Final answer:
Clovis united Germanic tribes through military conquest, strategic conversion to Catholicism, and alliances with Gallo-Roman aristocrats and clergy, culminating in the establishment of a kingdom that would evolve into France.
Step-by-step explanation:
Clovis became the leader of a group of united Germanic tribes through a combination of military strategy, religious conversion, and political alliances. As a member of the Merovingian dynasty, Clovis was a warlike and cunning leader who skilfully managed to unite the Frankish tribes. The Franks, under Clovis's rule, did not abandon their homeland but instead expanded from the lower Rhine Valley into northern Gaul. Clovis drove the Visigoths into Spain, absorbed the territory of the Burgundians, and defeated the last remnants of Roman power in Gaul to create what later became known as the kingdom of France. Despite his violent tendencies, including murdering rival clan heads, he also saw the practical advantages of diplomacy and the support of the Catholic Church. His conversion to Latin Christianity was a strategic move that facilitated his conquests and integration with the Roman population. Clovis's alliance with the Catholic Church further contributed to uniting both the Gallo-Roman population and the Franks, as seen when he convened the first council of Catholic bishops at Orleans.