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Wittelsbach

(Encyclopedia)Wittelsbach vĭˈtəlsbäkh [key], German dynasty that ruled Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. The family takes its name from the ancestral castle of Wittelsbach in Upper Bavaria. In 1180 Holy Roman Emper...

Hamilton, James, 1st earl of Arran

(Encyclopedia)Hamilton, James, 1st earl of Arran ărˈən [key], 1477?–1529, Scottish nobleman; son of the 1st Baron Hamilton and Mary, daughter of James II of Scotland. He was privy councilor to James IV, by who...

Trimble of Lisnagarvey, William David Trimble, Baron

(Encyclopedia)Trimble of Lisnagarvey, William David Trimble, Baron, 1944–, Northern Irish political leader, grad. Queens Univ., Belfast (LL.B.). A Protestant Unionist, he became (1969) a barrister and taught law ...

Shammah

(Encyclopedia)Shammah shămˈə [key], in the Bible. 1 Jesse's third son. Alternate forms are Shimea, Shimeah, and Shimma. 2 Duke of Edom, grandson of Esau. 3 In the confusing list of David's mighty men in the Book...

Constantine, Russian grand duke

(Encyclopedia)Constantine (Konstantin Pavlovich) kənstəntyēnˈ pävˈləvĭch [key], 1779–1831, Russian grand duke, second son of Czar Paul I and brother of Alexander I and Nicholas I. On the death of Alexande...

Nicholas, Russian grand duke

(Encyclopedia)Nicholas (Nikolai Nikolayevich) nyĭkəlīˈ nyĭkəlīˈəvĭch [key], 1856–1929, Russian grand duke and army officer; first cousin of Czar Alexander III and grandson of Czar Nicholas I. He served ...

essay

(Encyclopedia)essay, relatively short literary composition in prose, in which a writer discusses a topic, usually restricted in scope, or tries to persuade the reader to accept a particular point of view. Although ...

Devonshire, Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th duke of

(Encyclopedia)Devonshire, Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th duke of kăvˈəndĭsh, dĕvˈənshĭr [key], 1833–1908, British statesman. He became marquess of Hartington in 1858. He frequently held office in Liberal ...

Francis, French prince, duke of Alençon and Anjou

(Encyclopedia)Francis, 1554–84, French prince, duke of Alençon and Anjou; youngest son of King Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. Although ill-shapen, pockmarked, and endowed with a curiously formed no...

Medici, Lorenzo de', 1492–1519, duke of Urbino

(Encyclopedia)Medici, Lorenzo de', 1492–1519, duke of Urbino (1516–19); son of Piero de' Medici. His uncle, Pope Leo X, made the youthful Lorenzo duke of Urbino. After his early death, however, Urbino reverted ...