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Württemberg

(Encyclopedia)Württemberg vürˈtəmbĕrkˌ [key], former state, SW Germany. Württemberg was formerly also spelled Würtemberg and Wirtemberg. The former state bordered on Baden in the northwest, west, and southw...

Consulate

(Encyclopedia)Consulate, 1799–1804, in French history, form of government established after the coup of 18 Brumaire (Nov. 9–10, 1799), which ended the Directory. Three consuls were appointed to rule France—Na...

Foscolo, Ugo

(Encyclopedia)Foscolo, Ugo o͞oˈgō fôsˈkōlō [key], 1778–1827, Italian poet and patriot. His name was originally Niccolò Foscolo. A devoted Venetian, he pinned his hope of a restored republic on Napoleon an...

Lebrun, Charles François

(Encyclopedia)Lebrun, Charles François ləbröNˈ [key], 1739–1824, French statesman. A moderate member of the Constituent Assembly after the start of the French Revolution, he was imprisoned during the Reign o...

Walewski, Alexandre Florian Joseph Colonna, Comte

(Encyclopedia)Walewski, Alexandre Florian Joseph Colonna, Comte älĕksäNˈdrə flôryäNˈ zhôzĕfˈ kôlônäˈ kôNt välĕfskēˈ [key], 1810–68, French diplomat, b. Poland; illegitimate son of Maria Walews...

Barrot, Camille Hyacinthe Odilon

(Encyclopedia)Barrot, Camille Hyacinthe Odilon kämēˈyə yäsăNtˈ ōdēlôNˈ bärōˈ [key], 1791–1873, French political leader. An opponent of the Bourbon restoration, he aided the July Revolution (1830), b...

Berlin Decree

(Encyclopedia)Berlin Decree, 1806, decree issued in Berlin by Napoleon I on Nov. 21 in answer to the British blockade. Claiming that the British blockade of purely commercial ports was contrary to international law...

Fould, Achille

(Encyclopedia)Fould, Achille äshēlˈ fo͞old [key], 1800–1867, French financier and politician. Fould gave financial backing to Louis Napoleon (later Emperor Napoleon III), whom he served four times as minister...

Roche-sur-Yon, La

(Encyclopedia)Roche-sur-Yon, La lä rôsh-sür-yôN [key], city (1990 pop. 48,518), capital of Vendée dept., W France, on the Yon River. A transportation and agricultural trade center, it also has industries produ...

Borodino

(Encyclopedia)Borodino bərədyĭnôˈ [key], village, central European Russia, c.70 mi (110 km) W of Moscow. It was the site, on Sept. 7, 1812, of a battle between Napoleon's Grande Armée and Gen. Mikhail Kutuzov...