European Kingdoms

Domain of Soissons
AD 461 - 486

Roman government in the area centred on Soissons was maintained from 418, even though the region became more and more isolated from Italy and surrounded by Frankish states to the north and east and the Visigoth kingdom to the south. By the time of Emperor Majorian's reign Soissons in the north-west was the only remaining Roman territory in Gaul, with a small strip connecting it to Italy. That corridor was annexed by the Germanic tribes now occupying Gaul, effectively cutting off Aegidius and his citizens from the empire.

During the collapse of the Western Roman empire, Emperor Majorian proved to be a little too popular, taking the field in person and leading the failing Roman army to victories over the Visigoths and Burgundians, and restoring Hispania. His supreme military commander, Ricimer, made sure he met with a swift end. Intent on avenging his master's death, Majorian's magister militum per Gallias, Aegidius, was prevented from marching on Rome when Ricimer hired the previously defeated Visigoths and Burgundians to block him, but Aegidius' troops remained loyal to him and Rome again lost its authority in Soissons, which he governed.

Aegidius was followed (eventually) by his son, Syagrius, and the area he governed is often incorrectly called the Kingdom of Soissons or the Kingdom of Syagrius. In reality however it was neither ruled by a king (although Syagrius was sometimes called Rex Romanorum (King of the Romans), probably by the barbarians settled on Soissons' borders), nor was it considered by its citizens as anything other than a separated province of the Western Roman empire. The term 'domain' is used by scholars.

(Additional information from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway.)

461 - 464

Aegidius

Roman Gallic master of soldiers. Possibly murdered by Franks.

463

Aegidius aids Childeric of the Franks to defeat the Visigoths at Orleans. Childeric also dislodges a Saxon attempt to settle on the northern Gaulish coast at Angers.

464

While Aegidius is allied to Childeric, a fact which had probably helped to ensure his survival to this point, it seems likely that he is murdered by one of Childeric's enemies.

464 - 469?

Paulus

Comes of Soissons. Killed by Childeric of the Franks.

464

Paulus effects a reconciliation of sorts with the Roman court at Ravenna, and acts in concert with them.

468 - 469

Riothamus, 'King of the Britons', crosses the Channel to Gaul, bringing 12,000 ship-borne troops. He remains in the country for a year or more, perhaps reinforced by Armorican Bretons, and is able to advance to Bourges (the ancient territory of the Bituriges) and even further. Gaul's imperial prefect, the deputy of the Western Roman emperor, treacherously undermines him by apparently dealing with the Visigoths, probably to try and divert the Visigothic king to attacking the Breton territories to the benefit of Roman holdings.

Caught by surprise by the Visigoths, Riothamus fights a drawn-out battle near Bourges but is eventually defeated when no imperial forces come to his assistance. He escapes with the remnants of his army into the nearby territory of the Burgundians, never to be heard of again. A second battle soon follows which involves a combined army consisting of units of Romans, troops from Soissons under Comes Paulus, and Burgundian foederati, but they are also defeated, and Soissons and Armorica are cut off from Rome. This would seem a likely point for Paulus' own death, leaving Syagrius in full command of Soissons. Soissons probably owes its survival to Childeric's Frankish kingdom at Cambrai, on the northern border, plus friendly relations with the Britons in Armorica.

469? - 486

Syagrius

Son of Aegidius. Dux of Soissons.

476

The Western Roman empire formally comes to an end (with a rump state surviving in the Balkans until 480), but Syagrius continues to proclaim his rule in the name of Rome, continuing to trade trading with Armorica and maintaining Soissons as a Roman domain.

The Frankish conquest of Soissons in 486 allowed Clovis to plunder far and wide, slowly adding to his kingdom. A large vase stolen from the church at Rheims lead to a dispute between Clovis and one of his warriors, with the result that the latter was killed by the king

481 - 486

Childeric dies in 481, and his son Clovis becomes the Frankish king. Clovis makes continual war against Syagrius, and in 486 he assembles an army which includes at least one allied Frankish Minor King, Ragnachar. At the subsequent Battle of Soissons, Clovis conquers the last of the Roman territory to be governed by Syagrius. Syagrius seeks refuge with the Visigothic king Alaric II, but is betrayed, captured, and sent to Clovis, who has him executed in 487. The Franks under Clovis are now completely dominant in northern Gaul and Roman control has been thrown off. The death of Syagrius also sends a signal to the Saxons and other Germanic peoples that attempting to settle in Gaul is now hopeless. This would seem to be the single defining event that forces the Saxons to turn their attention to invading Britain instead.