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Lisieux

(Encyclopedia)Lisieux lēzyöˈ [key], town (1990 pop. 24,056), Calvados dept., N France. It is one of the oldest towns in Normandy. Its modern importance dates from the canonization (1925) of St. Theresa, whose sh...

Pynson, Richard

(Encyclopedia)Pynson, Richard pĭnˈsən [key], d. 1530, English printer, b. Normandy. He moved to England c.1482 and in 1491 or 1492 began printing books pertaining to law in London. He became king's printer (to H...

Ordericus Vitalis

(Encyclopedia)Ordericus Vitalis ôrdĕrˈĭkəs vĭtălˈĭs [key], 1075–c.1143, Norman monk and chronicler, b. England. He spent most of his life in Saint-Évroul in Normandy. His Ecclesiastical History (4 vol.,...

Basselin, Olivier

(Encyclopedia)Basselin, Olivier ōlēvyāˈ bäsəlăNˈ [key], 15th cent., French miller of Vire, Normandy. He was one of the Compagnons du Vau de Vire [companions of the Vire valley], who made drinking songs, lov...

pillbox

(Encyclopedia)pillbox, small, low fortification that houses machine guns and antitank weapons. Similar to a blockhouse, it is usually made of concrete, steel, logs, or filled sandbags. Pillboxes came into use durin...

Cherbourg

(Encyclopedia)Cherbourg shĕrbo͞orˈ [key], city, Manche dept., NW France, in Normandy, on the English Channel, ...

Norman architecture

(Encyclopedia)Norman architecture, term applied to the buildings erected by the Normans in all lands that fell under their dominion. It is used not only in England and N France, but also in S Italy (Apulia) and in ...

Elbeuf

(Encyclopedia)Elbeuf ĕlböfˈ [key], town, Seine-Maritime dept., NW France, in Normandy, on the Seine Rive...

Avranches

(Encyclopedia)Avranches ävräNshˈ [key], town, Manche dept., NW France, in Normandy, on the English Channel. Because of its proximity to the rocky island of Mont-Saint-Michel, Avranch...

Arthur III

(Encyclopedia)Arthur III, 1394–1458, duke of Brittany (1457–58), known before 1457 as comte de Richemont, constable of France in the Hundred Years War. He led the coalition that overthrew Georges de La Trémoil...