(Encyclopedia) John IV, 1604–56, king of Portugal (1640–56). He succeeded as duke of Braganza in 1630. Descended from Manuel I and in illegitimate line from John I, he had the strongest claim to the…
(Encyclopedia) Potemkin, Grigori AleksandrovichPotemkin, Grigori Aleksandrovichpōtĕmˈkĭn, Rus. grĭgôˈrē əlyĭksänˈdrəvĭch pŭtyômˈkĭn [key], 1739–91, Russian field marshal and favorite of Catherine II…
(Encyclopedia) Rambouillet, Catherine de Vivonne, marquise deRambouillet, Catherine de Vivonne, marquise dekätrēnˈ də vēvônˈ märkēzˈ də räNb&oomacr;yāˈ [key], 1588–1665, famous Frenchwoman, whose…
(Encyclopedia) Elizabeth II, 1926–2022, former queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1952–2022), elder daughter and successor of George VI, and…
(Encyclopedia) Bezborodko, Aleksandr Andreevich, PrinceBezborodko, Aleksandr Andreevich, Princeəlyĭksänˈdər əndrāˈəvĭch bĕzbôrôdˈkô [key], 1747–99, Russian statesman. He became secretary of petitions…
(Encyclopedia) Philip of SwabiaPhilip of Swabiaswāˈbēə [key], 1176?–1208, German king (1198–1208), son of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I. After the death (1197) of his brother, German King and Holy…
(Encyclopedia) Margaret of ValoisMargaret of Valoisvälwäˈ [key], 1553–1615, queen of France and Navarre, daughter of King Henry II of France and of Catherine de' Medici. She was known as Queen Margot…
(Encyclopedia) Stephen, Saint, or Stephen I, 975–1038, duke (997–1001) and first king (1001–38) of Hungary, called the Apostle of Hungary. The Hungarian state may be said to date from his reign.…
(Encyclopedia) Danby, Thomas Osborne, earl of, 1631–1712, English statesman. Under the patronage of the 2d duke of Buckingham, he was appointed treasurer of the navy (1668), a privy councilor (1672…
(Encyclopedia) Marlborough, Sarah Churchill, duchess of, 1660–1744, confidante of Queen Anne of England. Born Sarah Jennings, she was a childhood friend of Princess Anne. In 1677 she married John…
