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Gourgues, Dominique de

(Encyclopedia)Gourgues, Dominique de dômēnēkˈ də go͞org [key], c.1530–1593, French soldier and adventurer. He served in the French army in Italy, was captured by the Spanish, then by the Turks, served as ga...

Anchieta, José de

(Encyclopedia)Anchieta, José de zho͝ozĕˈ dĭ ənshēāˈtä [key], 1530–97, Brazilian Jesuit missionary, b. Canary Islands of Spanish parents. A tireless traveler and pioneer, he spread Portuguese control and...

Ferdinand II, king consort of Portugal

(Encyclopedia)Ferdinand II, 1816–85, king consort of Portugal (1837–53). The eldest son of Ferdinand, duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, he married Maria II (Maria da Glória) of Portugal in 1836. After her death (1853...

Rojas, Fernando de

(Encyclopedia)Rojas, Fernando de fārnänˈdō ᵺā rōˈhäs [key], 1465?–1541?, Spanish writer. Scanty records show him to have practiced law at Salamanca. He wrote La Celestina, published anonymously in 1499....

Ramillies, battle of

(Encyclopedia)Ramillies, battle of rămˈĭlēz, Fr. rämēyēˈ [key], fought May 23, 1706, near the village of Ramillies-Offus, Walloon Brabant prov., Belgium, 12 mi (19 km) S of Tienen, in the War of the Spanish...

Montezuma

(Encyclopedia)Montezuma mŏk– [key], 1480?–1520, Aztec emperor (c.1502–1520). He is sometimes called Montezuma II to distinguish him from Montezuma I (ruled 1440–69), who carried on conquests around Tenocht...

Utrecht, Peace of

(Encyclopedia)Utrecht, Peace of, series of treaties that concluded the War of the Spanish Succession. It put an end to French expansion and signaled the rise of the British Empire. By the treaty between England and...

West Florida Controversy

(Encyclopedia)West Florida Controversy, conflict between Spain and the United States concerning possession of Florida. By the Treaty of Paris of 1763, Britain received Florida from Spain, and from France that porti...

Drake, Sir Francis

(Encyclopedia)Drake, Sir Francis, 1540?–1596, English navigator and admiral, first Englishman to circumnavigate the world (1577–80). In 1585, Drake commanded a fleet that sacked Vigo in Spain and burned São ...

Macip, Vicente Juan

(Encyclopedia)Macip or Masip, Vicente Juan vēthānˈtā hwän mäthēpˈ, mäsēpˈ [key], c.1523–1579, Spanish religious painter of the Valencian school, known as Juan de Juanes and Vicente Joanes. One of the S...