Roman remains. The cathedral is a striking structure, dating from the Eleventh Century. The Prefecture belongs to the year 1697, and the palace of Cardinal Granvella, the minister of Charles V., is an interesting example of half Gothic, half Romanesque architecture. The gate of Mars, or Porte Noire, is a triumphal arch, built in A.D. 167, by Marcus Aurelius. There is also a Roman amphitheatre in ruins, whose vast proportions suggest the ancient importance of the city. Besançon was strongly but irregularly fortified by Vauban in the Seventeenth Century, the citadel being considered impregnable. Since that time the fortifications have been extended and strengthened. The present fortifications consist of the citadel of Vauban, with recent additions, which occupies the site of the ancient Roman stronghold, 1200 feet above sea-level. Forts are also built on the neighboring heights. The city is an important industrial centre, the principal productions being hardware, but there is great activity in the weaving of silk, linen, and cotton. One-fifth of the population is engaged in the manufacture of timepieces. Population, in 1896, 57,556. Vesontio, or Visontium, the capital of the Sequani, was a considerable place in the time of Cæsar, who in B.C. 58 expelled its inhabitants, and in the neighborhood of the city gained a victory over Ariovistus. It then became an important Roman military station. In modern times, after undergoing many changes, it finally came into possession of France in 1674. Consult Besançon et la Franche-Comté; notices historiques (Besançon, 1893).
BESANT′, or BEZANT′. A circular piece of bullion, generally gold, without any impression, supposed to represent the old coinage of Byzantium brought home by the Crusaders, and hence of frequent occurrence as heraldic charges. Besants are generally introduced into the arms of banks, and also into those of individuals who have been specially connected with money. Similar figures, when not colored or (gold), or argent (silver), are known in heraldry by the general term of roundels. A bezanty cross is a cross composed of besant and bezanty, or bezantée, is a term used when the shield, or any particular charge, is strewed with besants.
BESANT, bēs′ant, Mrs. Annie (1847—). An English theosophist. She was born in London, October 1, 1847, began life as a devout Ritualist, married the Rev. Frank Besant, 1867, but soon afterwards became an avowed freethinker; was separated from her husband in 1873, and in 1874 joined the National Secular Society. Here she met Charles Bradlaugh, with whom she published a pamphlet, The Fruits of Philosophy (1877), which led to the arrest of the authors for alleged immorality, because they discussed plans for controlling the increase of population. After much litigation, they were acquitted. In 1889 she joined the Theosophical Society, and became an ardent disciple of Madame Blavatsky, and since then has devoted herself to the propaganda of theosophy throughout the world. With Herbert Burrows she compiled a Petit glossaire de termes théosophiques (Paris, 1894). In 1893 she made a lecturing tour in the United States, and published her autobiography under the title, Through Storm to Peace. Her later works include: The Building of Kosmos (1894); The Self and its Sheaths (1895); Four Great Religions (1897); Dharma and the Story of the Great War (1899); Esoteric Christianity: or, the Lesser Mysteries (1902).
BESANT, be-zānt′, Sir Walter (1836-1901). An English novelist and critic. He was born in Portsmouth, August 14, 1836, the son of William Besant. He was educated at King's College, London, and at Christ's College, Cambridge, and was appointed senior professor in the Royal College of Mauritius (1801-67). Returning to London on account of ill health, he formed a successful literary partnership with James Rice. They produced together many excellent novels, beginning with Ready Money Mortiboy (1872), and ending with The Seamy Side (1881). After the death of Rice (1882), Besant wrote a large number of novels, of which the most notable is All Sorts and Conditions of Men (1882), dealing with the social conditions in the East Side of London. This novel presented so clear a picture of the real life and limited opportunities of the common people of East London as to lead to the establishment of the People's Palace as a reality. The work gave an impetus to many other attempts at social reform, and assisted its author to an abiding-place among the social reformers of his generation. Among his other novels are Dorothy Foster, Children of Gibeon, Armorel of Lyonesse, The City of Refuge, and The Orange Girl. Besant also did an immense amount of miscellaneous writing. He founded the Society of Authors, becoming its first chairman (1884-85), and the editor (1890) of the Author, an official organ of the society. In 1895 he was knighted. He died at Hampstead, June 10, 1901. (See People's Palace.) Consult Autobiography (New York, 1902).
BESIDE′ THE BON′NIE BRI′AR BUSH. A collection of tales of Scotch life (1894), by Ian Maclaren, the pen-name of the Rev. John Watson, which excited wide interest, and made the author famous. The types of lowly life in these stories have been developed in other stories by the same author.
BES′IKA BAY. An inlet of the Ægean Sea, of marine strategic importance, on the northwest coast of Asia Minor, a little south of the entrance to the Dardanelles (Map: Turkey in Asia, B 3). The island of Tenedos lies at the mouth of the bay. The English fleet was stationed there during the crisis of the Russo-Turkish War in 1853-54, and again in 1877-78.
BESKOW, bēs′kōv, Bernhard von (1796-1868). A Swedish poet and dramatist, born in Stockholm. He was appointed private secretary of the Crown Prince Oscar in 1825, and subsequently held several offices at Court. His more important works include the poems Karl XII. (1819) and Sveriges anor, and the tragedies Erik den Fjortonde (1827-28) and Torkel Knutsson (1830). He was a friend of Tegnér.
BESS, Good Queen. The rather indulgent name applied to Queen Elizabeth of England.
BES′SARA′BIA (after the family Bessaraba, which gave Waywodes to Wallachia). A government in the extreme southwest of Russia, bordering on Rumania on the west and south, and the Black Sea on the southeast (Map: Russia, C 5). It is hounded on the east by the Dniester, on the west by the Pruth, and on the south by the Danube. It covers an area of 17,600 square miles of
