The Battle of Vouillé or Vouglé was fought in the northern marches of Visigothic territory, at Vouillé, Vienne near Poitiers , in the spring of 507 between the Franks commanded by Clovis and the Visigoths of Alaric II, the conqueror of Spain. Clovis and Anastasius I of the Byzantine Empire agreed that each would attack the Goths from their own side. The Franks crossed the Loire river. Clovis himself killed Alaric II. It may have been that huge defections in the field, from optimates and Gothic nobles, was the cause of defeat, as increased royal power in the clan of the Balths... was eroding the other clans' independence. High ranking families from the Goths had been sifting away to "distant" and derelict Spanish regions across the Pyrenees, according to Jordanes, where land tenure was up for grabs in the depopulated high plains of Castile and the draft in military duties was easier to dodge. The battle forced the Goths to retreat to Septimania, which they continued to hold. The success at Vouillé allowed the Franks to control the southwestern part of France, and capture Toulouse.
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| Occurred: |
507
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| Location: | Poitiers, Vouillé, Vienne |