ALIS.  m. French short form of Alexandre (q.v.), meaning "defender of man."  In Arthurian legend, this is a son of Alexander and Soredamors, and younger brother of Cligès.

    Meanwhile the Emperor of Constantinople dies and an embassy goes to Britain to fetch Alexander.  In a storm at sea they all perish except one rascal who is attached to the younger son Alis, and, without further ceremony, returns to Greece with the news that Alexander and all his men were drowned on the return journey, except himself.  Alis is crowned.  Hearing of this, Alexander, with wife and child and forty knights, declining the army offered him by Arthur, embark at Shroeham (Sorham 2440) and come to anchor at last in the harbour of Athens, in which city Alis just then is. Acorionides, as envoy, claims from the latter the crown in the name of Alexander, and when Alis refuses, declares war upon him.  But on the advice of his lords, Alis makes a compact with his brother according to which the latter receives the kingdom while Alis keeps the title and the crown and binds himself not to marry, in order in that way to secure the succession for Cligès... (University Magazine, v.5, 1891)