VALCKENAER. 794 VALENCE. Jytus of Euripides, which contained the famous Diatribe in Euripidis I'erditarum Fabulartim Fragmenta (1768). He also edited Homer's Iliad with Scholia (1747), Theocritus, Bion, and Moschus (1781). His greatest work, however, was his Diatribe de Aristobulo, first published posthumousl}' by Luzac (1806), in which he exposed the literarj' forgeries of the Alexandrians. His Opuscula Critica, etc., were published in 2 vols. (ISOl). Consult: Berg- mann, Mcmoria Valclcenarii (Utrecht, 1874) ; L. Miiller, Oeschichte der klassischen Philologie in den Niederlanden (Leipzig, 1869). VALDAI (val-di') HILLS. A low plateau or group of hills in West Central Russia, occupy- ing the southwestern parts of the governments of Novgorod and Tver, and extending for about 250 miles midway between Saint Petersburg and Moscow (Map: Russia, D 3). They form the culminating portion of the broad elevation running through Central Russia, and rise very gradually from the surrounding plain. The in- terior, however, is cut into steep hills and vallej's, the latter containing a number of lakes. The hills rise to the maximum height of a little over 1000 feet above the sea. They were formerly forested, but are now mostly cleared and culti- vated. The plateau is the watershed between the Volga and the Dnieper, and of streams running into the Baltic Sea. VAL-DE-GRACE, val'de-gras'. A former Benedictine nunnery in Paris, founded by Anne of Austria, and changed into a military prison in 1790. The dome of the church, dating from 1645, is modeled on that of Saint Peter's at Rome. The church was the place of burial of the French royal family and the Orleans princes, and contains the tomb of Henrietta, wife of Charles I. of England. VAL DEL BOVE, vlil del bo'va. A crater of the volcano of Etna (q.v. ). VALDEPENAS, vitl'da-pan'yas. A town of the Province of Cindad Real. Spain, 115 miles south of Madrid, on the right bank of the .Jabaldn River (Map: Spain, D 3). It is on the highway to Andalusia, It has manufactures of spirits, flour, and cooperage ware: but its reputation rests mainly upon its celebrated red wine. There are chalybeate springs in the vicinity. Valdepeuas, in 1900, had a municipal population of 20.688. The town made an lieroic defense against the French in 1808. VALDES, val-diis', Armando P.l.cio. A Spanish novelist. See Palacio Vald£s. VALDE'S, .Tuan de (c.l500-c,41), A Spanish- Italian theologian and reformer. He was born at Cuenca, in Castile, imbibed some of the ideas of the Reformation in Germany, and in 1528 wrote a treatise, Didlogo de Mercurio y Caron, criti- cising the Church in such manner that the In- qxiisition made Spain uncomfortable for him. He Went to Naples in 1530, spent some time in Rome and Bologna, and in 1533 returned to Naples, wdiere he resided until his death. He devoted himself to study and literature and gathered round him a choice circle., including Peter Martyr and Vittoria Colonna. He was an advocate of the Lutheran doctrines, but remained a Catholic. Consult : Wiflfen, Life and Writings of Juan de Vald^s, icith a translation from the Italian of his Hundred and Ten Co]isiderations, by John T. Belts (London, 1805). VALDEZ, Pierre. See Waldenses. VALDIVIA, val-de've-a. A southern prov- ince of Cliile, bounded by Llanquihue on the south, Cautin on the north, Argentina on the east, and the Pacific on the west (Map: Chile. C 11). Area, 8315 square miles. The larger part of the surface is level and only the portion adjoining the Andes and the coast land arc mountainous. The climate is moist and healthful and the soil is fertile. Forests are abundant in the mountain- ous regions, and timber is one of the most impor- tant products of the province. The chief occupa- tions are agriculture and grazing. Population, in 1895. 00,087. A large proportion of the popu- lation is German. Capital, Valdivia. VALDIVIA, Pedro de (1497-1554). The Spanish conqueror of Chile. He was born at Serena, in Estremadura. and served in the Spanish armies in the Italian wars, being present at the capture of Jlilan and the battle of Pavia (1525). He went to the New World and in Mexico joined Cortgs, by whom he was sent to Peru when Pizarro asked for help against the Inca insur- rection in 1535. His brilliant conduct in the battle of Salinas led to his selection to prosecute the conquest of Chile. In March, 1540, he started south with a hundred and fifty men. On February 7. 1541, he laid the foundations of the city of Santiago, and for six years he success- fully combined the establishment of settlements in the country with the operations ag.ainst the Indian armies. In December, 1547, he returned to Peru, where he rendered important service on the royal side in the contest with Gonzalo Pi- zarro. As soon as this rebellion was ended on the plain of Sacsahuana. Valdivia hastened back to Chile, in January, 1549, to renew the war against the Araucanian Indians. He met with repeated successes, but was unable to stamp out the guerrilla banils. which united in a fierce at- tack on the Sjianish fort at Tucapel in December, 1553. Valdivia liastened to its relief, and had all biit dispersed the Araucanians, when the lat- ter were suddenly rallied by a young native page of Valdivia, named Lautaro. who deserted his master at the critical moment, called upon his countrjnnen to renew their attack, and an- nihilated the Spaniards (.January 1. 1554). Val- divia was captured and killed, despite the eft'orts of Lautaro to save his life. VALDOS'TA. The county-seat of Lowndes County, Ga., 150 miles southwest of Savannah, on the Plant System and the Georgia Southern and Florida railroads, and the terminus of the Valdosta Southern Railroad (JNIap: Georgia, C 5), It is the shipping centre of a region engaged in cotton and fruit growing and farming, and manufactures cloth and luml)er products. The government, imder the revised charter of 1900, is vested in a mayor, elected biennially, and a unicameral council. The water-works are owned and operated by the municipality. Valdosta was settled in 1859. and was incorporated in ISiiO. Population, in 1890, 2854: in 1900, 5613. VALENCE, vsVliiNs'. The capital of the Department of Drome. France. 66 miles by rail south of Lyons, crowning a hill on the left bank
