Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/88

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AFI. APL. ARM. AFK.

more reliable authority states that he died in a fit of apoplexy, in 491. Ariadne's marriage with Anastasius, a man of obscure origin soon after this event, it is true, gave a colour of plausibility to such injurious reports, but a careful examination of the whole of the somewhat conflicting historical evidence leads us to the conclusion that she was at all events innocent of this crime, as well as of that of having lived in adulterous intercourse with Anastasius during the life of Zeno.

When the former became emperor through her influence, she exercised the power she possessed over him for good; her first husband she accompanied during a brief period of exile, and defended hit cause against his enemies with great activity and address. On the whole, we may well agree with the writer in the Biographical Dictionary of the Useful Knowledge Society, and say "The general impression we receive from these facts in the life of Ariadne, which may be considered as true, is, that she was an affectionate, active, and highly-gifted woman, who, on many occasions, showed more character than the emperors." Ariadne died in the twenty-fifth year of the reign of Anastasius, that is, in 515, he having been crowned in the month of April, 491.

ARIOSTO LIPPA,

Concubine of Opizzon, Marquis of Este and Ferrara, confirmed in such a manner by her faithfulness and political skill, the impressions that her beauty had made upon the heart of this marquis, that at last he made her his lawful wife, in 1352. He died in the same year, and left to her the administration of his dominions, in which she acquitted herself well, during the minority of her eleven children. From her came all the house of Este, which still subsist, in the branch of the dukes of Modena and of Rhegio. The author from whom I borrow this, observes, that Lippa Ariosta did more honour to her family, which is one of the noblest in Ferrara, than she had taken from it.

ARLOTTA,

A beautiful woman of Falaise, daughter of a tanner. She was seen, standing at her door, by Robert, duke of Normandy, as he passed through the street; and he made her his mistress. She had by him William the Conqueror, who was born 1044. After Robert's death, she married Herluin, a Norman gentleman, by whom she had three children, for whom William honourably provided.

ARMYNE, LADY MARY,

Daughter of Henry Talbot, fourth son of George, earl of Shrewsbury, married Sir William Armyne, and distinguished herself by her knowledge of history, divinity, and the languages. She was very liberal to the poor, and contributed largely to the support of the missionaries sent to North America. She endowed three hospitals; and died in 1675.

ARNAUDE DE ROCAS,

One of the daughters of Chypriotes, who, after the taking of Nicosie, in 1670, was carried away by the Turks, and held in captivity. Arnaude, destined by her beauty for the seraglio of the