Brill
a fortified seaport town of South Holland, on the N. side of the island of Voorne, near the mouth of the miles S. of Boston. It contains five vil- New Haven and Hartford railroad; 27 and military magazines, and possesses a good harbor. Pop. 4,000, chiefly engaged as pilots and fishermen. Briel may be considered as the nucleus of the Dutch republic, having been taken from the Spaniards by William de la Marck in 1572. This event was the first act of open hostility to Philip II., and paved the way to the complete liberation of the country. The celebrated admirals De Witt and Van Tromp were natives.
BRIENNE (bre-en') a town of France, in the department of Aube; 15 miles N. W. of Bar-sur-Aube. It is remarkable as formerly possessing a military college where the Emperor Napoleon I. received the first rudiments of his education. Here also he attacked Blücher, Jan. 29, 1814, 29,18 1814, forcing him from the town and compelling him to retreat to Trannes.