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Offa's Dyke
(Encyclopedia)Offa's Dyke, ancient entrenchment of W England and E Wales, from the Dee estuary to near the estuary of the Wye River. It was built in the 8th cent. by Offa, king of Mercia, as a barrier against the W...Hamilton, John Hamilton, 1st marquess of
(Encyclopedia)Hamilton, John Hamilton, 1st marquess of, 1532–1604, Scottish nobleman; second son of James Hamilton, 2d earl of Arran. He was in his earlier years hostile to Mary Queen of Scots, but he later becam...La Vallière, Louise Françoise de La Baume Le Blanc de
(Encyclopedia)La Vallière, Louise Françoise de La Baume Le Blanc de lwēz fräNswäzˈ də lä bōm lə bläN də lä välyĕrˈ [key], 1644–1710, mistress of King Louis XIV of France. Maid of honor to Louis's ...London, University of
(Encyclopedia)London, University of, at London, England; founded 1836 as an examining and degree-giving body. Teaching functions were not added until 1898. It comprised at first University College (or UCL, which ha...divine right
(Encyclopedia)divine right, doctrine that sovereigns derive their right to rule by virtue of their birth alone—a right based on the law of God and of nature. Authority is transmitted to a ruler from his ancestors...Douglas, Archibald, 6th earl of Angus
(Encyclopedia)Douglas, Archibald, 6th earl of Angus, 1489–1557, Scottish nobleman; grandson of Archibald Douglas, 5th earl of Douglas. His marriage (1514) to Margaret Tudor alienated the Scottish noblemen and cau...Athelstan
(Encyclopedia)Athelstan or Æthelstan both: ăthˈəlstən, ăthˈĕlstän [key], d. 939, king of Wessex (924–39), son and successor of Edward the Elder. After coming to the throne, he vigorously built up his kin...Gaveston, Piers
(Encyclopedia)Gaveston, Piers pērz găvˈəstən [key], d. 1312, favorite of Edward II of England. Son of a Gascon knight at the court of Edward I, he was a boyhood playmate of the future Edward II and acquired gr...Pillnitz
(Encyclopedia)Pillnitz pĭlˈnĭts [key], district of Saxony, E central Germany, on the Elbe River. It is the site of an 18th-century castle, formerly a royal residence, that today houses an art collection. In the ...Otto IV, Holy Roman emperor
(Encyclopedia)Otto IV, 1175?–1218, Holy Roman emperor (1209–15) and German king, son of Henry the Lion, duke of Saxony. He was brought up at the court of his uncle King Richard I of England, who secured his ele...Browse by Subject
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