CLOVIS I., king of the Franks, son of Childéric I.; conquered the Romans at Soissons 486, which he made his centre; married CLOTILDA (q. v.) 493; beat the Germans near Cologne 496, by assistance, as he believed, of the God of Clotilda, after which he was baptized by St. Remi at Rheims; and overthrew the Visigoths under Alaric II.