Ambition and fraternal hatred had devastated her family.

Her father, Chilperic, and her two brothers, had been put to death by her uncle Gondebaud, who had caused her mother Agrippina to be thrown into the Rhone, with a stone round her neck; and drowned.

Two sisters alone had survived this slaughter; the elder, Chrona, had taken religions vows, the other, Clotilde, was living almost in exile at Geneva, absorbed in works of piety and charity.

The principal historian of this epoch, Gregory of Tours, an almost contemporary authority, for he was elected bishop sixty-two years after the death of Clovis, says simply, "Clovis at once sent a deputation to Gondebaud to ask Clotilde in marriage.

Gondebaud, not daring to refuse, put her into the hands of the envoys, who took her promptly to the king.