Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/276

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held a subordinate command, and the Flemings, commanded by Arteveld, met at Rosebeck. The engagement, doubtful for a time, resulted in the defeat of the Flemings, 9000 of whom perished on the field of battle, and 26,000 in the pursuit. Arteveld was among the slain. Arteveld's career has been made the subject of a drama by Henry Taylor.—J. S., G.

ARTHMANN, a German instrument-maker of the eighteenth century, whose lutes and violins were universally admired, lived at Wechmar, near Gotha.

ARTHUR, a king of Britain, in the time of the Saxon invasions in the fifth and sixth centuries. Many writers (Milton amongst others) have doubted whether this famous chieftain ever existed; others imagine that in the story of his career, as told by the monkish historians and ancient poets, they can detect certain points of truth. What amount of truth and error exists in these old chronicles can never be fully ascertained. The actions and characters of men living in the grey morning-light of time, are sure to be distorted and exaggerated. In the dawn of history we have only doubtful images of things, never clear vision; and our efforts to separate the true from the false, even were they successful, would hardly repay the trouble. It is wiser, perhaps, to accept a heroic legend with poetic faith, than to explode it by a too-zealous research.

According to the legendary historians, Arthur was the son of Uther Pendragon, by Ignera, wife of Gorlois, duke of Cornwall, a lady whose charms he enjoyed by assuming, through a magical device, the person of her husband. He was elected king of Britain at the age of fifteen, and immediately declared war against the Saxons in the North of England, and defeated them so sorely in several battles, that they were obliged to seek refuge on the sea. Shortly after, they landed in Devonshire, where Arthur again attacked them, and the poets proudly sing how he slew nearly five hundred of them by his own good sword. He went to Scotland, subduing the Scots and Picts there. Next, he carried his arms to Ireland and Iceland, both falling before him. Returning to Britain in triumph, he married Guenhever, said to be the fairest lady in the land: with her he lived in great peace and content for twelve years. Thereafter he conquered Gaul and Norway, and even, it is said, fleshed his sword "Caliburn" on the hordes of Muscovy. Returning from these conquests, he was crowned in England; routs of tributary kings attending, and holding rich and solemn feast around him. On the Romans demanding tribute, Arthur with his chivalry crossed into Gaul, defeated the Romans in a mighty battle, and was preparing to storm across the Alps, when intelligence reached him from home that his nephew Modred had revolted, and allied himself with the Saxons, Scots, and Picts. He returned in haste, flung himself on the rebels in Kent, chased them into Cornwall, and there, on the banks of the river Camlan, he fought the last of his fields. In this battle Modred was slain, and Arthur mortally wounded. He died, and was buried at Glastonbury. It was long believed by his countrymen that he was not dead, but carried to fairy-land, there to couch on flowers till his deep wounds were healed, and that he would yet reappear, and, with his terrible sword, lead them to victory over their enemies.—A. S.

ARTHUR, Prince of Wales, was son of Henry VII. of England, and the first husband of Catherine of Arragon. He was born in 1486, and died in 1502, a year after his marriage.

ARTHUR I., duke of Brittany, son of Godfrey the Handsome, count of Anjou, fourth son of Henry II. of England, born in 1187, was put to death by his uncle in 1202.

ARTHUR II., duke of Brittany, son of John and Beatrice of England, was born in 1262, and died in 1312.

ARTHUR III., duke of Brittany and Touraine, constable of France, was born in 1393. He distinguished himself at the siege of Soissons in 1414, and in the following year received from Charles VI. the duchy of Touraine, and other heritages, on the simple condition of taking them out of their owners' hands. He was wounded at the battle of Agincourt, and carried prisoner to London, but recovered his liberty shortly after, and, returning to France, was appointed constable of the realm. He was in disgrace with the ministers of Charles VII. from 1424 to 1432, but in the latter year resumed the chief direction of military affairs. In the years 1438-1448, he commanded under Charles VII. at the sieges of Montereau and Pontoise, and in the campaigns in Guienne and Normandy. On his nephew's death, at the commencement of 1456, Arthur succeeded to the duchy of Bretagne, but still retained, from love of its duties, the post of constable of France. He died in December of the same year.—J. S., G.

ARTHUR, Rev. Archibald, was assistant and successor to Dr. Reid in the chair of Moral Philosophy in Glasgow. He was born at Abbot's Inch, in the parish of Renfrew, in 1744, and died in 1797. There is a posthumous volume by him, entitled "Discourses on Theological and Literary subjects," 1803, edited by Professor Richardson, and containing an account of his life. His views do not seem profound or original, but his style is elegant, and he has some good remarks on cause and effect, and on beauty.—J. M'C.

ARTHUR, Sir George, Bart., the fourth son of John Arthur, Esq., of Plymouth, was born in 1784, and entered the army at an early age. Having seen active service in the Peninsula, he was successively governor of Honduras, Van Diemen's Land, Canada, and Bombay. He was also a lieutenant-general in the army, and colonel of the 50th regiment of foot. He received the honour of knighthood in 1837, and was created a baronet in 1841. He died September 19 1854.—E. W.

ARTHUR, James, born at Limerick, was a Dominican friar and professor of divinity at Salamanca, but lost his chair in 1642 for refusing to subscribe to the doctrine of the immaculate conception. He wrote a commentary on Thomas Aquinas' "Sum of Theology." Died 1670.

ARTHUS, ARTHUSIUS, or ARTUS, a compiler and translator, born at Dantzig in 1570, studied at Jena, and in 1618 was rector of the public school of Frankfort-on-the-Maine. The date of his death is uncertain. His works, written in Dutch, German, and Latin, are of no particular merit.

ARTHUSIUS, Gulielmus, a physician, author of several professional works, published at Strasburg between the years 1628 and 1630.

ARTIAGU. See Arteaga.

ARTIEDA, Andres Rey de, a Spanish philosopher and poet, born at Valencia in 1560, practised for some time as an advocate, and afterwards distinguished himself in the army of the duke of Parma, governor of the Low Countries. Died at Valencia about the year 1625. He published, besides some theatrical pieces, a work entitled "Discursos, Epistolas y Epigrammas de Artemidora," 1605."—J. S., G.

ARTIGA, Francisco d', a Spanish artist of the latter part of the seventeenth century, distinguished as an architect, painter, and engraver, of florid imagination and tasteful design. He obtained celebrity also as a mathematician and poet. Died in 1711.—R. M.

ARTIGAS, Fernando José, was born at Monte Video about the year 1760. Originally a captain of brigands, and in that character possessing unlimited influence in the Banda-Oriental, he headed the revolutionists of Buenos Ayres, who, in 1811, defeated Elio, the Spanish viceroy, at Las Piedras, and twice laid siege to Monte Video. In 1814, a decree of outlawry having been issued against him, he mustered his forces, and in several skirmishes defeated the troops of the government, who were at length obliged to acknowledge him as chief of the Banda-Oriental. His contest with the government was resumed in the following year, and maintained with various success till 1820, when he was forced, by a lieutenant of the name of Ramirez, to seek refuge in Paraguay. Francia, dictator of Paraguay, sent him to the village of Curugaty, and there the last years of his adventurous life were passed in the peaceful occupation of cultivating a farm, which had been assigned for his support. He died in 1826.—J. S., G.

ARTIGNY, Antoine Gachat d', a French litterateur and antiquarian, canon of Vienne, in Dauphiné, was born 1706, and died in 1778.

ARTIGUES, Herbert, a French dramatist, lived about the middle of the eighteenth century.

ARTIS, Gabriel d', a French protestant controversialist, born at Milhaud, in Aveyron, died in London in 1730.

ARTIS, Jean d', or ARTISIUS, a French canonist, professor of canon law in the university of Paris, and author of various polemical and antiquarian works, was born at Cahors in 1572, and died at Paris in 1651.

ARTMANN, Jerome, a celebrated organ-builder of Bohemia, lived in the seventeenth century.

ARTNER, Maria Therese von, author of several tragedies, and other poetical pieces; born at Schnitau in Hungary, 19th April, 1772; died at Agram, 25th November, 1829.