Aleman

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

MATTEO (ä-lā-män'), a Spanish novelist, born in Seville about 1550. For some time an official in the royal treasury, he resigned or was dismissed, and about 1608 went to Mexico. His fame rests on the satirical romance, "The Life and Deeds of the Picaroon Gusman de Alfarache," one of the most famous representatives of the "picaresque" novel. Its first part, under the title of "Watch-Tower of Human Life," appeared in 1599. The work was translated into every European language, and, in 1623, even into Latin. He died in Mexico after 1609. ALEMANNI or ALAMANNI, a confederacy of several German tribes which at the commencement of the 3d cent after Christ, lived near the Roman terri tory, and came then and subsequently into conflict with the imperial troops. Caracalla first fought with them in 213, but did not conquer them; Severus was likewise unsuccessful. About 250 they began to cross the Rhine westward, and in 255 they overran Gaul along with the Franks. In 259 a body of them was defeated in Italy at Milan, and in the following year they were driven out of Gaul by Postumus. In the 4th century they crossed the Rhine and ravaged Gaul, but were severely defeated by the Emperor Julian and driven back. Subsequently they occupied a considerable territory on both sides of the Rhine; but at last Clovis broke their power in 496 and deprived them of a large portion of their possessions. Part of their territory was latterly formed into a duchy called Alemannia or Suabia. It is from the Alemanni that the French have derived their names for Germans and Germany.