Does the history of France begin with the reign of Clovis?

In the 5th century AD, as the Western Roman Empire was finally collapsing, Clovis I established himself through his conquests and became king of all the Franks. Over the centuries, more or less documented episodes of his life, such as his baptism, the episode of the Soissons vase or the battle of Tolbiac, became founding stories of the History of France, while he was designated as the very first of our kings.

But how is a national history written? Does the history of France really begin with the reign of Clovis?

To talk about it, Virginie Girod receives the historian Bruno DumézilUniversity Professor of Medieval History, specialist in the Early Middle Ages and author, notably of the book The baptism of Clovis, December 24, 505? published by Gallimard.

Topics covered: History of France, Middle Ages, national novel