Saint Clotilde
Saint Clotilde (also Clothilde, Clotild; born c. 474 AD in Geneva, Switzerland or Lyon, France; died June 3, 545 AD in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France) was the Catholic wife of Clovis I, the pagan Frankish king, and is credited with the conversion of Clovis and thus with the Christianization of the Franks — a pivotal event in European history. She is patron of queens, widows, and disappointed brides. Her feast day is June 3.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Clotilde
| Saint Clotilde | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 03 |
| Profession | Queen of the Franks; foundress of churches; widow; benefactress |
| Rel. Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church; Diocese of Paris (historical) |
| Patronage | Queens; widows; brides; France; those in difficult marriages; those with unfaithful or troubled children |
| Attributes | Queen's crown; lily; royal mantle; prayers for Clovis |
| Birthplace | Geneva, Switzerland (or Lyon, France) |
| Death Place | Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died peacefully after decades of prayer and charity at Tours |
| Primary Shrine | Basilica of Saint Clotilde, Paris, France — a 19th-century Gothic basilica dedicated to her in Paris |
| Liturgical Class | Optional Memorial |
| Historic Class | June 3 |
Biography
Clotilde was a Burgundian princess, the daughter of King Chilperic II of Burgundy. The Burgundians were Christian (though Arian), and Clotilde was raised Catholic. Around 493 AD, she married Clovis I, king of the Salian Franks — the most powerful Germanic ruler of the age, and a pagan.
For years Clotilde prayed for and quietly urged the conversion of her husband. She convinced him to have their sons baptized, though the death of the first shortly after baptism tested her faith severely. She bore his opposition and theological skepticism with patient faithfulness.
In 496 AD (or 498 — dates are disputed), at the Battle of Tolbiac against the Alamanni, Clovis was losing. According to Gregory of Tours, he called upon "the God of Clotilde" — Christ — promising to be baptized if he won. The enemy suddenly retreated. Clovis kept his vow and was baptized by Saint Remigius (Rémi) of Reims at Christmas, along with three thousand of his warriors. This baptism was the foundational event in the Christianization of France and is the origin of the designation of France as "the eldest daughter of the Church."
Clotilde spent the rest of her life in prayer, in charitable works, and in founding churches and monasteries. After Clovis's death (511 AD), she withdrew to Tours, living near the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, and dedicated herself entirely to prayer and charity for 34 years until her death in 545 AD. She suffered greatly from the wars and crimes of her sons (the Merovingian princes fought brutal civil wars), but bore these trials in faith.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Geneva, Switzerland (or Lyon, France)
Death location: Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Notable location: The city where Clovis I was baptized by Saint Remigius (Christmas 496 or 498 AD) — the baptism that made France "the eldest daughter of the Church" (Reims, Marne, Grand Est, France)
Notable location: Where she spent her widowhood in prayer and works of charity at the tomb of Saint Martin; where she died and is buried (Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France)
Notable location: The Frankish capital where she lived as queen; she helped found the Basilica of the Holy Apostles (later Saint-Geneviève) at Paris (Paris, France)
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Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Clotilde have been added to the database yet.
Media
| Media | Length | AuthorCreator |
|---|---|---|
| The Queen Who Converted the Warrior King Saint Clotilde and the Baptism of Clovis | 30–60 minutes | Journey of the Saints |
| From Pagan Princess to Catholic Saint – St. Clotilde | Under 5 minutes | The Story of the Saints |
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Basilica of Saint Clotilde (Sainte-Clotilde), Paris — the 19th-century neo-Gothic basilica dedicated to her in the 7th arrondissement.
- Basilica of Saint Martin, Tours — the city where she spent her holy widowhood and where she died.
Feast day
June 3
Veneration
Saint Clotilde is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on June 3 (Optional Memorial). She is the patron of queens and of France.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.