LEONISTS 461 LEOPOLD LEONISTS, a name given to the Waldenses from Leon, the German name of the city of Lyons, where they origi- nated, and from which they called them- selves the "Poor of Lyons." LEOPARD, in zoology, Felis pardiis, sometimes called the panther — "the pard" of the Elizabethan writers. It has been known from early historical times, and has a wide geographical range, be- ing found throughout the African con- tinent, the whole of the S. of Asia, and in Ceylon, Java, Sumatra, and Borneo. It ranks third in importance in the fam- ily Felidse; varying in length froxn 3^- LEOPARD 4^/^ feet; tail measurement 2V2-Z feet, height at shoulder about 30 inches, but larger and smaller specimens have been met with. Color, pale fawn to rufous- buff, thickly studded with dark rosette- shaped spots. The leopard is fierce and blood-thirsty, often killing far more than it can devour, either from love of slaugh- ter or for the sake of fresh blood. LEOPARDI, GIACOMO, COUNT (la- o-par'-de), an Italian poet; born in Recanati, Tuscany, Italy, June 29, 1798. His family, though noble, was poor. Be- fore he was 18 he had produced a Latin translation of Porphyrius's "Life of Plo- tinus"; a treatise on "Some Roman Rhe- toricians" of the 2d century, and a "His- tory of Astronomy," both in Latin; and an "Essay on the Popular Errors of the Ancients," in Italian, citing over 400 authors. His subsequent works were: "Ode to Italy" (1818) ; "Ode on the Mon- ument to Dante" (1819); "Brutus the Younger" (1823), an ode; "Verses," a collection of his miscellaneous poems (1826) ; "Moral Opuscules" (1827), "The Broom-Flower," "Sylvia," and "The Night Song," are his most celebrated poems. He left unpublished at his death a volume of "Thoughts." He died in Naples, June 14, 1837. LEOPOLD I., Emperor of Germany, son of Ferdinand III., born in 1640. Destined for the Church, he was edu- cated by the Jesuits. At the age of 15 he was crowned King of Hungary, in the following year King of Bohemia, and was elected emperor in 1658. His long reign of 49 years is marked by many events of European importance, but Leo- pold, personally, had little influence. There were wars with Sweden, with Tur- key, with Hungary, and three with France, and the peace of Oliva, the peace of Nimeguen, the League of Augs- burg, the Grand Alliance, the peace of Ryswick, and the peace of Carlowitz. The severities exercised by the emperor occasioned the junction of the Hungar- ians with the Turks, in 1683, and the be- sieging of Vienna. It was on this oc- casion that John Sobieski, the heroic King of Poland, interposed, won a great victory over the Turks, and saved the empire, for which Leopold gave him very cold thanks. Sobieski withdrew his army, declaring he would still fight the Turks, but never the insurgent Hun- garians. Leopold then adopted more severe and merciless measures in Hun- gary. The war of the Spanish Succes- sion began in 1701, and while it was still going on Leopold died in 1705. LEOPOLD II., emperor; the second son of Francis I. and Maria Theresa; born in 1747. He became grand-duke of Tuscany in 1765, and his government was marked by wisdom and moderation. He succeeded his brother Joseph in the Austrian hereditary dominions in 1790, and the same year was chosen emperor. The Netherlands were in revolt, disaf- fection was growing to insurrection in Hungary and Bohemia, and the principal states of Europe were unfriendly. By wise measures he established tranquillity, recovered the Netherlands, and pleased his subjects. The French Revolution made fresh and greater difficulties. In 1791 he concluded the treaty of Pilnitz with the King of Prussia and died in March, 1792. LEOPOLD I.. King of the Belgians; born in Coburg, Dec. 16, 1790. After receiving an excellent literary and scien- tific education, he became a general in the Russian army, and was present at the battles of Liitzen, Bautzen, and Leip- sic. While on a visit to England after the peace of 1815 he won the affections of the Princess Charlotte, the heiress of the throne, married her, and was natur- alized by act of Parliament in 1816. The princess died in 1817; and Leopold 12 years later married morganatically Caroline Bauer. He received in Feb- ruary, 1830, the offer of the crown of Greece, but declined it. In June, 1831, he was elected King of the Belgians. As a monarch he conducted himself with Vol. V— Cfc— DD
