was united to the Ottoman empire. Ducas went to Italy, and wrote a historical work which commences with the creation, and ends with the taking of Lesbos in 1462. The history is of value for the reigns of John Paleologus and of his successors, Manuel, John, and Constantine. In the edition published at Bonn of the Byzantine historians, the orginal has been revised by Bekker, and an Italian translation of early date found at Venice by Ranke is added. Cousin has translated his work into French.—J. A., D.
DUCCIO dì Buoninsegna, a Sienese painter and architect of the thirteenth century, the author of a large picture or board, painted on both sides, representing the Virgin and several saints, treated with all the characteristics of Byzantine art. He also made the designs for many pavements in mosaic, in which he displayed great skill in representing different animals. As an architect, it is recorded that he gave the plan for the façade of the late church of St. Paul at Sienna, now transformed into a club.—R. M.
DUCHANGE, Gaspard, a French etcher and engraver, born in 1662; died in 1756. He attained celebrity as an engraver of portraits and historical subjects. His works are exceedingly numerous, for he continued to labour almost till the close of his patriarchal career. In representing female flesh he is reputed to have excelled all preceding engravers.—R. M.
DUCHAT, Jacob Le, born at Metz in 1658; died at Berlin in 1735. Duchat studied law at Strasburg, and practised as an avocat till the revocation of the edict of Nantz. In 1701 he went to Berlin, where he held a judicial office. Duchat was fond of the literature of the sixteenth century, and published several works illustrative of the history and manners of that period. He edited the Satyre Ménippée, and the works of Rabelais. He gave Bayle a great number of notes for his dictionary.—J. A., D.
DU CHATEL, Tanguy, a French warrior, was born of an ancient noble family of Leon in Brittany. His elder brother, Guillaume, met his death in an attack upon Dartmouth, whereupon Tanguy, who had already distinguished himself by his prowess, headed an expedition against that town, and delivered it up to fire and sword. Upon the assassination of the duke of Orleans, into whose service he had entered, he put himself under the banner of the duke of Anjou, Louis II., whom he followed into Italy and back again to France. He became provost of Paris during the period of the terrible contests between the Burgundians and the Armagnacs, of the latter of whom he was for some time the declared leader. When at length both parties had become wearied with their long strife, Tanguy brought about a conciliatory interview in 1419 between his master and the duke of Burgundy. A second meeting was appointed to take place at the Pont de Montereau. At this meeting the duke was assassinated, and the Burgundian historians assert that it was instigated by Du Châtel, if, in truth, he did not himself participate in the barbarous deed. The evidence against him, however, is not absolutely conclusive. After 1425 he retired from the court and took up his residence at Beaucaire. He retained the title of provost, with the pensions, and a guard of fifteen archers appointed by the king. He died in the ninetieth year of his age.—R. M., A.
DU CHATEL, Tanguy, nephew of the preceding, vicomte de la Bellière by his marriage with Jeanne, vicomtesse de la Bellière, chevalier de l'ordre du roi, &c., was the younger son of Olivier and of Jeanne de Plœuc, and died in 1477. He succeeded to his uncle's interest in the favour of Charles VII., and, at the death of that king, was the only one of the courtiers who did not basely forsake his corpse to welcome, after their fashion, the new monarch. The court's brutal neglect of his dead master entailed upon Du Châtel the care and expense of his decent burial. After a while Louis XI. was glad to attach to his interests so faithful and noble a man; and Tanguy accordingly was employed in the most difficult embassies, and promoted to high place. Strange to say, however, he died poor, and in his last moments had to depend upon the king, by whom he was deeply lamented, for the providing for his daughters and the payment of his debts.—R. M. A.
DUCHATEL (in Latin Castellanus), Pierre, a French prelate, was born at Arc in Barrois, and died in 1552. Having early lost his parents he found a protector in Pierre Turrel of the college at Dijon. After this he went to Basle, where Erasmus procured him employment as a corrector of the press with the famous printer Frobenius. He left that city on the suppression of the Romish worship; and, after much wandering, was recommended to Francis I., who attached him to his person. He was made bishop of Tulle in 1539; of Mâcon in 1544; and in 1551 of Orleans. He deserves to be remembered for using his great influence on the side of toleration in that most intolerant age. He arrested for some time the calamities hanging over the Vaudois, opposed himself to the punishing of the Huguenots, and lent his protection to Robert Stephen, the celebrated printer, when harassed by the Sorbonne.—R. M., A.
DU CHATELET, Gabrielle Emilie, Marquise, born in Paris, December, 1706. At an early age she began to study Latin, English, Italian, mathematics, and the physical sciences, exhibiting an ardent thirst for knowledge, which to the last hour of her life remained unabated; and yet her love of enjoyment was no less than that of women of the world devoting their time to mere pleasure. While yet a young girl she married the marquis du Chatelet, and their residence became the resort of the most distinguished wits and philosophers of the time. Voltaire for years took up his abode in their country seat at Cirey, where he assisted the learned lady to translate the Principia of Newton. She wrote under his eye the "Institutions de Physique," with an analysis of the philosophy of Leibnitz. A prize having been offered by the Academy of Sciences for the best essay on the nature of fire, the marquise entered the lists; and although she did not prove the successful competitor, the majority of voices in her rival's favour was very small. Her death in 1747 is attributed to exposure after childbirth, incurred by imprudent resumption of her studies. Her son, born in 1727, was executed during the Reign of Terror; and her grandson, a general, after being wounded in battle, was arrested as a Girondist, and to escape the scaffold died by his own hand.—J. F. C.
DUCHÉ DE VANCY, Joseph François, born at Paris in 1668; died in 1704. At an early age, having shown some talents for verse, and produced some successful operas, he became member of the Academy of Inscriptions. The duc de Noailles took him to Spain as his secretary. While there he composed a piece which was acted at Surignan. On his return Madame Maintenon procured him a pension, and employed him in writing devotional dialogues to be recited at St. Cyr; De Vancy had a good voice and talents, which if cultivated would have made him a good actor.—J. A., D.
DUCHESNE, André, on whom has been bestowed the name of father of French history, was born in Touraine in 1584. The famous Cardinal Richelieu, who was ambitious of being looked upon as the great patron of learning and science, took Duchesne under his protection, and conferred on him the post of king's geographer and historian. His works are still regarded as precious historical fragments. He wrote on the antiquities of France, with accounts of the greatness of her kings; also, on the antiquities of towns, cities, castles, &c. He made a collection of French historians; gave a history of the kings and dukes of Burgundy, and edited the works of Abelard, of Alain Chartier, and Etienne Pasquier. Nor did he confine his attention to the history and literature of his own country, for he wrote a history of England and a history of the popes. His whole life was passed in historical research, and of the amount of his labours some idea may be formed by the fact, that besides his printed works, there exist a hundred folio volumes of extracts written with his own hand. It is melancholy to think that the death of such a man should have been caused by his being knocked down, and run over by a horse and cart, as he was strolling along a country road in a state of abstraction, not uncommon to the thinker and student. The event took place in 1640.—J. F. C.
DUCHESNE, Jean-Baptiste-Joseph, born at Gisors in France in 1770, a clever miniature and enamel painter, patronized by the courts of Napoleon I., Louis XVIII., Charles X., and Louis Philippe. He is said to have improved enamel painting, which is a great praise, since he came in the footsteps of the great Petitot. Amongst his remarkable productions, there is a portrait of Queen Victoria after the miniature of Sir W. Ross. He died 25th March, 1856.—R. M.
DUCIS, Jean François, dramatic poet, born at Versailles in 1733. Although belonging to a family poor in circumstances, he became at an early age secretary to the marshal de Belle-Isle, and was, through the same high interest, appointed to a place in the war-office. The same proud spirit of independence which afterwards made him reject the proffered favours of the Emperor Napoleon, led him to throw up his appointment, that
