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Palikao, Charles Guillaume Cousin-Montauban, comte de

(Encyclopedia)Palikao, Charles Guillaume Cousin-Montauban, comte de shärl gēyōmˈ ko͞ozăNˈ-môNtōbäNˈ kôNt də pälēkäōˈ [key], 1796–1878, French general. He commanded (1860) the French forces in Ch...

Henry II, king of France

(Encyclopedia)Henry II, 1519–59, king of France (1547–59), son of King Francis I. His robust physique contrasted with his weak and pliant disposition. Throughout his reign he was governed by Anne de Montmorency...

Portsmouth, Louise Renée de Kéroualle, duchess of

(Encyclopedia)Portsmouth, Louise Renée de Kéroualle, duchess of lwēz rənāˈ də kāro͞oälˈ [key], 1649–1734, French mistress of Charles II of England. She exerted a powerful influence over the king in fav...

Gasca, Pedro de la

(Encyclopedia)Gasca, Pedro de la pāˈᵺrō ᵺā lä gäsˈkä [key], c.1485–1567?, Spanish colonial administrator. A priest as well as a lawyer, he was selected by Charles V to end the anarchy prevailing in Pe...

Jovellanos, Gaspar Melchor de

(Encyclopedia)Jovellanos, Gaspar Melchor de gäspärˈ mĕlchôrˈ dā hōvĕlyäˈnōs [key], 1744–1811, Spanish statesman and writer. Very influential as an advocate of economic and social reform during the enl...

Belle-Isle, Charles Louis Auguste Fouquet, duc de

(Encyclopedia)Belle-Isle, Charles Louis Auguste Fouquet, duc de shärl lwē ōgüstˈ fo͞okāˈ dük də bĕl-ēlˈ [key], 1684–1761, marshal of France and diplomat; grandson of Nicolas Fouquet. His support of t...

Marmont, Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de

(Encyclopedia)Marmont, Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de ōgüstˈ frādārēkˈ lwē vyĕs də märmôNˈ [key], 1774–1852, marshal of France. He fought with Napoleon in Italy and Egypt and took part in his cou...

Cassin, René

(Encyclopedia)Cassin, René rənāˈ cäsăNˈ [key], 1887–1976, French jurist and humanitarian. He studied law at the universities of Aix-en-Provence and Paris, earned (1914) a doctorate, and practiced until Wor...

Institut de France

(Encyclopedia)Institut de France ăNstētüˈ də fräNs [key], cultural institution of the French state. Founded in 1795 by the Directory, it replaced five learned societies that had been suppressed in 1793 by the...

De Soto, Hernando

(Encyclopedia)De Soto, Hernando dĭsōˈtō, Span. ĕrnänˈdō dā sōˈtō [key], c.1500–1542, Spanish explorer. After serving under Pedro Arias de Ávila in Central America and under Francisco Pizarro in Peru,...

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