E02063: Gregory of Tours, in his Histories (3.28), tells how *Clotild (queen and widow of Clovis, ob. 545, S01186) prayed successfully at the tomb in Tours of *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050), to prevent civil war amongst her sons; AD 533/542. Written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 575/594.

Gregory of Tours, Histories (Historiae) 3.28

Childeberthus autem et Theodoberthus commoventes exercitum, contra Chlothacharium ire disponunt. Ille autem haec audiens, aestimans, se horum exercitum non sustenire, in silva confugit et concides magnas in silvas illas fecit, totamque spem suam in Dei pietate transfundens. Sed et Chrodichildis regina haec audiens, beati Martini sepulchrum adiit, ibique in oratione prosternitur et tota nocte vigilat, orans, ne inter filios suos bellum civile consurgeret. Cumque hi venientes cum exercitibus suis eum obsederent, tractantes illum die sequenti interficere, mane facto, in loco, quo erant congregati, orta tempestas tentoria dissicit, res diripit et cuncta subvertit; inmixtaque fulgora cum tonitruis ac lapidibus super eos discendunt. Ipse quoque super infectam grandine humum in facie proruunt et a lapidibus decedentibus graviter verberantur - nullum enim eis tegumen remanserat nisi parmae tantum-, hoc maxime metuentes, ne ab ignibus caelestibus cremarentur. Sed et equites eorum ita dispersi sunt, ut vix in vicinsimo quoque repperirentur stadio; multi enim ex eis prorsus non sunt inventi. Tunc illi a lapidibus, ut diximus, caesi et humo prostrati, paenitentiam agebant ac veniam praecabantur Deo, quod ista contra sanguinem suum agere voluissent. Super Chlothacharium vero neque una quidem pluviae gutta decidit aut aliquis sonitus tonitrui est auditus, sed nec anilitum ullius venti in illo loco sinserunt. Hi quoque mittentes nuntius ad eum, pacem et concordiam petierunt. Qua data, ad propria sunt regressi. Quod nullus ambigat, hanc per obtentum reginae beati Martini fuisse virtutem.

'Childebert and Theudebert assembled an army and prepared to march against Chlothar. When he heard of this he realized that he was not strong enough to resist their combined forces. He took to the woods, built a great circle of barricades among the trees and put his trust in the mercy of God. When Queen Clotild learned what was happening, she went to the tomb of Saint Martin, prostrated herself in prayer, and spent the whole night praying that civil war might not break out between her sons. Childebert and Theudebert advanced with their troops, surrounded Chlothar's position and planned to kill him in the morning. When day dawned a great storm blew up over the spot where they were encamped. Their tents were blown down, their equipment was scattered and everything was overturned. There was thunder and lightning, and they were bombarded with hailstones. They threw themselves on their faces on the ground where the hail already lay thick, and they were severely lashed by the hailstones which continued to fall. They had no protection except their shields and they were afraid that they would be struck by the lightning. Their horses were scattered far and wide: some were recovered two or three miles away, but many of them were never found at all. The two Kings were cut about by the hailstones as they lay on the ground. They did penance to God and begged Him to forgive them for having attacked their own kith and kin. No drop of rain fell on Chlothar, no clap of thunder was heard, no winds blew where he was. Childebert and Theudebert sent messengers to him to sue for peace and concord. This was granted and they all went home. None can doubt (Quod nullus ambigat) that this miracle of the blessed Martin was through the intercession of the Queen (per obtentum reginae).'

Text: Krusch and Levison 1951, 124-125. Translation: Thorpe 1974, 185-186; lightly modified.