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Brumaire

(Encyclopedia)Brumaire brümârˈ [key], second month of the French Revolutionary calendar. The coup of 18 (actually 18–19) Brumaire (Nov. 9–10, 1799), engineered chiefly by Sieyès, overthrew the Directory and...

Calvo Sotelo, Leopoldo

(Encyclopedia)Calvo Sotelo, Leopoldo lāˌəpōlˈdō kälˈvō sōtĕlˈō [key], 1926–2008, Spanish engineer and political leader. A conservative, he held (1975–77) ministerial posts before becoming (1980) de...

Pereira, Aristides Maria

(Encyclopedia)Pereira, Aristides Maria ärĭshˈtēdĭsh märēˈä pərāˈrä [key], 1923–2011, first president of Cape Verde. In the late 1940s he became an activist in the struggle against Portuguese colonial...

Bagaza, Jean-Baptiste

(Encyclopedia)Bagaza, Jean-Baptiste zhäN-bätēstˈ bägäzäˈ [key], 1946–2016, Burundian army officer and political leader. An ethnic Tutsi, he was educated at Belgian military schools, rose through the ranks...

Yayi, Thomas Boni

(Encyclopedia)Yayi, Thomas Boni, 1952–, Beninois political leader, president of Benin (2006–16), b. Tchaourou. He studied at the National Univ. of Benin, in Senegal at Cheikh Anta Diop Univ., and in France at t...

Ahaziah

(Encyclopedia)Ahaziah āhəzīˈə [key], in the Bible. 1 King of Israel, son of Ahab. He was a worthy successor of his father only in that he followed Ahab's religious views. He was succeeded by his brother Jehora...

Captains' Revolution

(Encyclopedia)Captains' Revolution, coup staged (Apr. 25, 1974) by military officers who opposed Portugal's policy toward its African territories. By early 1974 dissatisfaction with the debilitating, seemingly endl...

Betancourt, Rómulo

(Encyclopedia)Betancourt, Rómulo rōˈmo͞olō bĕtänko͝orˈ [key], 1908–81, Venezuelan political leader, president of Venezuela (1945–48, 1959–64). Following a stormy career as a leader of radical student...

Ngouabi, Marien

(Encyclopedia)Ngouabi, Marien, 1938–77, Congolese army officer and political leader. After military training in France, he served in the Congo Republic's army and started the country's first paratrooper battalion...

Lon Nol

(Encyclopedia)Lon Nol lŏn nōl [key], 1913–85, Cambodian general and political leader. He became defense minister and army chief of staff in 1955 in Norodom Sihanouk's government. He served as premier (1966–67...