Chlothar I

Chlothar was the third surviving son of Clovis I and Queen Clotilde, younger than Chlodomer and Childebert I but ahead of their sister. In 511 he and his three brothers inherited shares of their father's kingdom and immediately began the long work of expansion. They raided neighbours together when it suited them, dividing the spoils, and avoided fighting each other directly. Chlothar's strategy was territorial and dynastic: push in all directions, cooperate when necessary, wait for death to do the rest. By the time he died around December 561, he had reunited Francia by outliving his brothers and absorbing their lands. The reunion lasted exactly as long as he did - his four surviving sons split the kingdom again upon his death. A fifth son had already rebelled and been killed, along with his family.