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Allobroges

(Encyclopedia)Allobroges əlŏˈbrəjēz [key], Celtic tribe in Gaul, inhabiting later Dauphiné and Savoy. They were conquered (121 b.c.) by Quintus Fabius Maximus, who was called Allobrogicus in commemoration of ...

Ambiorix

(Encyclopedia)Ambiorix ămbīˈərĭks [key], fl. 54 b.c., Gallic chieftain of the Eburones (in what is now central Belgium). He had been favorably treated by the Romans, but he joined another tribe in attacking Ju...

Vignola, Giacomo da

(Encyclopedia)Vignola, Giacomo da jäˈkōmō dä vēnyōˈlä [key], 1507–73, one of the foremost late Renaissance architects in Italy. His real name was Giacomo Barozzi or Barocchio. Appointed (1550) papal arch...

Italian Wars

(Encyclopedia)Italian Wars, 1494–1559, series of regional wars brought on by the efforts of the great European powers to control the small independent states of Italy. Renaissance Italy was split into numerous ri...

North, Sir Thomas

(Encyclopedia)North, Sir Thomas, 1535?–1601?, English translator. He is famous for his translation of Plutarch, entitled Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (1579), which he made from the French of Jacques Amy...

Nervii

(Encyclopedia)Nervii nûrˈvēī [key], ancient people of Belgica, Gaul. They revolted against the Romans and were crushed by Julius Caesar (57 b.c.). Their capital was Bagacum, the present-day Bavay, France. ...

Casca

(Encyclopedia)Casca (Publius Servilius Casca Longus) kăsˈkə [key], d. c.42 b.c., Roman politician, one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. Casca was the first to stab Caesar. He died (presumably by suicide) soon ...

Numidia

(Encyclopedia)Numidia no͞omĭdˈēə [key], ancient country of NW Africa, very roughly the modern Algeria. It was part of the Carthaginian empire until Masinissa, ruler of E Numidia, allied himself (c.206 b.c.) wi...

Swiss Guards

(Encyclopedia)Swiss Guards, Swiss mercenaries who fought in various European armies from the 15th cent. until the 19th cent. These mercenaries, who were not volunteers, were put at the disposal of foreign powers by...

civil war, in Roman history

(Encyclopedia)civil war, in Roman history: see Marius and Sulla; Pompey and Julius Caesar. ...