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XYZ Affair

(Encyclopedia)XYZ Affair, name usually given to an incident (1797–98) in Franco-American diplomatic relations. The United States had in 1778 entered into an alliance with France, but after the outbreak of the Fre...

Ems dispatch

(Encyclopedia)Ems dispatch, 1870, communication between King William of Prussia (later German Emperor William I) and his premier, Otto von Bismarck. In June, 1870, the throne of Spain was offered to Prince Leopold ...

Bastille

(Encyclopedia)Bastille băstēlˈ [key] [O.Fr.,=fortress], fortress and state prison in Paris, located, until its demolition (started in 1789), near the site of the present Place de la Bastille. It was begun c.1369...

Southampton, Thomas Wriothesley, 4th earl of

(Encyclopedia)Southampton, Thomas Wriothesley, 4th earl of, 1607–67, English nobleman; son of the 3d earl. At first an opponent of the court party in the events leading up to the English civil war, he later joine...

Du Bellay, Guillaume

(Encyclopedia)Du Bellay, Guillaume gēyōmˈ dü bĕlāˈ [key], 1491–1543, French diplomat under King Francis I; brother of Jean Du Bellay. He was employed in negotiations regarding the Treaty of Cambrai (1529) ...

Estrées, Gabrielle d'

(Encyclopedia)Estrées, Gabrielle d' gäbrēĕlˈ dĕstrāˈ [key], 1573–99, famous beauty, mistress (1592–99) of Henry IV of France, who made her marquise of Monceaux and duchess of Beaufort. She divorced her ...

Clisson, Olivier de

(Encyclopedia)Clisson, Olivier de ōlēvyāˈ də klēsôNˈ [key], 1336–1407, French soldier, b. Brittany. He fought on the English side in the War of the Breton Succession but entered the French service as comp...

Clement V, pope

(Encyclopedia)Clement V, 1264–1314, pope (1305–14), a Frenchman named Bertrand de Got; successor of Benedict XI. He was made archbishop of Bordeaux by Boniface VIII, who trusted him; surprisingly, he was also i...

Schwerin, Kurt Christoph, Graf von

(Encyclopedia)Schwerin, Kurt Christoph, Graf von ko͝ort krĭsˈtôf gräf fən shvārēnˈ [key], 1684–1757, Prussian field marshal. He was one of the most brilliant lieutenants of King Frederick II of Prussia i...

Haakon VII

(Encyclopedia)Haakon VII, 1872–1957, king of Norway (1905–57). Formerly Prince Charles, second son of King Frederick VIII of Denmark, he was elected by the Storting to the throne on the separation of Norway fro...
 

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