a fiery horse; the book says he could tame the wildest one.

Afterwards

Ask: Why is France called France? Repeat until the answer comes easily.

Tip

This is a short session. If your child is keen, go straight on to part 2 another day this week.

Answers to the book's problems

Frank means free. Clovis was sixteen. Syagrius laughed and shouted that a boy had come to fight him. He ran away early in the battle and left his men to fight alone.

Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.

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