Republic

His chief works are "Topografia fisica dell a Camp an i a" (1798), "Instituzioni geologic he" (1818), etc. Breitenfeld, Battles of, or Leipsic, Battles of. 1. A victory gained by 40,000 Swedes and Saxons under Gustavus Adolphus over 40,000 Imperialists under Tilly, Sept. 17, 1631, at Breitenfeld, a small place near Leipsic.-2. A victory of the Swedes under Tors tenson over the Imperialists under Piccolo mini, Nov.2 (N.S.), 1642. Breithaupt (brīt'houpt), Joachim Justus. Born at Nordheim, Hannover, Germany, 1658: died at Klosterberg, near Magdeburg, Germany, March 16, 1732. A German pietistic theologian. He became court preacher and consistorial councilor Erfurt 187; and profe or of theology at Halle, 1691. at Me in in gen, 1685; pastor and profe or of theology at Breithorn (brit'hôrn). A mountain of the Valais Alps, on the border of Italy, south of Zer matt. Height, 13,685 feet. Breitmann (brit'män), Hans. A pseudonym of Charles Godfrey Leland. Bremen (brem'en; G. pron. brā'men), F. Brême (brām). A state of the German Empire. It comprises the city of Bremen, with a small adjoining territory, and the outlying districts of Vegesack and Bremerhaven. It is a republic, with a senate of 16 members, and a Convent of 150 burge es (Bürgerschaft). It has 1 member in the Bundesrat, and 1 in the Reichstag. The prevailing religion is Protestant. Area, 99 square miles. Population (1900), 224,882. Bremen (brem'en; G. pron. bra'men). A free city of Germany, forming with its territory a state of the German Empire: next to Hamburg, the chief seaport in Germany. It is situated on the Weser, 34 miles from its mouth, in lat. 53°5′ N., long. 8° 49′ E. It has a large trade in grain, tobacco, wool, cotton, oil, etc., and extensive ship-building and tobacco manufactures. Its port, Bremerhaven, is connected by the North German Lloyd with New York, South America, etc., by the Hansa Company with India, and regularly with Hull, Leith, etc. Bremen was founded as early as 788 by Charles the Great. It became the seat of a bishopric about 804; freed itself from the episcopal rule in the 14th century; and joined the Hanseatic League, but was several times expelled and readmitted. Its position as a free imperial city was finally acknowledged in 1648. In 1810 it was incorporated with France, but regained its independence in 1813, and became succe ively a member of the Germanic Confederation, the North German Con federation, and the German Empire. Its constitution dates from 1849. It joined the Zollverein in 1888. The Rathaus is for the most part of the 15th century, though the picturesque southwest façade dates from 1609. This façade is supported on 12 Doric columns, and is characterized by its very ornate oriel windows and gable. The statues of the emperor, the electors, etc., between the windows, are medieval. There is a fine great hall, with paintings and colored gla . On the west side is the Ratskeller, or municipal wine-cellar (celebrated in literature), decorated excellent frescos. Population (1900), 163,418. Bremen, Duchy of. A former duchy of Germany, which lay between the lower Elbe and lower Weser. It consisted largely of the archbishop ric of Bremen and Verden, and now belongs to the province of Hannover, Pru ia. It was acquired by Sweden in 1648, and by Hannover in 1719. Bremer (bram'er), Fred erik a. Born at Tuorla, near Abo, in Finland, Aug. 17, 1801: died at Årsta, near Stockholm, Dec. 31, 1865. A noted Swedish novelist. A few years after her birth the family removed to Stockholm, and shortly afterward to an estate at Ärsta near by, where, with the exception of two years spent in the United States, whither she went in 1849, a short time in England on her return, and a subsequent sojourn of five years on the Continent and in Palestine, she subsequently lived. She was a prolific writer. Her first novel, "Teckningar ur Hvardagslifvet" ("Sketches of Every-day Life," 1828), is a description of middle-cla life in Sweden. It was followed by others in the same vein, notably "Familjen H." ("The H. Family"), "President ens Döttrar" ("The President's Daughters"), "Grannarna" ("The Neighbors”), “Axel och Anna"("Axel and Anna"), "Hemmet" ("The Home"), "Nina.” She was the author, besides, of several books of travel: among them "Hemmen i nya Verlden" ("Homes in the New World," 1853), which contains her impre ions of America. Her later works, like "Hertha" and "Syskonlif," embody her opin ions on philanthropy, religion, and the equal rights of women. Several of her works appeared simultaneously in Swedish and English, and numerous others have been translated. IMG:content-0268.png:[blocks in formation] Brenda. See Troil, Brenda. Brendan (bren'dan), or Brenainn, of Birr, Saint. Born at Birr, now Parsons town, King's County, Ireland, 490 (?): died Nov. 28, 573. An Irish monk. He was a disciple of St. Finnian of Clon- ard; was a friend of St. Columba, to whom he is said to have recommended Hy as a place of exile; and founded the monastery of Birr about 563. St. Columba is represented to have seen at Brendan's death "heaven open of angels descending" to meet his soul. He is commemorated on Nov. 29. Brescia Brendan, or Brenainn, Saint. Born at Tralee, County Kerry, in 484: died in 577. An Irish monk, a contemporary of St. Brendan of Birr, and called "Son of Finnloga" or St. Brendan of Clonfert to distinguish him. After completing his studies at Tuam he set forth on the expedition known as the "Navigation of St. Brendan." According to the legendary account of his travels, he set sail with others to seek the terrestrial paradise which was supposed to exist in an island of the Atlantic. Various miracles are related of the voyage, but they are always connected with the great island where the monks are said to have landed. The legend was current in the time of Columbus and long after, and many connected St. Brendan's island with the newly discovered America. His name is variously spelled Brandon , Borondon , etc. He is commemorated on May 16. Brendel (bren'del), Franz. Born at Stolberg, in the Harz, Pru ia, Nov. 26, 1811: died at Leipsic, Nov. 25, 1868. A German musical critic. He wrote "Geschichte der Musik in It alien, Frankreich und Deutschland" (1852), "Musik der Gegen wart" (1854), articles in the "Neue Zeitschrift," etc. Brenets (brė-nā'), Lac des. A small lake in the Jura, formed by the Doubs in its upper course, near Le Locle, Switzerland. Brenner (bren'ner). The lowest pa over the main chain of the Alps. It is situated in Tyrol about 25 miles south of Innsbruck; has been used since Roman times; is traversed by a railway (since 1867); and is the main line of travel between Italy and Germany. Height, 4,485 feet. Brenneville (bren-vēl') (Normandy), Battle of. A battle, Aug. 20, 1119, in which Henry I. of England defeated Louis VI. of France. Brennoralt, or The Discontented Colonel. A tragedy by Sir John Suckling, written in 1639, printed in 1646. Brennus (bren'us). [L. Brennus , Gr. Βρέννος , repr. an Old Celtic name which has been identified with the W. Bran (W. and Ir. bran = E. raven ).] In legendary history, a leader of the Senonian Gauls who overran Italy and captured Rome 390 (?) в. с. With an army of about 70,000 men he defeated a Roman army of about 40,000 in the battle of the Allia, and plundered and burnt Rome, which had been abandoned by its inhabitants, with the exception of eighty priests and old patricians, whom the Gauls ma acred. After an unsucce ful night attack, repulsed by the valor of Manlius Capitol in us, who was awakened by the geese of Juno, he besieged the Capitol six months, till bought off by the garrison with 1,000 pounds of gold. According to a late legend, when the gold was being weighed a Roman tribune remonstrated against the use of false weights by the Gauls. Brennus threw his sword into the scale, with the famous exclamation, "vae victis!" ("woe to the conquered!"). His real name was probably Brenhin , Cymrian for 'king,' or Bran , a proper name of frequent occurrence in Welsh history. Brennus. A Gallic leader who invaded Greece, in 279 B. c., with an army of 150,000 foot and 61,000 horse. Having dislodged 20,000 Greeks from the pa of Thermopylæ by the secret path over the mountains followed two hundred years before by the Persians, he advanced with 40,000 men against Delphi, where he was repulsed by about 4,000 Delphians. He is said to have put himself to death, unable to survive his defeat. Brenta (bren'tä). Ariver in northeastern Italy which rises in the southern part of the Tyrol, and flows into the Gulf of Venice: the ancient Medoacus Major. Length, 108 miles. Brent a no (bren-tä'nō), Clemens. Born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, Sept. 8, 1778: died at Aschaffenburg, Bavaria, July 28, 1842. A German romantic poet and novelist, brother of Elizabeth (Bettina) von Arnim. From 1797 te 1800 he studied at Jena. He afterward frequently changed his abode. In Berlin, 1815 to 1818, he became a strict Catholic, and in the latter year entered the cloister at Dülmen. Subsequently he lived in various places, but led the life of a recluse. In conjunction with his brother-in-law, Achim von Arnim, he compiled the collection of folksongs published, 1806-08, under the title "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" ("The Boy's Wonder-Horn"). He was the author of a number of dramas, lyrics, and tales. Chief among the last are the "Geschichte vom braven Kasperl und schönen Annerl" ("History of the Good Kasperl and the Fair Annerl," 1817), and "Gockel, Hinkel und Gackeleia" (1838). His collected works, "Gesammelte Schriften," appeared in 9 volumes (Frankfort, 1851-55). Brent a no, Elizabeth. See Arnim , von . Brent ford (brent ford). A town in Middle sex, England, situated on the Thames 9 miles west of London. Here Edmund "Ironside" defeated the Danes, May, 1016, and Prince Rupert defeated the Parliamentarians under Holles, Nov. 12, 1642. Population (1891), 13,736. Brent ford, Two Kings of. Two characters which always appear together and do exactly the same things, in Bucking ham's farce "The Rehearsal." It is not known what particular play, if any, suggested them, but they have pa ed into a byword. Brera (bra'rä). The name given to the "Palace of Sciences and Arts" at Milan. It contains a noted art gallery, and the Brera Library, founded in 1770, with about 175,000 volumes. Brescia (bre'shä). A province in Lombardy, Italy. Area, 1,845 square miles. Population (1891), 487,812. weapons, etc. It was town, and was wealthy and important till its sack by Gaston de Foix in 1512. Till 1797 it was under Venetian rule. It took part in the revolutionary movements of 1848-49, and was bombarded and taken by the Austrians in 1849. The Duomo Vecchio, or old cathedral, is a circular church with a rec- porch, old as the 7th century, and of leased King John of France. France permitted England to retain Gascony, Guienne, Poitou, Ponthieu, Calais, etc., and paid 3,000,000 gold crowns. Breton (bre-tôn'), Emile Adélard. Born at Courrières, France, March 8,1831: died Nov. 26, 1902. A French landscape-painter, brother and pupil of Jules Breton. He left the army to pursue his studies in art, and was decorated with the cro of the Legion of Honor in 1878. His favorite subjects were Au- tumn, Winter, Twilight, and Sunset. Breton, Jules Adolphe Aimé Louis. Born at Courrières, Pas-de-Calais, France, May 1, 1827. A noted French genre painter. He is a pupil of Drolling and of Devigne, and has devoted himself to the representation of incidents taken from the life of the peasantry. He was in 1861 decorated with the cro and in 1889 became a commander of the Legion of Honor. Among his best-known paintings are “ Le retour des mois- sonneurs" (1853), "Les glaneuses" (1855), "La bénédic- tion des bles" (1857), "La fin de la journée" (1865), etc. He has written poems, and an autobiography entitled "Vie d'un artiste, art et nature" (1890). Breton (brit'on), Nicholas. Born at London about 1545: died about 1626. An English poet and prose-writer, a stepson of George Gas- coigne. He was a voluminous writer. Breton (bre-tôn'), Raymond. Born at Aux- erre, 1609: died at Caen, 1679. A French Do- mini can mi ionary. From 1635 to 1643 he was in the French West Indies, most of the time living among the Caribs. He published several works on their language and customs, and his manuscripts were largely used by Rochefort and others. of the Ohlau with the Oder, in lat. 51° 7′ Ν., long. 17° 3′ E. It is the second city of Pru ia, and is one of the chief commercial centers in Germany, having trade in grain, wool, timber, metals, cloth, etc., and manu- factures of cloth, spirits, etc. It contains a cathedral, university, Rathaus, Stadthaus (with library and collec- tions), etc. It was a town as early as 1000 A. D., and was the capital of the medieval duchy of Silesia. It came Bretons (bret'onz). The natives of Britt any. Bre on (bre-sôn'), Charles, Comte. Born at Paris, 1798: died at Naples, Nov. 2, 1847. A French diplomatist. He was first secretary of leg a tion at London about 1829; chargé d'affaires at Berlin 1833; minister of foreign affairs 1834; and amba ador at Madrid 1841, and at Naples 1847, where he committed suicide. He negotiated at Madrid, 1846, the double French- Spanish marriage of Queen Isabella and of her sister. Bre uire (bre-swer'). A town in the depart- ment of Deux-Sèvres, France, 45 miles south of Angers. It has a medieval castle and church. Population (1891), commune, 4,723. Brest (brest). A seaport in the department of Finistère, France, situated on the Roads of Brest in lat. 48° 24' N., long. 4° 29′ W. It is Litewski. A city in the government of Grodno, situated on the river Bug in lat. 52° 8' N., long. 23° 40′ E. Population, 45,137. Bretagne (brė-täny'). The French name of Britt any. Breteuil (bre-tėy'). A town in the depart- ment of Oise, France, 18 miles south of Amiens. Population (1891), commune, 3,108. Bret Harte. See Harte . Bretigny (bre-ten-yi'), Treaty or Peace of. A treaty concluded at Bretigny, near Chart res, France, May 8, 1360, between England and France. England renounced its claims, to the French crown, Maine, Anjou, Normandy, and Touraine, and re Bretschneider (bret-shnī ́dėr), Karl Gottlieb. Born at Gersdorf, Saxony, Feb. 11, 1776: died at Gotha, Germany, Jan. 22, 1848. A German Protestant theologian, general superintendent Bretten (bret'ten). A small town in Baden, 15 miles east of Karlsruhe: the birthplace of Me lanch thon. minster (?) about 1680: died at Paris, Jan., 1738. An English miscellaneous writer. He was of French descent, but wrote much under the name of Joseph Gay. He attacked Pope under this pseudonym, and is in return Brévent (bra-von'). A summit of the Alps of Mont Blanc, northwest of Chamonix. Height, Briançon (brē-on-sôn ́). A town in the depart- ment of Hautes-Alpes, France, situated on the Durance near Mont Genèvre and the Italian frontier, in lat. 44° 56′ N., long. 6° 35' E.: the Roman Brigantium. It is an important strate- gic point, and a fortre of the first cla . Pop- ulation (1891), commune, 6,580. Brianza (brē-än'dzä). Á district in northern Italy, between the Lake of Como and the Lake of Lecco. It is noted for its fertility. Briareus (bri-ārē-us). [Gr. Βριάρεως .] In Greek mythology, a son of Uranus and Ge, a monster with a hundred arms. Also called Ægæon . Brice, Saint. Born at Tours: died there, Nov. 13, 444. A French prelate, made bishop of Tours on the death of St. Martin. He is come Bride of Abydos, The. 1. A poem by Lord Byron, a Turkish tale, published in 1813.-2. A melodrama adapted from the poem by Di- code of Roman law, compiled in 506 A. D. by direction of Alaric II., king of the Visigoths. Brewer, Antony. Lived about 1655. An Eng- lish dramatic writer. He wrote "The Love-sick King, etc." (1655), which was reprinted as "The Perjured Nun." He is better known, however, from the fact that “Lingua, or the Combat of the Five Senses, etc." (1607), and "The Merry Devil of Edmonton” (1608), were formerly ascribed to him. "The Country Girl" (1647), signed "T. B.," has also been erroneously identified as his. Brewer of Ghent. See Artevelde , Jacob van . Brewster (brö'ster), Sir David. Born at Jed- burgh, Scotland, Dec. 11, 1781: died at Aller- by, Montrose, Scotland, Feb. 10, 1868. A cele- brated Scotch physicist, noted especially for discoveries in regard to the polarization of light. He invented the kaleidoscope in 1816; perfected the stereoscope 1849-50; and improved the lighthouse system. He wrote a "Treatise on Optics" (1831), "More Worlds than One" (1854), "Memoirs, etc., of Sir Isaac Newton" (1855), etc. In 1838 he became principal of the united college of St. Salvator and St. Leonard in the uni- versity of St. Andrews. Brewster, William. Born at Scrooby, Not- ting hams hire, England, about 1560 (1564?): died at Plymouth, Ma ., April 10, 1644. One of the founders of the Plymouth Colony in New England. He is said to have studied a short time at the University of Cambridge; was employed, 1584-87, the service of William Davis on, amba ador to the Low Countries, whom he accompanied abroad; was keeper of the post-office at Scrooby 1594-1607; participated in the unsucce ful attempt of the Brown ist congregation at Scrooby to escape to Holland, 1607; removed with the congregation to Leyden in 1609; sailed in the Mayflower in 1620; and became ruling elder in the church at New Brialmont (bre-äl-môn'), Henri Alexis. Born May 25, 1821: died July 21, 1903. A noted Belgian general and writer on military affairs, His works include "Considérations politiques et mil i- taires sur la Belgique" (1851-52), "Précis d'art militaire" (1854), "His to ire du duc de Wellington" (1856-57), etc. Briana (brī-a'nä). The owner of a strong cas- tle in Spenser's "Faerie Queene," who could not obtain the love of Crudor unle she made him a mantle of "beards of knights and locks of ladies." No one was allowed to pa with out paying this toll. Brian Borohma (bri'an bo-rō'mä) or Boru (bo-rö'). [Ir. Brian na boromi , Brian the trib- Bridget Bridget (brij'et), Brigit, or Bride (brid), Saint. [Ir. Brigit , Mid. Ir. Brighid (ML. Brigida , Brigitta ), from an OCelt. * Briganti , repr. by LL. Brig anti a , the name of a Celtic godde .] Died at Kildare, Ireland, Feb. 1, 523. A patron saint of Ireland. According to an ancient Irish account of her life, she was born at Fochart (now Faugher) in 453 A. D., and was the daughter of Dubhthach by his bondmaid Brotsech or Bro ices each. She obtained her freedom through the intervention of the King of Leinster, who was impre ed by her piety, and became the founder of a nunnery, in the shadow of which the present town of Kildare sprang up. She is commemorated on Feb. 1. A godde called Brigit, poete and seere , worshipped by the poets of ancient Erinn; that she was daughter of the Irish god known as Dagda the Great; and that she had two sisters who were also called Brigit, the one the patrone of the healing art, and the other of smith-work. This means, in other words, that the Goidels formerly worshipped a Minerva called Brigit, who presided the three chief profe ions known in Erinn: to her province in fact might be said to belong just what Cæsar terms operum atque art if i cio rum initia. corumiti Heathendom, p. 74. Bridget, Saint, of Sweden. See Birgitta . Bridge ton (brij'ton). The capital of Cumber land County, New Jersey, situated on Cohansey Creek 36 miles south of Philadelphia. It has manufactures of iron, woolens, and gla . Population (1900), 13,913. Bridge town (brij'toun). The capital of Barbados, West Indies, situated on the southwestern coast in lat. 13° 6' N., long. 59° 37′ W. Population (1891), 21,000. Bridge water, Duke of. See Egerton . Bridge water mouth 26 A town in Ply water (brij'wa-ter). Bounty, Ma achusetts, 26 miles south School. Population (1900), 5,806. Bridge water, Battle of. See Lundy's Lane . Bridge water House. The town residence of the Earl of Ellesmere, London, built 1847--49 on the site of Cleveland House. Wheeler , Familiar Allusions. Bridge water Madonna, The. The small painting by Raphael (1512) in Bridge water House, London. The Child lies on the Virgin's knees and clutches her veil. Bridge water Treatises. A series of treatises written in in complia compliance with the terms of the will of the Earl of Bridge water, who died in 1829. He left £8,000 to be paid to the author of the best treatise on "The Power, Wisdom, and Goodne of God, as manifested in the Creation." Those with whom the selection of the author was left decided to give the subject to eight per IMG:content-0269.png:[blocks in formation] Population (1891), 6,611. Brie (bré). An ancient territory of northern France, situated east of Paris. It is a level region, noted for its corn, dairy products, and especially for its cheese. It was divided into the Brie Française (in Île de-France), whose capital was Brie-Comte-Robert, and the Brie Champenoise (in Champagne). The latter was subdivided into Haute-Brie, capital Meaux; Ba e-Brie, ital Provins; and Brie-Pouilleuse, capital Château-Thierry. It was a county under the succe ors of Charlemagne. Later it generally followed the fortunes of Champagne. Brieg (brēg). A city in the province of Silesia, Pru ia, situated on the Oder 28 miles southeast of Breslau. It has a Renai ance castle of the princes of Brieg. Population (1890), 20,154. Brieg. A small town in the eastern part of the canton of Valais, Switzerland, situated on the Rhone at the eastern terminus of the railway. Briel (brel), or Brielle (bre-el'), or Brill (bril). A seaport in the province of South Holland, Netherlands, situated on the Maas 14 miles west of Rotter dam. It was taken from Spain by the "Water-Beggars" under William de la Marck, April 1, 1572. Brienne, or Brienne-le-Château (bre-en'lėshä-to'). A town in the department of Aube, France, 23 miles northeast of Troyes. It contained, until 1790, a military school which was attended by Napoleon 1779-84. Here, Jan. 29, 1814, Napoleon defeated the Allies under Blücher. Brienne, John de. Titular king of Jerusa lem 1210-25. Brienz (bre-ents'). A town in the canton of Brienne, Loménie de. See Loménie . Bright (brit), Je e D. Born at Norwich, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1812: died at Baltimore, Md., May 20, 1875. An American politician, Democratic United States senator from Indiana 1845-62. He was expelled from the Senate for disloyalty, Feb. 5, 1862. Bright, John. Born at Green bank, near Rochdale, in Lancashire, England, England, Nov. 16, 1811: died there, March 27, 1889. A distinguished English Liberal statesman and orator. He was an agitator for the Anti-Corn-Law League 1838-46; first entered Parliament in 1843; was president of the Board of Trade 1868-70; chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster 1873-74 and 1880-82; and became lord rector the Uni versity of Glasgow in 1883. Author of "Speeches on Parliamentary Reform" (1867), "Speeches on Questions of Public Policy" (1869), "Speeches on Public Affairs" (1869). Bright, Richard. Bornnat Bristol, England, 28, 1789: died London, Dec. 16, 1858. A noted English physician. In 1827 he published "Re. ports of Medical Cases," in which he traced to its source in the kidneys the morbid condition named for him "Bright's disease." Brighton (bri'ton), formerly Bright helms ton. A city and watering-place in Su ex, England, situated on the English Channel in lat. 50° 50′ N., long. 0° 8' W.: the leading seaside resort in Great Britain. Among its chief features are the Royal Pavilion (founded by the Prince of Wales (George IV.) 1784), the Esplanade, New Pier, Aquarium, etc. It was developed in the second half of the 18th century. Population (1901), 123,478.