according to legend, moissac abbey was founded by the frankish king clovis, in person the day after a victory over the visigoths, in 506. the legend states that clovis had made a vow to erect a monastery with 1,000 monks (in memory of a thousand of his warriors who died in battle) if he triumphed over the visigoths who had ruled the area for the past century as federati of the roman empire. he threw his javelin from the top of the hill to mark the spot where "abbey of a thousand monks" was to be built. unfortunately the javelin landed in the middle of a swamp.