In Latin texts, Chlodowig (as he was actually known) appeared as Clodovicus. The Germans call him Chlodwig (Ludwig, Lodewijk) and the French, like the Dutch, the Belgians and the English, refer to him as Clovis (the tribal name for Louis). Chlodowig is made up of the Germanic roots hlod (‘fame’) and wig (‘combat’), and accordingly is taken to mean ‘illustrious in battle’.