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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 3, How Childebert and Lothar Went to Burgundy, and Theuderic to Auvergne
After this Lothar and Childebert determined to attack Burgundy. They invited Theuderic also, but he refused to go in their support. The Franks under his dominion said to him: ‘If thou refusest to go into Burgundy with thy brothers we shall desert thee, for we choose rather to follow them.’ But all his thought was how the Arvernians were faithless to him,1 and he made answer: ‘Follow me, and I will lead you into a land where ye shall win gold and silver, after your heart’s desire, a land from which ye may take herds and slaves and raiment in abundance; only follow not my brothers.’ Enticed by these promises, they swore to do as he willed. Thereupon he prepared to make an expedition to Clermont, promising his army again and again that he would allow them to carry back home the whole booty to be obtained in that region and even the people as well. Meanwhile Lothar and Childebert marched into Burgundy and besieged Autun; Godomar was put to flight, and the whole of Burgundy taken.
Notes
- See ch. 9, above.