Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIV.djvu/406

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

390 ROKITANSKY ROLAND DE LA PLATIERE able to traverse; and in lat. 25 11' N., Ion. 27 40' E., the party turned back. In 1875 he visited the United States, and lectured on his travels. His most important publications are: Reise (Lurch Marokko (2d ed., Bremen, 1869); In Abessinien (1869) ; Von Tripoli* nach Alex- andria (1871); Mein erster Aufenthalt in Ma- rokko (1873); Quer durch Afrika: Reise vom Mittelmeer nach, dem Tschad-See und zum Golf ton Guinea (Leipsic, 1874 et teq.~); and Drei Monate im libyschen Wuste (Cassel, 1875 et teg.). Winwood Reade edited his "Adven- tures in Morocco and Journeys through the Oases of Draa and Tafilet" (London, 1874). ROKITA.VSK Y, Karl, a German physician, born in K6niggratz, Bohemia, Feb. 19, 1804. He studied medicine at Prague and at Vienna, where in 1828 he became assistant to the pa- thological and anatomical establishment. In 1834 he became extraordinary and in 1844 ordinary professor of pathological anatomy, in 1848 honorary rector of the university of Prague and member of the Vienna academy of sciences, in 1849 dean of the medical faculty, and in 1850 rector of the university of Vi- enna. He resigned his professorship in 1874. He was the projector of the great hospital of Vienna. He is considered in Germany as the highest authority in anatomy and pathology. His principal work is Handbnch der patholo- gischen Anatomie (3 vols., Vienna, 1842-'6 ; English translation by the Sydenham society, 4 vols., London, 1845-'52), entirely recast under the title of Lehrbuch der pathologischen Anatomie (3 vols., 1851-'61). ROLAND, called by the Italians OBLANDO, a paladin of the court of Charlemagne, and one of the most famous heroes of the chivalric ro- mances of the middle ages. According to tra- dition, he was a nephew of Charlemagne, and was slain at Roncesvalles. The narrative of his defeat and death has been expanded into a history full of picturesque and marvellous de- tails ; and in the " Romance of Roncesvalles," in the rhymed chronicle La Spagna, in the "Grand Chronicles," in Turpin's fabulous chronicle De Vita Caroli Magni et Rolandi, and later in the Orlando innamorato of Boi- ardo, the Orlando f arioso of Ariosto, and the Morgante Maggiore of Pulci, he figures as the great exemplar of mediaeval chivalry. The " Song of Roland," a metrical narrative of the hero's chief exploits, was a favorite with min- strels of the middle ages. His historical ex- istence rests upon a doubtful passage in Egin- hard's Vita Caroli Magni, and he is believed to be almost wholly the creation of fiction. See Das Rolandslied, edited by Karl Bartsch (Leipsic, 1874), forming vol. iii. of Sammlung der deutschen Dichtungen des Mittelalters. ROLAND DE LA I'l. fMKKK., Jean Marie and Marie or Manon Jeanne, French revolutionists, whose histories are so interwoven that they can be best treated in a single article. M. Roland (born near Villefranche, Feb. 18, 1734, died by his own hand near Rouen in November, 1793) was destined for the church, at which he revolted, and at the age of 19, without re- sources, travelled on foot over the greater part of France. At Rouen he obtained employ- ment with a relative, and finally received the appointment of inspector of manufactures at Amiens. He devoted his leisure to scientific studies, and was the author of several works on manufactures and rural economy in the series of Arts et metiers published by the acad- emy of sciences (1779-'83). In l776-'8 he travelled in Switzerland and Italy, and ad- dressed to his brother, a prior in Paris, letters containing detailed accounts of manufactures and commerce in those countries, which were afterward published (G vols. 12mo, 1782). On a visit to Paris in 1776, he had formed the acquaintance of Mile. Manon Jeanne Phlipon (born in Paris, March 17, 1754, executed Nov. 9, 1793). From early childhood she was a diligent reader of such books as fell in her way, among them the "Confessions" of St. Augustine and Plutarch's "Lives." At 11 years of age she obtained permission to spend a year in a convent preparatory to her first communion, and there formed an intimacy with a Mile. Sophie Canet, with whom after their separation she kept up a correspon- dence for eight years (published in 1841 in 2 vols. 8vo). She was married to M. Roland in 1780, and in 1784 they visited England, and studied together the workings of its political system. After their return Roland was trans- ferred in his official capacity to Lyons, and there finished his principal work, the Diction- naire des manufactures et des arts qui en de- pendent, forming part of the Encyclopedic methodique (3 vols., Paris, 1785). His wife shared in all his labors. They both hailed the revolution with enthusiasm. Roland became a municipal officer of Lyons, and his wife con- tributed to a new democratic journal. In 1791 they removed to Paris, Roland having been chosen commissioner to the national assembly on behalf of the workmen of Lyons. Mme. Roland's saloon in Paris became the rallying point of the Girondist leaders, to whom her husband attached himself. On March 23, 1792, he became minister of the interior under Du- mouriez. It is said that his most important state papers were drawn up by his wife, though she declares that she exercised little influence npon his acts. Louis XVI. having refused his signature to the decrees for the banishment of the priests and for the formation of a camp of 20,000 men, Roland addressed to him a letter written by his wife, warning him that his tenure of the throne depended upon his compliance with the popular will. No answer being returned, Roland read the letter in full council to the king, who by the advice of Dn- mouriez dismissed him and his two Girondist colleagues. Roland at once read the letter to the assembly, and it was ordered to be printed and distributed to all the 83 departments. The storm thus raised broke forth in the insurrec-