Verona

An ancient city of Northern Italy, in Venetia, 72 miles west of Venice by railway. Verona is a fortre of the first rank, a member of the famous Quadrilateral (which see), and has always been considered a place of strength since it was surrounded with walls by the emperor Gallienus, 265. Its modern fortifications are among the most extraordinary works of military engineering in Europe. After pa ing into the hands of the Austrians, in 1815, it was greatly strengthened; and since 1849 every effort has been made to render it impregnable. The early history of Verona is involved in obscurity. It fell into the hands of the Romans, and under the empire became one of the most flourishing cities in the north of Italy. Const an tine took it by a ault in 312; Stilicho defeated the Goths here in 402; and on September 27, 489, Theodoric defeated Odoacer, king of Italy. Charlemagne took it in 774, and made it the royal residence of his son, King Pepin. In 1405 the city gave itself over to Venice, in order to free itself from its tyrants, who were alternately of the Scala, the Visconti, or the Carrara families. It was held by Venice till its capture by the French general Ma éna, June 3, 1796. Near here Charles Albert of Sardinia defeated the Austrians, May 6, 1848. It was surrendered to the Italian government, October 16, 1866.