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Richthofen, Ferdinand, Baron von

(Encyclopedia)Richthofen, Ferdinand, Baron von fĕrˈdēnänt bärōnˈ fən rĭkhtˈhōfən [key], 1833–1905, German geographer, geologist, and traveler. He took part in a Prussian expedition in E Asia (1860–6...

Richthofen, Manfred, Baron von

(Encyclopedia)Richthofen, Manfred, Baron von mänˈfrāt [key], 1892–1918, German aviator in World War I. He was credited with the spectacular achievement of shooting down 80 aircraft; he was killed in action on ...

Bellingshausen, Fabian Gottlieb von

(Encyclopedia)Bellingshausen, Fabian Gottlieb von fäbˈēən gôtˈlēp fôn bĕlˈĭngzhouˌzən [key], 1778–1852, Russian explorer, b. Sarema, Estonia. A graduate of the naval academy at Kronstadt, he commande...

minnesinger

(Encyclopedia)minnesinger mĭnˈĭsĭngˌər [key], a medieval German knight, poet, and singer of Minne, or courtly love. Originally imitators of Provençal troubadours, minnesingers developed their own style in th...

natural law

(Encyclopedia)natural law, theory that some laws are basic and fundamental to human nature and are discoverable by human reason without reference to specific legislative enactments or judicial decisions. Natural la...

Bible societies

(Encyclopedia)Bible societies, a movement formed for the translation, printing, and dissemination of the Holy Scriptures; for much of its history it was predominantly Protestant, but there now is considerable Roman...

Dollfuss, Engelbert

(Encyclopedia)Dollfuss, Engelbert ĕngˈəlbĕrt dôlˈfo͝os [key], 1892–1934, Austrian chancellor. A Christian Socialist, he rose to prominence as leader of the Lower Austrian Farmers' League and became ministe...

Gabelentz, Hans Conon von der

(Encyclopedia)Gabelentz, Hans Conon von der häns kōˈnôn fən dĕr gäˈbəlĕnts [key], 1807–74, German linguist. Gabelentz showed the broad relationships among Pacific languages. He spoke 30 languages well a...

Moltke, Helmuth Johannes Ludwig, Graf von

(Encyclopedia)Moltke, Helmuth Johannes Ludwig, Graf von hĕlˈmo͞ot yōhäˈnəs lo͞otˈvĭkh gräf fən môltˈkə [key], 1848–1916, German army officer. He fought in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71) and be...

Varnhagen von Ense, Karl August

(Encyclopedia)Varnhagen von Ense, Karl August kärl ouˈgo͝ost färnˈhägən fən ĕnˈzə [key], 1785–1858, German poet, historian, and journalist. He collaborated with Chamisso and other writers and wrote Bio...