As the Roman Empire came unglued in the early 5th Century, several Germanic tribes crossed the Rhine and other Imperial frontiers and vied for territory. Aquitaine was first invaded by the Vandals (whose not-so-peaceful ways gave us the adjective “vandalized”) and the Alans, in 406. A decade later the Wisigoths, at the invitation of the Romans (who were glad to give them something to do after they had sacked Rome in 410), came to Aquitaine and chased the Vandals and Alans into Iberia, and eventually to North Africa. In 419 the Wisigoths “purchased” Aquitaine from Emperor Honorius, and created a large and presumably comfortable kingdom, centered in Toulouse, stretching from the Loire to south of the Pyrenees. They had a good century in charge, until the arrival of the Francs.
The Francs, with the Allemani (Allemagne is the current name for Germany in French) were one two other Germanic tribes migrating West and who settled in the lower Rhine, today’s Benelux countries. Unexpectedly, at the beginning of the 6th Century, Franc chieftain Clovis succeeded in uniting disparate bands of the tribe and defeated both the Allemani and the Burgundians. Then in the Spring of 507 he began moving south. The Wisigoth King, Alaric II, brought his army to Poitiers to confront Clovis. The Francs managed to cross the swollen Vienne River (as one legend has it, with the aid of a magical doe, who showed them where they could safely ford), and the armies met near Poitiers, at Vouillé. The Wisigoths were the larger army, but their famed cavalry failed to carry the day: Clovis slew Alaric II, and the Wisigoths retreated south, leaving the field – and eventually all of Aquitaine, to the Francs.
Clovis had been earlier converted to Christianity by his second wife Clotilde (herself a daughter of the Burgundian King). Reportedly, he had prayed for victory the night before the battle, and had a vision of a great globe of fire over Poitiers – after which he felt assured that victory would be his. His divine vision was celebrated into the 20th century every year at the church of St Hilaire, in Poitiers. On the 25th of June, eve of the Translation of the Relics of St Hilaire, the mayor and municipal officers of Poitiers came in full regalia on horseback to the Abbey, processed about the church, and lit a lantern to be placed in the church steeple (commemorating the apparition of Clovis’ globe of fire). It was indeed something to be thankful for: thanks to Clovis, the French now speak French instead of speaking Wisigothic, and French cooking replaced German cooking. Though, it must be added, in line with the well-established traditions of French logic, one should also note that the Francs themselves were in fact Germans, which most French have conveniently forgotten, so technically when you’re speaking French you’re speaking German. France was created, Wisigothia passed on, and it all happened at Poitiers.
