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History of the Franks
St Gregory of Tours, tr. Dalton, 1927
Book 9, 25. How Childebert’s Army Marched into Italy
King Childebert had received gifts from the Lombards when they asked his sister1 in marriage for their king, and had given them his promise. But at the coming of a Gothic mission upon the same errand, he now promised her to them, because he learned that the Goths were converted to the Catholic faith. He also sent an embassy to the emperor,2 undertaking now what he had hitherto failed to do, to make war in concert with him upon the Lombards and drive them out of Italy.3 At the same time he sent forth his army to conquer their land. His dukes marched into Italy with the army and engaged the enemy. But our men were heavily defeated; many fell, others were captured, while the greater number escaped with difficulty into their own country. Such was the slaughter of the Frankish army that nothing like to it is remembered of former days.
Notes
- Chlodosind; cf. above, chs. 16, 20.
- Cf. X. 2.
- Cf. VI. 28 (42); VIII. 18.