Editing Chlothar I (section)

===Saxon war===
In 555, Chlothar attacked and conquered the [[Saxons]], who had revolted, in the upper valley of the [[Weser]], [[Elbe]], and the coast of the [[North Sea]]. As a submission, Chlothar required them to pay a substantial annual tribute and for some time exacted from the Saxons an annual tribute of 500 cows.<ref>Ian Wood, ''The Merovingian Kingdoms: 450–751'', (Longman Limited, 1994), 65.</ref>

Between 555 and 556, the [[Saxony|Saxons]] revolted again, perhaps instigated by Childebert. Faced with the Saxon revolt and threat of a massacre, Chlothar preferred peace talks. He offered to forego battle if they would accept his demand to continue to pay him tribute, despite a previous rejection. But his men, aggressive, eager for battle, contested the decision. Talks were cut short when the soldiers forced him, with insults and death threats, to take on the Saxons. After an incredibly bloody battle, the Saxons and Franks made peace.<ref>[[Ferdinand Lot]], ''Naissance de la France'', éditions Fayard, 1948, pp. 59–61.</ref>

[[File:Le royaume des Francs en 556-560.svg|right|250px|Frankish Real from 556 to 560]]