Clovis, also called Clovis I, lived from 466 to 511. He was the first king of the Franks starting in 481 after the death of his father and shortly after the fall of the Roman Empire ushered in a period of uncertainty in Europe.
Clovis united all of Gaul under his rule. At that time the Franks were a pagan people. Clovis's wife, Clotilda converted Clovis to Catholicism and then Clovis converted his entire army. Because of this, Clovis gained the Pope's support and became very powerful. His war and defeat of the Visigoths in 507 helped to solidify Catholicism over Arianism in western Europe.