Cloves
a very pungent aromatic spice, the dried flower-buds of Caryophyllus aromaticus, a native of the Molucca Islands, belonging to the myrtle tribe, now cultivated in Sumatra, Mauritius, Malacca, Jamaica, etc. The tree is a handsome evergreen from 15 to 30 feet high, with large elliptic smooth leaves and numerous purplish flowers on jointed stalks. Every part of the plant abounds in the volatile oil for which the flowerbuds are prized. The spice yields a very fragrant odor, and has a bitterish, pungent, and warm taste. It is sometimes employed as a hot and stimulating medicine, but is more frequently used in culinary preparations.
CLOVIS I., King of the Franks, usually called the founder of the French monarchy; born in 466. He was the son of Childeric I., and succeeded him in 481.
During his reign he recovered from the Romans all their possessions in Gaul. He defeated Siagrius, near Soissons, in 486, compelled Alaric, к King of the Visigoths, to surrender himself, himself, and had him put to death. Clovis I. married CLOTILDA (q. v.), niece of Gundebald, King of the Burgundians, and through her influence was gradually led to renounce paganism, and profess Christianity. His final decision was made after his great victory over the Alemanni, at Tolbiac, in 496; and he was baptized by St. Remi, with 3,000 of his subjects. Clovis I. pursued a crafty policy with the King of the Burgundians and his brother, on the principle "divide and conquer." ." In 507 he made war on Alaric II., King of the Visigoths, and totally defeated him at the battle of Vouglé, killing him with his own hand. Clovis I. thus added the whole S. W. part of Gaul to his dominions. At Tours he soon afterward received ambassadors from Anastasius, Emperor of the East, who gave him the CLOVIS II. titles of patrician and consul. Clovis I., about that time, settled at Paris, and made it the capital city. He disgraced himself by the unjust and cruel measures he took to get rid of several of his kindred, possible competitors for the crown. He died in Paris, in 511, after dividing his kingdom between his four sons.
CLOVIS II., second son of Dagobert, King of Neustria and Burgundy, whom he succeeded in 638. He died in 655.
CLOVIS III., son of Thierry III., King of France, whom he succeeded in 691, at the age of nine, and reigned five years, under the guardianship of Pepin d'Heristal, mayor of the palace. He died in 695.