(Encyclopedia) Acton, Sir John Francis Edward, 1736?–1811, Neapolitan statesman of British origin, b. Besançon, France. Called upon by Queen Marie Caroline and King Ferdinand IV of Naples (later…
(Encyclopedia) diadem, in ancient times, the fillet of silk, wool, or linen tied about the head of a king, queen, or priest as a distinguishing mark. Later, it was a band of gold, which gave rise to…
(Encyclopedia) Dee, John, 1527–1608, English mathematician and occultist. He was educated at Cambridge. Accused of practicing sorcery against Queen Mary I, he was acquitted and later was a favorite…
(Encyclopedia) Juana la BeltranejaJuana la Beltranejahwäˈnä lä bĕltränāˈhä [key], 1462–1530, Castilian princess, daughter of Juana of Portugal, queen of Henry IV of Castile. Her paternity was…
(Encyclopedia) Sully, Thomas, 1783–1872, American painter, b. England. Having come to the United States as a child, he first studied with his brother Lawrence, a miniaturist, and later for a brief…
(Encyclopedia) Henry II, 1133–89, king of England (1154–89), son of Matilda, queen of England, and Geoffrey IV, count of Anjou. He was the founder of the Angevin, or Plantagenet, line in England and…
(Encyclopedia) AbihailAbihailăbəhāˈəl [key], in the Bible. 1 Father of Queen Esther. 2 Gadite. 3 Merarite woman. 4 Wife of Abishur. 5 Mother-in-law of Rehoboam.
(Encyclopedia) Henry VIII, 1491–1547, king of England (1509–47), second son and successor of Henry VII.
Henry was a supreme egotist. He advanced personal desires under the guise of public policy…
A look at the aristocratic pecking order by David Johnson Emperor Comes from the Latin, "imperator," which was originally a military title. Soldiers would salute the leader of a victorious…