Gregory of Tours (AD 539-594) was Bishop of Tours for twenty-one
years during the time of the Franks, and this is his account of the times.
It dates from the creation, but only skims over mostly theologically based
history until the collapse of the Roman Empire. At this point more detail
comes in; Gaul is divided into the lands of the Visigoths in the south,
Thuringians in the north-east, Romans in the north, Burgundians in the south east, and the Franks themselves mainly in the centre.
The Franks go on to destroy the last of the Romans, drive the Visigoths
into Spain and semi-subjugate the other races. It's an astonishing account
of slaughters, murders assassinations, and racial hatred - at one point the
church tries to step in to stop the Franks abusing the remains of the Roman
patricians. This is a desperately savage time, and the church comes across
as something of an isle of sanity and peace amidst the trauma of the secular world.
Gregory himself has a habit of ignoring, or failing to pass judgement on,
the worst acts of some of the kings of the time, generally on the basis of
them being good Catholics. The book is infused with a pro-Catholic bias much as Herodotus is shot through with pro-Greek bias. There is a fair slice of church history included, and some very digressional stories, but Gregory
seems a devout man and it's clearly important to him. There are quite of lot
of moments of supposed divine judgement for sins, and the odd 'fact' which
historians claim to be just plain wrong. and those familiar with Herodotus
may see some similarities, although Gregory doesn't tell gossip and tales which are beyond credibility.
One suprising thing that shines through is his rather wry sense of humour.
An example being when Theuderic met with another king, Hermanfrid, who
previously diddled him out of half a kingndom they had agreed to carve up.
They met on the city walls, and shortly after they separated Hermanfrid was
'accidentally' pushed from the walls. Gregory asserts 'Some people have
ventured to suggest Theuderic may have had something to with it.'
This is not fiction, and will not read as such. But with the age and land
in question, it's not hugely dissimilar from a fantasy novel, and to be
honest rather more fun than most.