Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 17.djvu/533

Rh N I C N I E 491 Nicopolis was also the name of (1) a city in Cappadocia in the valley of the Lycus, founded by Pompey on the spot where he defeated Mithradates; (2) a city in Egypt, founded by Octavian 24 B.C. to commemorate his final victory over Antony; and (3) a city in Thrace at the junction of the latrus with the Danube, founded by Trajan in memory of his victory over the Dacians (Nikup). NICOSIA is the name in common use, though originally a mere corruption of the Greek name Lefkosia, for the capital of Cyprus. It is situated in the midst of the great plain of the Mesaria, which traverses the island from sea to sea, and is nearly equidistant from the Gulf of Morphu at one end and that of Famagosta at the other. Though the name of Lefkosia (Aeu/cwo-ta) is undoubtedly Greek, it is not found in the ancient geography of the island ; and, though the discovery of some ancient tombs in the immediate neighbourhood prove that the site was inhabited in very early times, no mention is found of it before the reign of Constantine, by whom it was fortified with a circuit of walls, which continued to exist down to the time of the Venetians. It became the capital of the island under the kings of the Lusignan dynasty, who were the rulers of Cyprus from 1192 to 1489, an advantage which it probably owed to its inland, and somewhat central, situation, though in other respects its position affords few advantages. It stands in a barren and treeless plain, on the banks of the river Pedias, which is, however, a mere shingly bed during the greater part of the year, and the town is dependent for its supply of water upon an aqueduct by which it is conveyed from the neighbouring hills. Like many other Oriental towns, Nicosia has rather an imposing effect from a distance, .in consequence especially of its lofty walls, built by the Venetians to replace the previously existing circuit, which remain unbroken to the present day. Above these towers the beautiful Gothic cathedral, now converted into a mosque. But the interior of the city is a mere labyrinth of narrow streets, and presents an aspect of great decay. The population, which was previously estimated at 16,000, was found by an actual census, taken in 1879, to amount to only 11,197 souls, of whom 5628 were Mohammedans and 5251 Greeks. Since the occupation of Cyprus by the English, some improvements have been introduced at Nicosia, which still continues to be the capital of the island, and the residence of the British commissioner, as well as of the Greek archbishop. A new carriage road has also been constructed from thence to Larnaca, which is becoming a place of considerable trade. But the natural disadvan tages of its situation will probably prevent Nicosia from ever rising again to an important town. At the present day it is worthless as a fortress, on account of its being completely commanded from the neighbouring heights. NICOSIA, a city of Italy in the province of Catania in Sicily, about 50 miles west of Catania, near the rise of the Seminato. It is a picturesque mediaeval-looking place, with a cathedral in the Norman style, a communal library, mineral wells, and a trade in grain, wine, and oil. The population of the commune was 14,731 in 1861 and 15,460 in 1881 ; that of the town was 14,508 in 1871. Nicosia probably represents the ancient Herbita, which gallantly maintained its independence against Dionysius of Syracuse. De stroyed by the Saracens, the city was restored by the Normans, and the Lombard colony introduced by Roger is said to have left its trace in the popular speech. The bishopric dates from 1816. NICOTINE. See TOBACCO. NIEBUHR, BARTHOLD GEORG (1776-1831), the his torian of ancient Rome, was the son of Karsten Niebuhr, noticed below, and was born at Copenhagen on August 27, 1776. His family was of Hanoverian extraction. In his infancy his father removed to Meldorf in South Ditmarsh, where he had received a Government appoint ment, and devoted his leisure to the instruction of his son. From the earliest age young Niebuhr manifested extraordinary precocity, and especial interest in history and politics. From 1794 to 179 6, being already a finished classical scholar and acquainted with several modern languages, he studied at the university of Kiel, applying himself to mathematics, logic, philosophy, and other studies previously neglected. He there formed the most important friendship of his life, that with Madame Hensler, the widowed daughter-in-law of one of the professors, and a woman of unusual strength of character, six years older than himself. He also made the acquaintance of her sister, Amelie Behrens, whom he subsequently married. After quitting the university he became private secretary to Count Schimmelmann, Danish minister of finance, but finding that the post did not allow him sufficient leisure for study, he quitted it for an appointment at the royal library. He shortly afterwards travelled in Great Britain, and spent a year at Edinburgh studying agriculture and physical science. His observations on England and Scotland, conveyed in letters to his betrothed, are exceed ingly interesting ; but he failed to obtain that confidence in the capacity of an educated community for self-government which residence in a free country might have been expected to bestow, and which would have saved him much sorrow, and most of his errors in practical politics. He says, nevertheless, &quot; my early residence in England gave me one important key to Roman history. It is necessary to know civil life by personal observation in order to understand such states as those of antiquity. I never could have understood a number of things in the history of Rome without having observed England.&quot; He also acquired in Scotland a feeling for nature, in which he. had previously been remarkably deficient. In 1799 he returned to Denmark, where he was soon appointed assessor in the East India department of the Board of Trade, and secretary for the affairs of the Danish consulates in Barbary. In 1800 he married and settled at Copenhagen. In 1804 he became chief director of the National Bank, but in September 1806, after negotiations which had extended over more than a year, quitted this for a similar appoint ment in Prussia. The step was a false one as concerned his personal interests, and not highly creditable to his patriotism as a Danish subject; but it is not to be regretted, since, without the release from public life which it ulti mately occasioned, we should not have possessed his Roman History. He arrived in Prussia on the eve of the catastrophe of Jena, and shared to the full all the disasters and miseries which overwhelmed the monarchy. He accompanied the fugitive Government to Konigsberg, where he rendered considerable service in the commissariat, and was after wards still more useful as commissioner of the national debt, and by his opposition to ill-considered schemes of taxation. He was also for a short time Prussian minister in Holland, where he endeavoured without success to con tract a loan. The extreme sensitiveness of his temperament, however, disqualified him for politics; he proved impractic able in his relations with Hardenberg and other ministers, and in 1810 retired for a time from public life, accepting the more congenial appointment of royal historiographer and professor at the university of Berlin. He commenced his lectures with a course on the history of Rome. The enthusiastic reception these experienced filled him with delight. He recognized that he had found his vocation, and henceforth regarded the history of Rome from the earliest age to Augustus as the task of his life. The first two volumes, based upon his lectures, were published in 1812, but attracted little attention at the time owing to the absorbing interest of political events. In 1813 Niebuhr s own attention was diverted from history by