clovis i (variously spelled chlodowech or chlodwig, giving modern french "louis" and modern german "ludwig") (c. 466 – november 27, 511) was the first king of the franks who united that nation. he succeeded his father childeric i in 481 as king of the salian franks, one of two main groups of frankish tribes, they were occupying the area west of the lower rhine at that time, with their centre around tournai and cambrai along the modern frontier between france and belgium. clovis conquered the neighbouring frankish tribes and established himself as sole king before his death.