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History of the Franks

St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927

Book 4, How by Command of King Sigibert the Men of Auvergne Marched to the City of Arles

King Sigibert, wishing to take the city of Arles, commanded the Arvernians to march against it; Firminus,¹ who was at this time count of Clermont, set forth at their head. Meanwhile Audovar approached with an army from the other side; and both entered the city and exacted oaths of fealty on behalf of King Sigibert. As soon as this news reached King Guntram, he dispatched the patrician Celsus² with an army, who on his way took the city of Avignon. When he arrived before Arles, he surrounded the place and began hostilities against the forces of Sigibert within the walls. Bishop Sabaudus then addressed these forces as follows: ‘Sally forth, and join battle, for if ye remain penned within the walls, ye will be able to defend neither us nor the territory belonging to the city. If by God’s grace ye overcome the enemy, we will remain loyal according to our promise; if, on the contrary, they prevail, ye shall find the gates open, and have free entry that ye perish not.’ Deluded by his guile, they issued forth and prepared to offer battle. They were defeated by the army of Celsus, and took to flight; but when they came to the city, they found the gates barred against them. Their army was assailed by javelins from the rear and by showers of stones cast down by the citizens; they therefore made for the river Rhône, and supporting themselves on their shields, endeavoured to reach the flat country on the farther bank. The strength of the current bore many away to destruction, and the Rhône now did to the Arvernians what of yore the Simois is said to have done to the men of Troy: ‘It rolled beneath its waves the shields and helms of men and their strong bodies. . . . A few alone appeared swimming in the vast and whirling waters.’³ These, as I say, might hardly reach the flat ground on the other bank, though they swam with the support of their shields. Stripped of all that they had, and deprived of their horses, they regained their country not without great ignominy; but Firminus and Audovar were permitted to withdraw unharmed. Many Arvernians of note were here carried away by the force of the stream, and many a one was laid low by the sword. King Guntram, having in this wise recovered the city, with his usual kindliness restored Avignon to his brother’s authority.

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