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Sandomierz

(Encyclopedia)Sandomierz sändôˈmyĕsh [key], Rus. Sandomir, town, Świętokrzyskie prov., SE Poland, on the Vistula. Founded probably before Poland accepted Christianity, Sandomierz became the capital of a duchy...

Rostopchin, Feodor Vasilyevich, Count

(Encyclopedia)Rostopchin, Feodor Vasilyevich, Count fyôˈdər vəsēˈlyəvĭch, rəstəpchēnˈ [key], 1763–1826, Russian general and statesman. He rose rapidly under Czar Paul I, serving as foreign minister fr...

Kronshtadt

(Encyclopedia)Kronshtadt or Cronstadt both: krənshtätˈ [key], city, NW European Russia, on the small island of Kotlin in the Gulf of Finland, c.15 mi (20 km) from Saint Petersburg. It is one of the chief naval b...

Chanzy, Antoine Eugène Alfred

(Encyclopedia)Chanzy, Antoine Eugène Alfred äNtwänˈ özhĕnˈ älfrĕdˈ shäNzēˈ [key], 1823–83, French general. After service in Algeria, Italy, and Syria, he was refused a major command in the Franco-Pru...

patriarch, in Christian churches

(Encyclopedia)patriarch, in Christian churches, title of certain exalted bishops, implying authority over a number of other bishops. There were originally three patriarchates: the West, held by the bishop of Rome (...

Stanislaus II

(Encyclopedia)Stanislaus II, 1732–98, last king of Poland (1764–95). He was born Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski. His mother was a member of the powerful Czartoryski family, which furthered Stanislaus's career....

Livonia, region and former Russian province

(Encyclopedia)Livonia lĭvōˈnēə [key], region and former Russian province, comprising present Estonia and parts of Latvia (Vidzeme and Latgale). It borders on the Baltic Sea and its arms, the Gulf of Riga and t...

Charles I, king of Naples and Sicily

(Encyclopedia)Charles I (Charles of Anjou), 1227–85, king of Naples and Sicily (1266–85), count of Anjou and Provence, youngest brother of King Louis IX of France. He took part in Louis's crusades to Egypt (124...

Yorck von Wartenburg, Ludwig, Graf

(Encyclopedia)Yorck von Wartenburg or York von Wartenburg, Ludwig, Graf both: lo͝otˈvĭkh gräf yôrk fən värˈtənbo͝orkh [key], 1759–1830, Prussian army officer. He commanded the Prussian auxiliary corps t...

Lefort, François

(Encyclopedia)Lefort, François fräNswäˈ ləfôrˈ [key], 1656–99, Swiss soldier of fortune in Russian service, b. Geneva. He was one of the early boon companions of Peter I (Peter the Great) and remained Pete...