film director and screenwriterBorn: 8/6/1970Birthplace: Tamil-Nadu, India Shyamalan was a virtual unknown when The Sixth Sense arrived in movie theaters in 1999. The film, starring Bruce Willis and…
(Encyclopedia) Charles MartelCharles Martelmärtĕlˈ [key] [O.Fr.,=Charles the Hammer], 688?–741, Frankish ruler, illegitimate son of Pepin of Heristal and grandfather of Charlemagne. After the death…
(Marvin John Nance)actorBorn: 12/21/1943Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts Nance acted in several films directed by David Lynch, most memorably in the lead role of Eraserhead (1976); he also…
(Encyclopedia) Abd ar-RahmanAbd ar-Rahmanäbˌdär-rämänˈ [key], d. 732, Muslim governor of Spain (721–32). Invading Aquitaine in 732, he won a victory over the Franks at Toulouse but was defeated in…
(Encyclopedia) Carloman, d. 754, mayor of the palace in the kingdom of Austrasia after the death (741) of his father, Charles Martel. Ruling with his brother, Pepin the Short, he carried on…
(Encyclopedia) Henry I, c.1008–1060, king of France (1031–60), son and successor of King Robert II. To defend his throne against his mother, his brothers Robert and Eudes, and subsequently against…
(Encyclopedia) Saint Gall, former Benedictine abbey, at St. Gall, Switzerland. Originating in a cell built c.614 by St. Gall, an Irish missionary (see Columban, Saint), it became an abbey under…
(Encyclopedia) Pepin of Heristal (Pepin II)Pepin of Heristalhĕrˈĭstəl [key]Pepin of Heristal pĕpˈĭn [key], d. 714, mayor of the palace (680–714) of the Frankish territory of Austrasia; grandson of…
(Encyclopedia) ToursTourst&oomacr;r [key], city (1990 pop. 133,403), capital of Indre-et-Loire dept., W central France, in Touraine, on the Loire River. It is a wine market and a tourist center,…