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Brooks, Mel

(Encyclopedia)Brooks, Mel, 1927–, American film director, writer, actor, and producer, b. Brooklyn, NY as Melvin Kaminsky. His earliest work was in television, notably as a gag writer for Sid Caesar's “Your Sho...

Reiner, Carl

(Encyclopedia) Reiner, Carl, 1922-2020, American comedian, television producer, actor, and film director, b. Bronx, N.Y. The son of a watchmaker, Reiner initially wo...

Gallic Wars

(Encyclopedia)Gallic Wars gălˈĭk [key], campaigns in Gaul led by Julius Caesar in his two terms as proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul, Transalpine Gaul, and Illyricum (58 b.c.–51 b.c.). Caesar's first campaign was to...

Abdel Aziz, Mohamed Ould

(Encyclopedia)Abdel Aziz, Mohamed Ould, 1956–, Mauritanian military and political leader, president of Mauritania (2009–19). A career army officer, he rose through the ranks to become chief of staff. He was ins...

Hirtius, Aulus

(Encyclopedia)Hirtius, Aulus ôˈləs hûrˈshēəs [key], d. 43 b.c., Roman soldier. He was a friend of Julius Caesar, with whom he served in Gaul. After Caesar's assassination (44 b.c.) Hirtius and Caius Vibius P...

Balbus

(Encyclopedia)Balbus (Lucius Cornelius Balbus) bălˈbəs [key], fl. 1st cent. b.c., Roman statesman, b. Gades (now Cádiz, Spain). He won notice for brilliant service against Sertorius, and Pompey brought him to R...

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 ...

Cassivellaunus

(Encyclopedia)Cassivellaunus kăˌsĭvĭlôˈnəs [key], fl. 54 b.c., British chieftain, a leader in the resistance against the invasion of Julius Caesar in 54 b.c. Caesar crossed the Thames River into Cassivellaun...

Cimber

(Encyclopedia)Cimber (Lucius Tillius Cimber) kĭmˈbər, sĭmˈ– [key], d. after 44 b.c., one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. He presented the petition that was used as a pretext to approach Caesar and held hi...

Trebonius, Caius

(Encyclopedia)Trebonius, Caius trēbōˈnēəs [key], d. 43 b.c., Roman politician. When tribune (55 b.c.) of the plebs he proposed the Lex Trebonia by which Pompey obtained Spain, Crassus obtained Syria, and Caesa...