unknown unknown | Date 507 AD | |
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Similar Battle of Tolbiac, Battle of Soissons, Battle of Tours, Battle of the Catalauni, Battle of Guadalete | ||
The Battle of Vouillé — or Vouglé (from Latin Campus Vogladensis) — was fought in the northern marches of Visigothic territory, at Vouillé near Poitiers (Gaul), in the spring of 507 between the Franks commanded by Clovis and the Visigoths commanded by Alaric II.
Contents
Battle
Clovis' army was slowed by a rain-swollen Vienne river, yet his forces were able to engage the Visigoths south of Vouillé. With his missile troops stationed at the rear of his army, Clovis sent the rest of the army forward to fight hand-to-hand with the Visigoths. During the melée Clovis allegedly killed the Visigothic king Alaric, whereupon the Visigothic army broke and fled.
Aftermath
After Clovis' success in this battle, the Byzantine emperor Anastasius made him an honorary consul and patriciate. The battle forced the Visigoths to retreat to Septimania, which they continued to hold, while the success at Vouillé allowed the Franks to control the southwestern part of France and capture Toulouse. Alaric's illegitimate son Gesalec tried to organize a counterstrike at Narbonne, but he was deposed and ultimately killed when Narbonne was taken by Burgundian allies of the Franks.