Aurelianus (Gallo-Roman)

Aurelianus was a Gallo-Roman statesman, commander and magnate in the late 5th-century Gaul. He was also a duke of Melun, but most importantly, the chief advisor of Clovis I.

After the defeat Syagrius in 486 at the Battle of Soissons, Aurelianus defected to the side of Clovis and aided him in the stabilisation of the domain.

In 493, Clovis sent him on a secret mission to arrange a marriage with a Burgundian princess, Clotilde. At night, while pretending to be a pilgrim, Clotilde welcomed him. While washing his feet, Aurelianus revealed the identity of her suitor and delivered her a ring of Clovis.^[1]

During the Battle of Tolbiac Aurelianus urged Clovis to convert to Christianity.^[2] Eventually Clovis gifted Melun to Aurelianus.^[3]

^ Guizot, François Pierre G. (1872). The history of France, tr. by R. Black. (Vol. 6–8 ed. by madame de Witt). p. 134.
^ Bachrach, Bernard S. (1972). Merovingian Military Organization, 481–751. U of Minnesota Press. pp. 8–9. ISBN 9780816657001.
^ Bachrach, Bernard S. (1972). Merovingian Military Organization, 481–751. U of Minnesota Press. p. 15. ISBN 9780816657001.

[1] Guizot, François Pierre G. (1872). The history of France, tr. by R. Black. (Vol. 6–8 ed. by madame de Witt). p. 134.

[2] Bachrach, Bernard S. (1972). Merovingian Military Organization, 481–751. U of Minnesota Press. pp. 8–9. ISBN 9780816657001.

[3] Bachrach, Bernard S. (1972). Merovingian Military Organization, 481–751. U of Minnesota Press. p. 15. ISBN 9780816657001.

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