(Encyclopedia) AlcaeusAlcaeusălsēˈəs [key], c.620–c.580 b.c., Greek lyric poet of Lesbos. An aristocrat, he was often embroiled in political battles with the ruling tyrants. He wrote drinking songs,…
(Encyclopedia) Ferdinand I, 1379?–1416, king of Aragón and Sicily and count of Barcelona (1412–16), second son of John I of Castile; nephew and successor of Martin of Aragón. In 1406, Ferdinand…
(Encyclopedia) Poinsett, Joel RobertsPoinsett, Joel Robertspoinˈsĕt [key], 1779–1851, American diplomat and politician, b. Charleston, S.C. In 1810 he was sent as a special commissioner to South…
(Encyclopedia) Saint-DiéSaint-DiésăN-dyā [key], city (1990 pop. 23,670), Vosges dept., E France, in Lorraine, on the Meurthe River. It is an industrial center where foundry products, chemical…
(Encyclopedia) Osiander, AndreasOsiander, Andreasändrāˈäs ōzēänˈdər [key], 1498–1552, German reformer. His original name was Hosemann or Heiligmann. Ordained a priest in 1520, Osiander joined the…
(Encyclopedia) Washington, Walter Edward, 1915–2003, American political figure, first African-American mayor of Washington, D.C. (1975–79) and of a major American city, b. Dawson, Ga., grad. Howard…
(Encyclopedia) Cajetan [Lat.,=from Gaeta], 1469?–1534, Italian prelate, cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church, b. Gaeta. His original name was Giacomo de Vio. He joined the Dominicans (c.1484),…
(Encyclopedia) Bugenhagen, JohannBugenhagen, Johannyōˈhän b&oomacr;ˈgənhäˌgən [key], 1485–1558, German Protestant reformer. Born in Pomerania, he is sometimes called Dr. Pomeranus. Bugenhagen, an…
(Encyclopedia) Michael VIII (Michael Palaeologus), c.1225–1282, Byzantine emperor (1261–82), first of the Palaeologus dynasty. Following the murder of the regent for Emperor John IV of Nicaea, he was…
(Encyclopedia) Servetus, MichaelServetus, Michaelsərvēˈtəs [key], 1511–53, Spanish theologian and physician. His name in Spanish was Miguel Serveto. In his early years he came in contact with some of…