Baudilus

Baudilus was a 6th-century Frankish duke (dux) who governed the area around Tours. He is primarily known from Gregory of Tours' History of the Franks.

According to Gregory, Baudilus was initially appointed by King Chlothar I and was known for his justice and integrity. However, he later became corrupted by greed and began to oppress the people under his rule. He seized property unjustly, extorted money, and generally acted against the interests of the population.

Eventually, Baudilus was removed from his position by King Chlothar I due to his misconduct. Gregory of Tours portrays Baudilus as a cautionary tale of how power can corrupt and highlights the importance of just leadership. The specifics of his career, beyond Gregory's account, are not reliably known. His significance lies primarily in his role as an example of corrupt governance in Gregory's historical narrative.