Napoleonic wars

The Kongo Free State was mortgaged to Belgium in 1890. The constitution was reformed in a democratic direction in 1893. Area, 11,373 square miles. Population (1900), 6,693,810. Belgorod. See Bielgorod. Belgrad (bel-gräd'), or Belgrade (bel-grād′), Serv. Bielgorod. [The White City.'] The capital of Servia, situated at the junction of the Save and Danube, in lat. 44° 47′ N., long. 20° 25' E.: the ancient Singidunum. It is a center of trade between Austria-Hungary and the Balkan Peninsula, and an important strategic point. It belonged at various times to the Roman and Byzantine empires, Avars, Bulgarians, and Servians; pa ed to Hungary about 1433; was (by Austria 1718-1739); and became the capital of Servia taken by the Turks and held for short periods by Christians in the beginning of the 19th century. The citadel was re tained by the Turks (who bombarded the city in 1862) until 1867. Population (1891), 54,249. Belgrad, Battles of. 1. A victory of the Hungarians under Hunyadi over the Turks, Prince Eugene, who was besieging Belgrad, gained a decisive victory over a relieving army of 200,000 Turks, Aug. 16, 1717. Bell, Adam Philip of Spain. Mas singer altered Sebastian into Antio. chus, Spain into Rome, etc., wrote an ironical prologue, and told his hearers to interpret as they liked 'Believe as You List" ( Fleay ). Bel Inconnu (bel an-ko-nü'), Le. [OF., 'The Fair Unknown.'] One of the secondary romances of the Round Table. It is by Renauld de Beaujeu. The hero is a young knight who appears before the Round Table and, on being questioned, says he has no name, his mother having always called him Beau-fils, whereupon Arthur commands that he be called Le Bel Inconnu. The romance was printed for the first time in Paris in 1860. Be linda (be-lin'dä). 1. One of the principal characters in Etherege's comedy "The Man of Mode."-2. A gay, witty, and sensible girl in Vanbrugh's comedy "The Provoked Wife." She loves Heartfree, and marries him ostensibly to get her aunt, Lady Brute, out of a scrape. 3. A rich woman in Charles Shad well's play "The Fair Quaker of Deal."-4. An affected fine lady in love with Bellmour, in Congreve's comedy "The Old Bachelor." - 5. The princi pal character in Pope's serio-comic poem "The Rape of the Lock." Be linda's curl, stolen by her lover, flew to the skies, and became a meteor which "Shot through liquid air, And drew behind a radiant trail of hair." Be linda was intended for Arabella Fermor, and the incident of the "Rape of the Lock" is founded on fact. In consequence, Belgrad surrendered Aug. 18, 1717, and the peace of Pa arovitz was concluded July 21, 1718. Belgrad, Sieges of. The city has been be- sieged at various times: (a) By the Turkish sultan Amurath 1442 (?). (b) By the Turkish sultan Mahomet 1456. (c) By the Turkish sultan Soliman II, 1521: cap tured and annexed. (d) By the Imperialists under the in 1801. Elector of Bavaria 1688: taken from the Turks. (e) By the Turks 1690: taken from the Imperialists. (f) By Prince Eugene 1717: stormed and taken. (g) By the Austrians under Laudon 1789: taken, but restored to the Turks 1791. Belgrad, Treaty of. A treaty concluded at Belgrad, Sept., 1739, between Turkey, Austria, and Ru ia. Ru ia renounced naval rights in the Black Sea, and restored to Turkey conquests in Moldavia and Be arabia; Austria yielded territory in Wall a chia, Bosnia, and Servia, including Belgrad. Belgrano (bel-grä no), Manuel. Born at Buenos Ayres, June 3, 1770: died there, June 20, 1820. An Argentine general. Joining the movement of independence 1810, he was sent with a small army to free Paraguay, but was unsucce ful. In 1812 he led an army against Upper Peru (the present Bolivia), defeating the Spaniards at Tucuman (Sept. 24, 1812) and Salta (Feb, 20, 1813), and advancing to Potosí, but was defeated at Vilcapujio (Oct. 1, 1813) and Ayouma (Oct. 26), and soon after was superseded by San Martin. He was restored to his command in 1815, but owing to sickne took little part in the subsequent movements. Belgrave (bel'grāv). A parish in Leicestershire, England, immediately north of Leicester. Belgrave Square. A square in Belgravia, London, designed by George Basevi. It is 684 feet long by 637 feet wide, and is named from Belgrave in Leicestershire, which belongs to the Duke of Westminster. Belgravia (bel-grā'vi-ä). A fashionable district in the West End of London. It is bounded by Hyde Park, Green Park, Sloane street, and Pimlico. It was ori ginally marshy ground, and occupies in great part what was as Ebury Farm. In 1825 it was filled up with earth obtained in excavating St. Katharine's Docks, and residences were built. It derives its name from Belgrave Square, which, with Eaton Square, Grosvenor Place, etc., included in it. 6. A proud but tender-hearted girl in love with Beverley, in Murphy's play "All in the Wrong." Be linda. A novel by Mi Edge worth, published Béline (bā-len'). The mercenary second wife of Argan in Molière's comedy "Le Malade Imaginaire." She pretends to love him, but her falsehood is discovered by his ruse of pretending to be dead, when she bursts into exclamations of joy. Belinski. See Bielinski . Bélisaire (bā-lē-zar'). 1. A tragedy by Rotrou, produced in 1643.-2. A political romance by Marm on tel, published in 1767. Be lisa rio (bā-le-sä re-ō). An opera by Donizetti, in three acts, produced at Venice Feb. 7, 1836, at London April 1, 1837, and at Paris Oct. 24, 1843. Belisarius (bel-i-sā'ri-us). [Slav. Beli - tzar , i. e. White Prince.] Born in Illyria, or Dardania (?), about 505: died March 13, 565. The greatest general of the Byzantine empire. He was general of the eastern armies 529-532; rescued Just in i an by the suppre ion of the "Green" faction at Constantinople in 532; overthrew the Vandal kingdom in Africa 533-534; won famous victories over the Goths in Italy 534-540; conquered Sicily in 535, and southern Italy 536-537; conquered Ravenna in 540; conducted the war against the Persians 541-542; again took command against the Goths in Italy in 544; was superseded by Narses in 548; rescued Constantinople from northern (Bulgarian) invaders in 559; and was imprisoned a short time by Just in i an about 563. The tale that in old age he was blind and obliged to beg his bread from door to door is false. The exploits of Belisarius, looked at in themselves, are enough to place him in the very first rank of military commanders; when we consider the circumstances under which they were achieved, he may fairly claim the first place of all. Hannibal is his only rival, as Heraclius had no Just in i an to thwart him at home.