(Encyclopedia) Mary, in the Bible, mother of Jesus. Christian tradition reckons her the principal saint, naming her variously the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady, and Mother of God (Gr., theotokos).…
(Encyclopedia) Roses, Wars of the, traditional name given to the intermittent struggle (1455–85) for the throne of England between the noble houses of York (whose badge was a white rose) and…
(Encyclopedia) Stair, John Dalrymple, 2d earl of, 1673–1747, Scottish general and diplomat; son of the 1st earl of Stair. He began a military career in the Netherlands, but on his father's death…
(Encyclopedia) Battle of the Bulge, popular name in World War II for the German counterattack in the Ardennes, Dec., 1944–Jan., 1945. More than a million men fought in what is also known as the…
(Encyclopedia) Stuart or Stewart, Ludovick, 2d duke of Lennox and duke of Richmond, 1574–1624, Scottish nobleman; son of Esmé Stuart, 1st duke of Lennox, and cousin of James VI of Scotland (James I…
(Encyclopedia) Trent, Council of, 1545–47, 1551–52, 1562–63, 19th ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, convoked to meet the crisis of the Protestant Reformation. Earlier efforts at…
(Encyclopedia) Sunderland, Charles Spencer, 3d earl of, 1674–1722, English statesman; son of the 2d earl. His marriage (1700) to a daughter of the 1st duke of Marlborough brought him a secretaryship…
(Encyclopedia) Ossory, Thomas Butler, earl ofOssory, Thomas Butler, earl ofŏsˈərē [key], 1634–80, Irish nobleman; son of James Butler, 12th earl and 1st duke of Ormonde. Created earl of Ossory in…
(Encyclopedia) Abel, in the Bible, son of Adam and Eve, a shepherd, killed by his older brother, Cain; in the Gospel of St. Matthew, mentioned as the first martyr.
