A Dictionary of Biography: Comprising the Most Eminent Characters of All Ages, Nations, and Professions. E-book. Formato PDF Richard Alfred Davenport   -  Forgotten Books, 2017  - 

Aet us, a Roman general, was a na tive of Mmsia, but of descent. He learned the art of war: under Alaric, to whom he had been given as a hostage. When the usurper John attempted to seize the throne, Aettus raised for him an army of Huns, but he subsequently submitted to Valentinian, who took him into favour, and conferred on him the title of count. A ri valship for power ensued between him and Count Boniface, which terminated in the death of the latter, who was slain in bat tle. The character of Aetius was stained, in this strug le, by the unworthy means to which he ha recourse. He soon, howev er, covered himself with glory b his con duct in Gaul. After havin tllrice van quished the Burgundians an Franks, he marched against the terrible Attila, who had invaded Gaul with innumerable hordes of Huns. A decisive battle was fought, in 451, on the plains of Chalons, in which Attila was entirely defeated; more than three hundred thousand men fell on both sides. The fame which the victor thus acquired excited the jealousy and fears of the dastardly Valenttnian, who, in 454, invited him to the imperial ace, and sud denl assassinated him wi his own hand. A ranius, Lucws, a Latin comic poet, lived about a century a. C. Cicero and Quintillian mention him with praise; Horace speaks of him as an imitator of Menander. He did not, however, confine himself to sub'ects borrowed from the Greek theatre, at described the manners and satirised the follies of his country. Obscenity was the fault of his writings, all of which are now lost.

Perilous Adventures: Or, Remarkable Instances of Courage, Perseverance, and Suffering. E-book. Formato PDF R. A. Davenport   -  Forgotten Books, 2017  - 

The design pf this work is to present to the reader such instances of courage, constancy, and perseverance, under circumstances the most peril s; rous and appalling, as will most conspicuously show the power of the human mind to triumph over dif fificulties, and that nothing is to be despaired of iwhere there is self-possession to look danger fear xlessly in the face, and promptly to take advantage 'of emergencies as they arise. Truth, it has been said, is often more marvellous than fiction, and the realities here exhibited strikingly exemplify the correctness of this remark.

The Life of Ali Pasha, Late Vizier of Jannina: Surnamed Aslan, or the Lion. E-book. Formato PDF R. A. Davenport   -  Forgotten Books, 2017  - 

For more than two centuries, the Ottoman empire, once so formidable, was gradually sinking into a state of decrepitude. Unsuccessful wars, and, in a still greater degree, misgovernment and internal commotions, were the causes of its decline. While, on its frontier, it was repeatedly attacked by its encroaching and unprincipled neighbour, the Muscovite, its efforts were palsied by a vicious system of administration, corrupt ministers, tur bulent and undisciplined janissaries, and rebellious and extortionate pashas. The present Sultan, Abd-ul Hamid II, a man of resolution, has made strenuous, and not wholly fruitless exertions to remedy these crying evils. It is much to be wished that his labours may be crowned with full success — for it is manifest, that the regeneration of Turkey, so as to render her an efficient power, would eminently contribute to preserve the peace of Europe. Such being the case, the Proprietor Of the Family Library imagines that a faithful picture of the character and actions of one of the most celebrated of the Ottoman pashas — one of the numerous dilapidators of Turkish resources, and scourges of the Turkish people — will be favourably received by the public. The reader will here see with what vampyre effect subaltern tyrants can exhaust the vital principle of an extensive empire.