Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 01.djvu/118

AIX-LES-BAINS on the ruins of the palace. The ancient cathedral is in the form of an octagon, which, with various additions round it, forms on the outside a sixteen-sided figure. In the middle of the octagon, a stone, with the inscription "Carolo Magno," marks the site of the grave of Charlemagne. In 1215 Frederick II. caused the remains of the emperor to be inclosed in a costly shrine. The columns brought by Charlemagne from the palace of the Exarch at Ravenna, to decorate the interior of the octagon, had been carried off by the French; but most of them were restored at the Peace of Paris, and replaced in 1846. The town-house contains the coronation hall in which 35 German emperors and 11 empresses have celebrated their coronation banquet. The emperors were crowned in Aix-la-Chapelle from Louis the Pious to Ferdinand I. (813-1531). Seventeen imperial diets and 11 provincial councils were held within its walls. The name of the place is derived from the springs, for which it has been always famous. They are efficacious in cases of gout, rheumatism, cutaneous diseases, etc. In 1793, and again in 1794, Aix-la-Chapelle was occupied by the French. By the treaties concluded at Campo Formio and Lunéville, it was formally ceded to France, until in 1915 it fell to Prussia. The town has been the meeting place for many important peace congresses. The first Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle (1668) ended the war carried on between France and Spain for the possession of the Spanish Netherlands. The second Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle (1748) concluded the war respecting the succession of Maria Theresa to the empire.

The Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle was held in 1818, for regulating the affairs of Europe after the war. It began on Sept. 30, and ended on Nov. 21. Its principal object was the withdrawal from France of the army of occupation, 150,000 strong, as well as the receiving of France again into the alliance of the great powers. The Emperors of Russia and Austria and the King of Prussia were present in person. The five great powers assembled signed a protocol announcing a policy known as that of the "Holy Alliance." During the World War the city played an important part as a German depot, due to its nearness to the western front. As a result of the armistice Belgian troops occupied the city in December, 1919.

AIX-LES-BAINS (ax'la-ban'), a town of France, in Haute Savoie, on the E. side of Lake Bourget, 8 miles N. by E. of Chambéry, celebrated for its sulphuretted hot springs. They were in vogue among the Romans, and are still extensively used. Pop. about 5,000.

AJACCIO (ä-yätch´yō), the chief town of the island of Corsica, which forms a department of France. It is the handsomest city of Corsica, and the birthplace of Napoleon I., whose house is still to be seen. During the World War the city was a naval base for vessels of the Allied forces operating in the Mediterrean. Pop. about 20,000.

AJALON, said to be the modern Yâlo, a village a little to the N. of the Jaffa road, about 14 miles W. N. W. of Jerusalem; the town was rendered memorable by Joshua's victory over the five Canaanitish kings, and still more so by the extraordinary circumstance of the miraculously lengthened day.

AJAX, the name of two heroes of the Trojan War. (1) Ajax, son of Telamon, King of Salamis, was next in warlike prowess to Achilles. His chief exploits, recorded in the "Iliad," are his duel with Hector (7th book), and his obstinate defense of the ships in the protracted battle described in the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th books. After Achilles' death, the armor of that hero was to be given as a prize to him who had deserved best of the Greeks. Ajax and Ulysses alone advanced their claims, and the assembled princes awarded the splendid prize to Ulysses. Ajax was so much mortified at this that he went mad, and afterward slew himself. (2) Ajax, son of Oileus, remarkable for swiftness of foot and skill in using the bow and javelin. When the Greeks had entered Troy, Ulysses accused Ajax of having violated Cassandra in the temple of Pallas. He