Battle of Soissons (486)

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of the Soissons

caption=
partof=
date=486
place=near Soissons
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 under Clovis I, and the Gallo-Roman Kingdom of Soissons under Syagrius. The battle was a victory for the Franks, and led to the eventual conquest of the Roman 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 the Loire and the Somme. Fact|date=December 2007 The son of Aegidius, ["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's rump state between the Somme and the Loire, ruling not as king, but as a dux.

The central location of Soissons in Gaul and its largely intact infrastructure allowed a level of stability in the years of the Völkerwanderung, 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 the Visigoths (under Alaric 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 in 507 and forced to retreat south of the Pyrenées.

ee also

*Vase of Soissons