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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...

Louise

(Encyclopedia)Louise ləwēzˈ [key], 1776–1810, queen of Prussia, consort of Frederick William III; a princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. During the Napoleonic Wars her patriotism and bravery won her lasting popul...

Bülow, Friedrich Wilhelm, Freiherr von

(Encyclopedia)Bülow, Friedrich Wilhelm, Freiherr von fən büˈlō [key], 1755–1816, Prussian general in the Napoleonic Wars. After his victories (1813) over the French at Gross Beeren and at Dennewitz he was c...

Towton Field

(Encyclopedia)Towton Field touˈtən [key], North Yorkshire, N England, near Tadcaster. It was the scene (1461) of a bloody and decisive battle in which the forces of Edward IV defeated the Lancastrians. See Roses,...

Boleslav II

(Encyclopedia)Boleslav II, d. 999, duke of Bohemia (967–99), son and successor of Boleslav I. Continuing his father's policies, he largely completed the Christianization of Bohemia. In 973 he agreed to the establ...

Wrangel, Friedrich Heinrich Ernst, Graf von

(Encyclopedia)Wrangel, Friedrich Heinrich Ernst, Graf von frēˈdrĭkh hīnˈrĭkh ĕrnst gräf fən vrängˈəl [key], 1784–1877, Prussian field marshal. He fought in the Napoleonic Wars. In 1848 he commanded th...

Zama

(Encyclopedia)Zama zāˈmə [key], ancient town near the northern coast of Africa, in present Tunisia. Although there was more than one town named Zama, tradition says that in 202 b.c. Scipio Africanus Major defeat...

San Juan, city, Argentina

(Encyclopedia)San Juan săn wän, Span. sän hwän [key], city (1991 pop. 353,476), capital of San Juan prov., W Argentina. It is a commercial and industrial center in an agricultural region. Wine is the chief prod...

recoilless rifle

(Encyclopedia)recoilless rifle, light artillery piece, without recoil, usually operated by two men. An American invention, it was used as an infantry weapon for attacking fortifications such as pillboxes and bunker...

Pescara, Ferdinando Francesco d'Avalos, marchese di

(Encyclopedia)Pescara, Ferdinando Francesco d'Avalos, marchese di fārdēnänˈdō fränchāsˈkō däväˈlōs märkāˈzā ᵺē pāskäˈrä [key], 1490?–1525, Spanish-Neapolitan general in the Italian Wars. H...

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