- Battle of Soissons (486)
Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of the Soissons
caption=
partof=
date=486
place=nearSoissons
result=Frankish victory
combatant1=Domain of Soissons
combatant2=Franks
commander1=Syagrius
commander2=Clovis I
strength1=
strength2=
casualties1=
casualties2=The Battle of Soissons in the year
486 was fought between the Frankish forces underClovis I , and theGallo-Roman Kingdom of Soissons underSyagrius . The battle was a victory for the Franks, and led to the eventual conquest of theRoman rump state of Soissons, a milestone for the Franks in their attempt to establish themselves as a major regional power.After final collapse of the
Western Roman Empire between 476 and 480, Syagrius was the only remaining representative of Roman rule in the area between theLoire and theSomme . Fact|date=December 2007 The son ofAegidius , ["Egidius died and left a son, Syagrius by name." (Gregory of Tours, II.18); "In the fifth year of his [Clovis I's] reign Siagrius, king of the Romans, son of Egidius, had his seat in the city of Soissons which Egidius, who has been mentioned before, once held." (Gregory of Tours, II.27).] the last Roman "magister militum per Gallias"; Syagrius preserved his father'srump state between theSomme and theLoire , ruling not as king, but as adux .The central location of
Soissons inGaul and its largely intactinfrastructure allowed a level of stability in the years of theVölkerwanderung , but also made the area tempting for the Frankish neighbours to the North.The realm of Syagrius was of almost the same size as the Frankish one, Fact|date=December 2007 though the Frankish one was subdivided into small kingdoms, and on the right bank of the
Rhine , untouched by Roman culture. Nevertheless, Clovis I managed to unite the Franks, Fact|date=December 2007 and to motivate them to strike a decisive blow against Syagrius.The ensuing battle was a major success for the Franks with the Roman army effectively destroyed. Fact|date=December 2007 Syagrius succeeded to flee into
exile to theVisigoths (underAlaric II ), but was due to pressure of threats handed over to Clovis, and was executed.Consequently the realm of the Franks almost doubled in size, Fact|date=December 2007 its border was now on the Loire adjacent to the realm of the Visigoths, who were finally routed at the
Battle of Vouillé in507 and forced to retreat south of thePyrenées .ee also
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Vase of Soissons
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