Volume 1

Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas.

  • Joseph Thomas
Date:
1911, ©1908
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Universal pronouncing dictionary of biography and mythology / by Joseph Thomas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    1408/1486 (page 1390)
    John, (Juan,) Don, of Austria, one of the most cele¬ brated military and naval commanders of the sixteenth century, was the natural son of the emperor Charles V. and Barbara Blomberg, a native of Germany. He was born at Ratisbon in 1546, and passed as the son of a Spanish nobleman named Quixada, by whom he was educated. Charles V. on his death-bed recommended him to the protection of Philip II., who soon after ac¬ knowledged John as his brother and made appropria¬ tions which enabled him to live in princely state. At the age of twenty-two he was appointed commander-in¬ chief of the forces sent against the Moriscoes of Granada, whom he vanquished in several battles and finally re¬ duced to complete subjection. In 1571, war having been declared between Philip II. and the Sultan, Don John was appointed generalissimo of the combined fleets of Spain and Italy. He sailed from Messina in the middle of September with two hundred and fifty ships of war and about fifty thousand men, and on the 7th of October encountered the Turkish fleet in the Gulf of Lepanto, where he gained one of the greatest naval victories of which history makes mention. Soon after the battle of Lepanto he received an embassy from the Greeks of Albania and Macedonia, requesting him to assist them against the Turks and to receive the sovereignty of their countries. Don John was prevented from accepting the offer by Philip, who, jealous of his brother’s reputation, refused the assistance necessary for the enterprise. Don John, in a subsequent expedition against Africa, took Tunis, Biserta, and several other important places. He was appointed in 1576 Governor of the Netherlands, which were then in a state of rebellion. He at first used conciliatory measures; but the States, suspecting him of duplicity, declined his overtures and prepared for war Don John soon after took Namur by stratagem, and on the 1st of January, 1578, gained the decisive victory of Gemblours. He afterwards reduced Louvain, Nivelle, and other towns belonging to the insurgents. While thus actively engaged, in October, 1578, he was seized with an illness which carried him to the grave. Strong suspicions were entertained by many that he was poisoned. See L. van der Hammbn, “Vida de Don Juan,” 1627; Brusl^ de Montpleinchamp, “ Vie de Don Juan d’Autriche,” 1690; Alexis Dumesnil, “Vie de Don Juan d’Autriche,” 1827; Motley, “Rise of the Dutch Republic,” vol. iii. part v. chaps, i.-v. ; Prescott, “History of Philip II.,” vol. ii.; J. P. Lyser, “Erzherzog Johann, der Freund des Volkes,” 1848; Schneidewind, “Leben des Erz- herzogs Johann von Oesterreich,” etc., 1849, John, y5n, (Eugenia,) a German novelist, best known by the pseudonym of E. Marlitt. She was born at Arnstadt, December 5, 1825. Adopted by the Princess of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, she was trained as a singer; but, having lost the sense of hearing, she became a very successful and prolific writer of romances. “The Twelve Apostles,” “Gold Else,” and “The Second Wife” are among her works. Died in 1887. John or Johann, (Nepomuk Maria Joseph,) born in 1801, succeeded his brother Frederick Augustus as King of Saxony in 1854. He was distinguished for great virtues as a ruler, and for his literary attainments. He trans¬ lated Dante’s “ Divine Comedy.” He was an ally of Aus¬ tria in the war against Prussia in 1866. Died Oct. 29,1873. John of Bayeux, [Fr. Jean de Bayeux, zhdN deh blyuh',] a haughty and violent French prelate. He became Archbishop of Rouen in 1070. Died in 1079. John of Brienne, [Fr. Jean de Brienne, zhftN d?h bRe'&n',] King of Jerusalem, and Regent of Constanti¬ nople, was born in France. He assisted in the taking of Jerusalem in 1204, and in 1218, at the head of a Latin army, he took Damietta. In 1226 he was compelled to resign Jerusalem to the emperor Frederick II. Three years later he was elected, by the French barons in the East, Regent of Constantinople, which he bravely de¬ fended against the Greek emperor Jchn Ducas. Died in 1237. John of Bruges. See Eyck, (Jan van.) John of Cappadocia, a theologian, became Patriarch of Constantinople about 518. He co-operated with the pope Hormisdas in the restoration of union between the Eastern and Western Churches. Died in 520. John IL of Cappadocia became Patriarch of Con¬ stantinople about 582 a.d. Died in 596. John, surnamed Climacus or Climachus. See Climacus. John of Gis'cala or Gischala, a Jewish captain, was an enemy of Josephus the historian. He was the chief of one of the factions of zealots and outlaws that fought against each other and against the Romans in Je¬ rusalem while that city was besieged by Titus, in 70 a.d On the capture of the city he was imprisoned for life. John of Luxemburg, surnamed the Blind, son of the emperor Henry VII., was born in 1295. In 1309 he was elected King of Bohemia, and in 1322 he con¬ quered Silesia. In 1331 he formed a league with Louis of Bavaria, Emperor of Germany, against Pope John XXII., and entered Italy. The pope then offered to recognize him as King of Italy. The emperor, in order to prevent this, invaded Bohemia. John left the com¬ mand of his army in Italy to his son, returned to Bo¬ hemia, and drove out Louis. He was soon after attacked with a disease in his eyes, which produced blindness, but did not in the least affect his spirit of enterprise. He invaded Poland, reduced it to subjection, and formed an alliance with Philip of France against the English. He was mortally wounded at the battle of Crecy, in 1346, after having performed great feats of valour. See Froissart, “Chronicles;” Sismondi, “Histoire des Fran- jais.” John of Ragusa, a learned Romish prelate, was in 1426 sent by Martin V. to the Council of Bale, over which he presided in 1431. He distinguished himself by his controversies with the followers of Huss. John of Salisbury, a learned scholastic philosopher and writer, born at Salisbury about 1120. He entered the service of Thomas k Becket, and became his secre¬ tary. In 1176 he was appointed Bishop of Chartres. He wrote, besides other valuable works, “ Polycraticus de Nugis Curialium et Vestigiis Philosophorum,” which is a satire on the follies of courtiers, etc., and a “ Life of Thomas k Becket.” Died in 1180. His works were published by J. A. Giles, Oxford, (5 vols., 1848.) See “ Gallia Christiana,” tome viii.; B. Haur^au, “De la Philo¬ sophic scholastique;” “Nouvelle Biographie Generale.” John of Seville or De Luna, a learned Jewish convert of the twelfth century. He translated into Span¬ ish many valuable Arabic works. John of Suabia, surnamed the Parricide, born in 1289, was a nephew of the emperor Albert I. The latter, having withheld from him his hereditary domains was murdered by John and a band of conspirators. See Brant&me, “Vies des grands Capitaines.” John of Udine. See Giovanni. John (Johann) Baptist, (Joseph Fabian Sebas tian,) Archduke of Austria, born in 1782, was a son of Leopold II. Pie succeeded Kray in 1800 as commander of the Austrian army, and was defeated by General Moreau at Hohenlinden, in December of that year. In the campaign of 1809 he directed the operations in the Tyrol, and gained a victory over the viceroy Eugene. In June, 1848, he was elected Vicar of the German empire Dy the Parliament at Frankfort. He resigned that office in December, 1849. Died in 1859. John Cas'I-mjr, [Ger. Johann Casimir, yo'h&n kl'ze-mlR,] Count Palatine, born in 1543, was the second son of the Elector-Palatine Frederick III. He was a zealous Calvinist, and in 1568 raised an army with which he invaded Lorraine to aid the French Huguenots. In 1575 he again entered France, as the ally of the Prince of Conde. His court at Neustadt became the centre of the Calvinist policy. After the death of his father, John Casimir was the political chief of the Reformers. Died in 1592. See De Thou, “ Histoire UniverselleDaniel Parens, “ Hi** toria Palatina;” F. Junius, “Ecloga in Obitum Joannis Casimiri,’ 1592; “Nouvelle Biographie G^n^rale.” John Comnenus. See Calo-Joannes. John Damascenus. See Damascenus. John de Matha, mi'thl, (Saint,) a French priest, born in Faucon, in Provence, June 24, 1169. He studied at Aix and Paris, and became the associate of Saint Felix of Valois, with whom he founded the order of Trinitarian Brethren, for the purpose of aiding in the