Clothilde
Clotilde (c. 474 – 3 June 545 in Burgundy, France) (also known as Clotilda (Fr.), Chlothilde (Ger.) Chlothieldis, Chlotichilda, Clodechildis, Croctild, Crote-hild, Hlotild, Rhotild, and many other forms) is a saint and was a Queen of the Franks.
Clotilde is the patron saint of the lame in Normandy and the patron saint of Les Andelys and has been "invoked against sudden death and iniquitous husbands". She married Clovis I, the first king of the Franks, in 492 or 493. Their marriage, from the 6th century on, "was made the theme of epic narratives, in which the original facts were materially altered". Clotilde's story fascinated later generations because it was "the centerpiece of a struggle between the old Catholic, Roman population against the Arianism of the Germanic tribes". She was able to convince Clovis to convert to Christianity; the Franks, due to her influence, were Catholics for centuries. Political and violent intrigue surrounded her family for most of her life. After the death of Clovis, she spent the rest of her life near the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, "led a devout life", became "totally detached from politics and power-struggles except through prayer", and gave everything she had to the poor.
Clotilde is represented as a praying queen and as a nun. She built churches, monasteries, and convents, including the Basilica of the Holy Apostles, which later became the Church of Sainte-Geneviève, which she and Clovis built as a mausoleum honouring Saint Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. Clotilde's feast day is June 3.
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