Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Jourdan, Jean Baptiste

(Encyclopedia)Jourdan, Jean Baptiste zhäN bätēstˈ zho͞ordäNˈ [key], 1762–1833, marshal of France. He fought in the American Revolution, and in the French Revolutionary Wars he commanded the Army of the Nor...

Douglas, Archibald, 5th earl of Douglas

(Encyclopedia)Douglas, Archibald, 5th earl of Douglas, 1391?–1439, Scottish nobleman; son of Archibald Douglas, 4th earl of Douglas. He fought in France for the French against the English in 1421 and persuaded hi...

Comtat Venaissin

(Encyclopedia)Comtat Venaissin kəNtäˈ vənäsăNˈ [key] or Comtat, region of SE France, Vaucluse dept., comprising the territory around Avignon. Well-irrigated, it is a truck-farming and fruit-growing area. Com...

Crépy, Treaty of

(Encyclopedia)Crépy, Treaty of krāpēˈ [key], 1544, concluded by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and King Francis I of France at Crépy-en-Laonnois (formerly spelled Crespy), Aisne dept., N France. The emperor reno...

Saint-Cloud

(Encyclopedia)Saint-Cloud săN-klo͞oˈ [key], town (1990 est. pop. 28,673), Hauts-de-Seine dept., N central France, a suburb W of Paris on the Seine River. It is a residential town and resort, with a famous racetr...

Vouet, Simon

(Encyclopedia)Vouet, Simon sēmôNˈ vwā [key], 1590–1649, French portrait and decorative painter. He first established himself as a successful painter in Rome. Recalled to France in 1627 as court painter to Lou...

Cambrai, League of

(Encyclopedia)Cambrai, League of, 1508–10, alliance formed by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, King Louis XII of France, Pope Julius II, King Ferdinand V of Aragón, and several Italian city-states against the re...

Vermandois

(Encyclopedia)Vermandois vĕrmäNdwäˈ [key], region, N France, now in Somme and Aisne depts. The region is largely agricultural (wheat, beets) but has some industry (metallurgy, textiles, rubber) located principa...

Kirkaldy of Grange, Sir William

(Encyclopedia)Kirkaldy of Grange, Sir William kərkôlˈdē [key], d. 1573, Scottish soldier and politician. Associated with his father in the murder of Cardinal Beaton in 1546, he was captured by the French in 154...

Henrietta Maria

(Encyclopedia)Henrietta Maria mərīˈə [key], 1609–69, queen consort of Charles I of England, daughter of Henry IV of France. She married Charles in 1625. Although she was devoted and loyal to her husband, her ...