Clovis, King of the Franks (Biography from Ancient Civilizations)

Earle Rice Jr.

ISBN 10: 1584157429 ISBN 13: 9781584157427

Publisher: Mitchell Lane Publishers, 2009

In 481 CE, the Salian Franks crowned Clovis I their king. At the age of fifteen, the young monarch set about uniting all the Franks barbarian tribes that inhabited much of the region that became modern-day France and Germany. A fierce warrior and an astute administrator, he expanded his originally modest kingdom in northeast Gaul (France) by all possible means, including conquest, marriage, diplomacy, and deception. When he married Clotilda, a devout Roman Catholic, he converted to Catholicism and became instrumental in spreading his new religion across Europe. By the time Clovis died in 511, his domain covered most of Western Europe, from the North Sea to the Mediterranean, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the source of the Danube River. The French regard him as the founder of their monarchy.

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About the Author:

Earle Rice Jr. is a former senior design engineer and technical writer in the aerospace, electronic-defense, and nuclear industries. He has devoted full time to his writing since 1993 and is the author of more than fifty published books. Earle is listed in Who s Who in America and is a member of the Society of Children s Book Writers and Illustrators, the League of World War I Aviation Historians, the Air Force Association, and the Disabled American Veterans.

From Booklist:

Aimed at the “not-so-enthusiastic reader,” titles in the Biography from Ancient Civilizations: Legends, Folklore, and Stories of Ancient Worlds series introduce their subjects with lively narratives filled with anecdotes and quotes about the profiled historical figures that will spark students’ curiosity. In The Life and Times of Clovis, King of the Franks, Rice provides no references for a moment in which Clovis “showed no outward sign of emotion but a wound began to fester in his heart.” Still, the well-integrated specifics create engaging portraits of world-changing leaders and their times. A few blurry artists’ renderings crop up in each title, but for the most part, the numerous visuals, including maps, reproductions from illuminated manuscripts, and photos of artifacts, such as weaponry, will draw students into the compelling stories. A personal chronology, a time line setting each life in context, chapter notes for direct quotes, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading complete these titles that seek to generate high interest in ancient history. Grades 5-8. --Gillian Engberg

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