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Selim II

(Encyclopedia)Selim II (Selim the Drunkard), c.1524–1574, Ottoman sultan (1566–74), son and successor of Sulayman I. During his reign the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) was dominated by Sokolli, his grand vizier (chie...

Prithvi Raj

(Encyclopedia)Prithvi Raj prĭtˈvē räj [key], d. 1192, ruler of the Chauan dynasty of N India. A great warrior, he later became the subject of many romantic epics, including the Chand Raisa. He resisted the incu...

Ksar el Kebir

(Encyclopedia)Ksar el Kebir ksär ĕl kĕbĭrˈ [key], city (1994 pop. 107,065), N Morocco. The name also appears as Alcazarquivir and Al Qasr al Kabir. Near the city on Aug. 4, 1578, the Moroccans soundly defeated...

Gaur, ruined city, India

(Encyclopedia)Gaur gour [key], ruined city, West Bengal state, India. Known also as Lakhnauti, the city was an ancient Hindu capital of Bengal. It was captured (c.1200) by the Islamic rulers of Delhi and remained a...

Alcalá de Henares

(Encyclopedia)Alcalá de Henares älkäläˈ dā ānäˈrās [key], town, Madrid prov., central Spain, on the Henares River. Chemicals, plastics, electrical appliances, leather, and chi...

Wrangel, Karl Gustaf

(Encyclopedia)Wrangel, Karl Gustaf kärl go͞oˈstäf vränˈgĕl [key], 1613–76, Swedish general and admiral. After distinguishing himself in land campaigns in the Thirty Years War, he succeeded to command of th...

Boucicaut

(Encyclopedia)Boucicaut bo͞osēkōˈ [key], c.1366–1421, marshal of France and crusader against the Ottoman Turks, whose real name was Jean III le Meingre. Captured by Ottoman Sultan Beyazid I at Nikopol (1396),...

mosque

(Encyclopedia)mosque mŏsk [key], building for worship used by members of the Islamic faith. Muhammad's house in Medina (a.d. 622), with its surrounding courtyard and hall with columns, became the prototype for the...

Lund

(Encyclopedia)Lund lŭnd [key], city (1990 pop. 62,910), Malmöhus co., S Sweden. It is a commercial and industrial center and a rail junction. Manufactures include paper, packaging, printed materials, and clothing...

sharia

(Encyclopedia)sharia, the religious law of Islam. As Islam makes no distinction between religion and life, Islamic law covers not only ritual but many aspects of life. The actual codification of canonic law is the ...