These 9 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Almaden, Almagest, Almagro.
a town in Spain, 50 miles S. W. of Ciudad Real, Sierra Mosituated in the chain of the Pop. about 9,000. It is famous rena. for its rich quicksilver mines, dating from the 17th century, but worked by the Romans. Crown property, they were rented by the Fuggers of Augsburg (1525-1645), and by the firm of Rothschild (1836-1863), but are now again carried on by the government.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
(See Astrology .)
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
DIEGO D' (al-mä-grō), a Spanish conquistador, born in 1464 or 1475, a foundling who derived his name from the town near which he was found. After serving in the army, he sailed for the New World, where he amassed considerable wealth by plunder, and became one of the leading members of the young colony of Darien. In 1522 he formed, with Pizarro, the design of conquering Peru-an undertaking crowned 10 years afterward with success. Receiving permission from the Spanish court to conquer for himself a special province, he marched on Chile in 1536, penetrated as far as the Coquimbo, and returned in 1537, just when the Peruvians had flown to arms and shut up the Spaniards in Cuzco and Lima. As these towns lay S. of Pizarro's district, they were claimed by Almagro. He dispersed the Peruvian army before Cuzco, and advanced against Lima. But on April 6, 1538, he was defeated in a desperate engagement with the Spaniards under Pizarro near Cuzco; and on the 26th he was strangled in prison. His half-caste son, Diego, collecting some hundreds of his father's followers, stormed Pizarro's palace, and slew him (1541); then proclaimed himself captain-general of Peru; but, defeated in a bloody battle of Chupas, Sept. 16, 1542, he was executed along with 40 of his companions.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
An almanac containing some very curious predictions for the years 1737 and 1738, which purported to be published in the infernal regions. It is a satire against the Jansenists, which was suppressed on account of some over-bold predictions, and which has become very rare. The authorship was ascribed to Quesnel, an ironmonger at Dijon. The Jansenists replied with a pamphlet directed against the Jesuits, which was also suppressed. It was entitled Almanac de Dieu, dedicated to M. Carré de Montgeron, for the year 1738, and, in contradistinction to the other, claimed satirically to be printed in heaven. 66
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
the title assumed by b Abu-Jafar, the second caliph of the house of the Abbassides, who succeeded his brother in 754. Warfare, treachery, murder were his steps to the throne, and his whole rule was as cruel as its beginning. He especially persecuted the Christians in Syria and Egypt. In war against external foes he had but little success, Spain and Africa falling away from the Eastern caliphate. The best feature in his character was his patronage of learning. He caused the "Elements" of Euclid to be translated from the Syriac, and the famous fables of Bidpai from the Persian. Almansur died in 1775 during a pilgrimage to Mecca, at the age of almost 70.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
one of the strongest fortified places in Portugal, is ated on the river Coa, on the Spanish situated frontier, in the province of Beira. In 1762 it was captured by the Spaniards, but soon restored. In 1810 it was defended against Marshal Massena by an English officer until the explosion of a powder magazine compelled him to capitulate. Pop. about 2,500.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
a fortified seaport of southern Spain, capital of the province of Almeria, near the mouth of a river and on the gulf of the same name, no buildings of consequence except with xcept a Gothic cathedra cathedral, but with an important trade, exporting lead, esparto, barilla, etc. The province, which has an area of 3,300 square miles, is generally mountainous. Pop. (1917), province, 393,680; town, 48,614.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
The name given by the Spaniards to certain people who, by the flight and song of birds, meetings with wild animals, and various other means, foretold coming events, whether good or evil. They carefully preserve among themselves," says Laurent Valla, books which treat of this science, where they find rules of all sorts of prognostications and predictions. The soothsayers are divided into two classes, one, the masters or principals, the other the disciples and aspirants." Another kind of knowledge is also attributed to them, that of being able to indicate not only the way taken by horses and other beasts of burden which are lost, but even the road followed by one or more persons. They can specify the kind and shape of the ground, whether the earth is hard or soft, covered with sand or grass, whether it is a broad road, paved or sanded, or narrow, twisting paths, and tell also how many passengers are on the road. They can thus follow the track of anyone, and cause thieves to be pursued and apprehended. Those writers who mention the Almoganenses, however, do not specify either the period when they flourished, or the country or province they occupied, but it seems possible from their name and other considerations that they were Moorish.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
JUAN NEPOMUCENO (al-môn'tė), a Mexican general, born in 1804. As a boy he took part in the war for independence. In 1824, he went to London as attaché to the Mexican embassy, and, after his return, became a member of Congress. In 1832 he was appointed chargé d'affaires at London, then in Peru. He entered the army and served under Santa Anna in Texas in 1836. After that he became Minister of War under Bustamente, and, in 1841, was sent to Washington. In 1845 he became Minister of War, and was a second time sent as minister to the United States, soon afterward. He took part in the battles of Buena Vista and Cerro Gordo in 1847. In 1853 he was again sent to Washington, and, in 1857, to Paris. In 1861, when Juarez attained power, he deposed Almonte, who, led by ambition, invited the French expedition to Mexico. In 1862 he joined the French troops of occupation at Vera Cruz; but, as the Mexicans saw in him only a tool of the French plans, they renounced the idea of making him French dictator. The French general, himself, deprived him of power, but when, on the 10th of June, 1863, he reached the City of Mexico with the French, he was placed by the conquerors at the head of the Regency of the Mexican Empire. The Emperor Maximilian appointed him fieldmarshal, but, after Maximilian's death, he fled to Europe, and died in Paris, March 22, 1869.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia