Cleese, John (Marwood) (b. Oct. 27, 1939, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, Eng.) British actor and screenwriter. He wrote and performed comedy material for British television in the 1960s before helping create the popular comedy show Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-74), which later won a large U.S. following with its surreal brand of humour. He cowrote and acted in the television series Fawlty Towers and collabo¬ rated with the rest of the Monty Python troupe on films such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), The Life of Brian (1979), and Monty Python ’s The Meaning of Life (1983). His other films include Silverado (1985) and A Fish Called Wanda (1988).
clef French "key" Musical notation symbol at the beginning of a staff to indicate the pitch of the notes on the staff. Clefs were originally letters, identifying letter-named pitches, that were affixed to one or more of the staff’s lines (thus providing a “key” to their identity). Knowing the iden¬ tity of a single line permitted the musician to identify all the other lines and spaces above and below. Clefs were first regularly used in the 12th century. The Gothic letter forms of G and F evolved into the modem treble and bass clefs, respectively; the letter C evolved into the rarer alto, tenor, baritone, and soprano clefs.
cleft palate Fairly common congenital disorder in which a fissure forms in the roof of the mouth. It may affect only the soft palate or extend through the hard palate, so that the nasal cavity opens into the mouth. The sep¬ tum (dividing wall) between the nostrils is often absent. Cleft lip, a fis¬ sure in the lip beneath the nostril, or other abnormalities may accompany it. Cleft palate limits the ability of an infant to suck, which may lead to malnutrition, and causes speech problems in childhood. Surgical repair, usually at about 18 months of age, forms an airtight separation between
nose and mouth. Speech training is still needed, and patients may have a high risk of nose, ear, and sinus infections.
Cleisthenes Vklis-tho-.nezV of Athens (b. c. 570 bc —d. c. 508) Athe¬ nian statesman and chief archon (525-524), regarded as the founder of Athenian democracy. A member of the Alcmaeonid family, he allied him¬ self with the Ecclesia (citizens’ assembly) in 508 and imposed democratic reforms by which the basis of organization was changed from family and clan to locality. The four blood tribes were replaced by 10 local tribes, each with representation from city, coast, and hill areas. The boule (rep¬ resentative council) grew to 500 members. He based all his reforms on isonomia (“equal rights for all”).
Cleitias Vkll-te-9s\ or Kleitias or Clitias (fl. c. 580-550 bc, Greece) Greek vase painter and potter. An outstanding master of the Archaic period, he executed the decorations on the Frangois Vase (c. 570 bc), dis¬ covered in 1844 in an Etruscan tomb.
Painted in the black-figure style (see black-figure pottery), the large vase, signed and decorated with more than 200 figures, is among the greatest treasures of Greek art. Other vases and fragments attributed to him are in the Acropolis Museum, Athens.
clematis Vkle-ms-tss, kli-'ma-t3s\
Any of the more than 200 species of perennial, chiefly climbing shrubs of the genus Clematis (buttercup fam¬ ily), found through most of the world, especially in Asia and North America. Many species are culti¬ vated in North America for their attractive flowers, either solitary or in large clusters. The leaves usually are compound. Common species include woodbine; traveler’s joy, or old- man’s-beard (C. vitalba)\ virgin’s bower (C. cirrhosa ); and vine bower (C. viticella ). The most popular horticultural hybrids are of primarily three species: C. florida, C. patens, and C. jackmanii.
Clemenceau \kla-ma n -'s6 ,\English \ l kle-m9n- , so\ / Georges (b. Sept. 28, 1841, Mouilleron-en-Pareds, France—d. Nov. 24, 1929, Paris) French statesman and journalist. A doctor before turning to politics, he served in the Chamber of Deputies (1876-93), becoming a leader of the radical republican bloc. He founded the newspapers La Justice (1880), L’Aurore (1897), and L’Homme Libre (1913) and came to be ranked among the foremost political writers of his time. His support for Alfred Dreyfus brought him into favour, and he served in the Senate (1902-20). He served as interior minister in 1906 and as premier (1906-09). During World War 1, at age 76, he became premier again (1917-20), and his steadfast pur¬ suit of the war won him the title “Father of Victory.” He also helped frame the postwar Treaty of Versailles, endeavouring to reconcile French inter¬ ests with those of Britain and the U.S. Defeated in a presidential election in 1920, he retired from politics.
Clemens, (William) Roger (b. Aug. 4, 1962, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.) U.S. baseball pitcher. Clemens played for the Boston Red Sox (1984-96), Toronto Blue Jays (1997-98), New York Yankees (1999-2003), and Hous¬ ton Astros (from 2004). In 1986 he became the first pitcher to strike out 20 batters in a single (nine-inning) game; he later tied his own record (1996). He won the Cy Young Award for best pitcher an unprecedented seven times (1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004).
Clement V orig. Bertrand de Got (b. c. 1260, Bordelais region, France—d. April 20, 1314, Roquemaure, Provence) Pope (1305-14), the first to reside at Avignon, France. He became archbishop of Bordeaux in 1299 and was elected pope six years later. By creating a majority of French cardinals, he ensured the election of a line of French popes. He moved the seat of the papacy to Avignon, under pressure from King Philip IV of France, who also forced Clement to annul Pope Boniface VIITs deci¬ sions that were unfavourable to France. The king also compeled the pope to dissolve the Templars, which Philip brutally suppressed. Clement opposed Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII after 1313 and appointed the king of Naples as imperial vicar on Henry’s death. His decretals, the Clementinae, were a notable contribution to canon law.
"Mask of Medusa/' top view of stand made by Ergotimos and painted by Cleitias, c. 560 bc; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
COURTESY OF THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK, FLETCHER FUND, 1931
© 2006 Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Clement VI ► Clergy Reserves I 417
Clement VI orig. Pierre Roger (b. c. 1291, Corezze, Aquitaine—d. Dec. 6, 1352, Avignon, Provence) Pope (1342-52). Archbishop of Sens and Rouen, he was made cardinal in 1338 and was consecrated pope at Avignon four years later (see Avignon papacy). He launched a Crusade against Smyrna in 1344, ending the piracy of the Ottoman Turks. He also restored papal authority in the Romagna region, which was disputed by families of the Italian nobility. In exchange for his protection, Joan I of Naples sold him Avignon. Clement opposed the Franciscan ascetics known as the Spirituals, enlarged the papal palace, and fostered art and scholarship.
Clement VII orig. Giulio de' Medici (b. May 26,1478, Florence—d. Sept. 25, 1534, Rome) Pope (1523-34). The illegitimate son of Giuliano de’ Medici (see Medici family), he was raised by his uncle Lorenzo de’ Medici. In 1513 he was made archbishop of Florence and cardinal by his cousin Pope Leo X. He commissioned art from Raphael and Michelangelo. A weak and vacillating political figure mainly interested in advancing Medici interests, Clement allied with France in 1527, which led to Emperor Charles V’s sack of Rome. Clement’s indecisiveness complicated Henry VIII’s request for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Ara¬ gon, which contributed to Henry’s decision to break with the church in Rome. His poor leadership also allowed the Reformation to develop fur¬ ther.