Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Dalberg, Emmerich Joseph

(Encyclopedia)Dalberg, Emmerich Joseph (Emeric Joseph, duc de Dalberg) ĕmərēkˈ zhōzĕfˈ dälbârkˈ [key], 1773–1833, French diplomat of German origin; nephew of Karl Theodor von Dalberg. The foreign minist...

Civilis

(Encyclopedia)Civilis (Julius Civilis) sĭvīˈlĭs [key], fl. a.d. 70, Batavian chief who chose the unsettled period at the fall of Nero to raise a revolt in Germany, which quickly spread to Gaul (a.d. 69–70). I...

Chalukya

(Encyclopedia)Chalukya chäˈlo͝okyə [key], several S Indian dynasties that ruled in the Deccan. They claimed descent from Pulakesin I (reigned 543–566), who established himself at Badami (in N Karnataka). The ...

Eutropius, consul of East Roman Emperor Arcadius

(Encyclopedia)Eutropius, d. 399, consul of East Roman Emperor Arcadius. A eunuch of the palace, he brought about the marriage (395) of Arcadius and Eudoxia and succeeded Rufinus as chief minister. He repelled (398)...

Ferdinand II, king of the Two Sicilies

(Encyclopedia)Ferdinand II, 1810–59, king of the Two Sicilies (1830–59), son and successor of Francis I. Although initially he sought to improve the wretched conditions of his kingdom, he soon relapsed into the...

Pollonarrua

(Encyclopedia)Pollonarrua or Polonnaruwa both: pŏlˌənəro͞oˈə [key], ruined ancient city, NE Sri Lanka. Pollonarrua, beautifully situated on a lake, was once the most splendid city of Sri Lanka. It became a r...

Rémusat, Charles, comte de

(Encyclopedia)Rémusat, Charles, comte de shärl kôNt də rāmüzäˈ [key], 1797–1875, French philosopher and liberal politician. He was a deputy (1830–48) and minister of the interior (1840) under King Louis...

Odysseus

(Encyclopedia)Odysseus yo͞olĭsˈēz [key], in Greek mythology, son and successor of King Laertes of Ithaca. A leader of Greek forces during the Trojan War, Odysseus was noted (as in the Iliad) for his cunning str...

Virginia creeper

(Encyclopedia)Virginia creeper, native woody vine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) of the family Vitaceae (grape family), tall growing and popular as a wall covering in the temperate United States. It has blue-black b...

Benavente y Martínez, Jacinto

(Encyclopedia)Benavente y Martínez, Jacinto häthēnˈtō bāˌnävānˈtā ē märtēˈnĕth [key], 1866–1954, Spanish dramatist, b. Madrid. He was awarded the 1922 Nobel Prize in Literature. His best-known pla...

Browse by Subject