It appears that even the Britons of Armorica tendered to him at that time, through the interposition of Melanius, bishop of Rennes, if not their actual submission, at any rate their subordination and homage.

Clovis at the same time had his self-respect flattered in a manner to which barbaric conquerors always attach great importance.  Anastasius, emperor of the East, with whom he had already had some communication, sent to him at Tours a solemn embassy, bringing him the titles and insignia of patrician and consul.  “Clovis,” says Gregory of Tours, “put on the tunic of purple and the chlamys and the diadem; then mounting his horse, he scattered with his own hand and with much bounty gold and silver among the people, on the road which lies between the gate of the court belonging to the basilica of St. Martin and the church of the city.  From that day he was called consul and augustus.  On leaving the city of Tours he repaired to Paris, where he fixed the seat of his government.”

Paris was certainly the political centre of his dominions, the intermediate point between the early settlements of his race and himself in Gaul and his new Gallic conquests; but he lacked some of the possessions nearest to him and most naturally, in his own opinion, his.  To the east, north, and south-west of Paris were settled some independent Frankish tribes, governed by chieftains with the name of kings.  So soon as he had settled at Paris, it was the one fixed idea of Clovis to reduce them all to subjection.  He had conquered the Burgundians and the Visigoths; it remained for him to conquer and unite together all the Franks.  The barbarian showed himself in his true colors, during this new enterprise, with his violence, his craft, his cruelty, and his perfidy.  He began with the most powerful of the tribes, the Ripuarian Franks.  He sent secretly to Cloderic, son of Sigebert, their King, saying:  “Thy father hath become old, and his wound maketh him to limp o’ one foot; if he should die, his kingdom will come to thee of right, together with our friendship.”  Cloderic had his father assassinated while asleep in his tent, and sent messengers to Clovis, saying:  “My father is dead, and I have in my power his kingdom and his treasures.  Send thou unto me certain of thy people, and I will gladly give into their hands whatsoever among these treasures shall seem like to please thee.”  The envoys of Clovis came, and, as they were examining in detail the treasures of Sigebert, Cloderic said to them, “This is the coffer wherein my father was wont to pile up his gold pieces.”  “Plunge,” said they, “thy hand right to the bottom, that none escape thee.”  Cloderic bent forward, and one of the envoys lifted his battle-axe and cleft his skull.