Page:Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition, v. 9.djvu/75

 F E L F E L 65 of numerous subjects, and are of various sizes, from mere pamphlets to several volumes. His most important work, Codex diplomaticus Hungarian ecclesiasticus ac civilis, pub lished from 1829 to 1844, in eleven so-called tomes, really exceeds forty volumes. It consists of old documents and charters from 104 A.D. to the end of 1439, and forms an extraordinary monument of patient industry. This work and many others relating to Hungarian national history have placed Fej6r in the foremost rank of Hungarian historians. He died on the 2d July 1851. His latest works were A KunoJc eredete (TJie Origin of the Huns), and A politikai forradalmak okai (The Causes of Political Revolutions), both published in 1850. The latter produc tion, on account of its liberal tendencies, was suppressed by the Austrian Government. See Magyar Ir6k : filetrajz-gyujtcmtoiy, Pestli, 1856, and A magyar nemzeti irodalomt&rtinet vdzlala, Pesth, 1861. FELDKIRCH, the chief town of the Vorarlberg district of Tyrol in Austria, is situated at the junction of the valley of the 111 with the valley of the Rhine, about 6i miles above the confluence of the two rivers. The position is one of much natural beauty and also of great military strength ; and the town has consequently been of far more importance than is indicated by its size. It is the seat of a number of administrative offices, the residence of a bishop, and the centre of a considerable transit trade. Among its own industries are cotton-spinning, weaving, bell-founding, copper-smithery, engineering, coopering, and the manufac ture of Kirschwasser. The principal buildings are the parish church (which dates from 1487 and possesses a Descent from the Cross assigned to Holbein), a Capuchin monastery and church, a Jesuit seminary (the Stella Matutina, or Morning Star), a charity hospital with bathing establish ment attached, and the Kurhaus with its park. To the east of the town lie the ruins of the castle of Schattenburg, and about a mile to the south begins the territory of the prince of Lichtenstein. Feldkirch, or rather Schattenburg, was at one time the seat of the counts of Montfort, but in 1377 it was sold by Count Rudolph VII. to the dukes of Austria. In 1799 the Feldkirch pass was the scene of an indecisive conflict between the Austrians under Hotze and Jellalich and the French under Oudinot and Massena ; and in 1805 the Austrian forces under Wolfskehl were obliged to capitu late in the neighbourhood. The population, almost ex clusively Catholic, numbered 2868 in 1869. FELEGYIlAZA, chief town of the former district of Little Cumania, in Hungary, about 66 miles S.E of Pesth, 46 41 N. lat., 19 52 E. long., is advantageously situated on the railroad between Pesth and Szegedin. Amongst the principal edifices are a fine town-hall, a Roman Catholic gymnasium, and a large parish church. The surrounding country is covered with vineyards, fruit-gardens, and tobacco and corn fields, which are the principal source of employ ment to the inhabitants ; but the town itself is chiefly noted for its great cattle-market. Numerous ancient Roman urns and other relics have been dug up in the vicinity of the town. In the 17th century Felegyhaza was com pletely destroyed by the Turks, nor was it recolonized and rebuilt till 1743. The population, by the latest census (December 31, 1869), amounted to 21,313, chiefly Roman Catholics and by nationality Magyars. FELIBIEN, ANDKE (1619-1695), Sieur des Avaux et de Javercy, French architect and historiographer, was born at Chartres in May 1619. At the age of fourteen he went to Paris to continue his studies ; and in 1647 he was sent to Rome in the capacity of secretary of embassy to the Marquis de Marueil. His residence at Rome he turned to good account by diligent study of its ancient monuments, by examination of the literary treasures of its libraries, and by cultivating the acquaintance of men eminent in literature and in art. Amongst these especially to be noted was Nicholas Poussiu, whose friendship and counsels were of great value to him. On his return to France he married, and was ultimately induced, in the hope of employment and honours, to settle at Paris. Colbert, the great minister, re cognized his abilities ; and he was one of the first members (16G3) of the Academy of Inscriptions. Three years later Colbert procured him the appointment of historiographer to the king. In 1671 he was named secretary to the newly founded Academy of Architecture, and in 1673 keeper of the cabinet of antiques in the palace of Brion. To these offices was afterwards added by Louvois that of deputy controller-general of roads and bridges. Felibien found time in the midst of his official duties for study and re search, and produced many literary works. Among these the best and the most generally known is the Entretiens sur les vies et sur les outrages des plus excellents j^eintres anciens et modernes, which appeared in successive livraisons, the first in 1666, and the fifth in 1688. It was republished with several additions at Amsterdam in 1706, and again at Trevoux in 1725. Felibien wrote also Oriyine de la Peinture (1660), Principes de I architecture, de la sculpture, de la peinture, &c. (1676-90), and descriptions of Ver sailles, of La Trappe, and of the pictures and statues of the royal residences. He edited the Conferences of the Academy of Painting, and translated the Castle of the Soul from the Spanish of St Theresa, the Life of Piiis V. from the Italian, &c. His personal character com manded the highest esteem, agreeing with the motto which he adopted llene facere et vera dicere. He died at Paris, June 11, 1695. FELIBIEN, DOM MICHEL (1666-1719), French his torian, was a son of Andre, and was born at Chartres, Sep tember 14, 1666. After studying at the College des Bons- Enfants at Paris, he entered, at the age of sixteen, the Benedictine congregation of St Maur. He devoted himself to a studious life, and produced in 1706 the learned Histoire de VAbbaye royale de Saint-Denis en France. Drawn from original sources, and illustrated with engrav ings, it at once attracted attention, and made him a reputa tion as a scholar. He was soon after selected by Bignon, provost of the merchants of Paris, to write a history of that city, and notwithstanding his broken health he undertook the task. In 1713 he put forth his Projet d une histoire de la ville de Paris, which was approved by Louis XIV. He steadily continued his labours for six years longer, but did not live to finish the work. He died at St Germain des Pres, September 25, 1719. His History of Paris, which was far advanced, was completed by Lobineau assisted by De Varigny, former secretary to Fe libien, and was published in 5 vols. fol. in 1725 (not 1755, as stated by most of the authorities). Dotn Michel was the author of several other works of less importance. FELIX, the name of several popes. FELIX I., a Roman by birth, succeeded Dionysius in the papal chair in December 269. Regarding his pontificate there is little authentic information, but he is said to have given ecclesiastical sanction to the yearly celebration of the mass over the graves of the martyrs, a custom, however, which had been previously in existence ; and the law regarding the consecration of churches is also ascribed to him. On account, it is said, of his having strongly supported the Christians during the persecutions under Aurelius, he was enrolled among the martyrs, his day being the 20th of May. He died in 274. A fragment of a letter to Maximus, bishop of Alexandria, in support of the doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation against the argu ments of Paul of Samosata, was in all probability written by Felix, but other three letters ascribed to him are certainly ungenuine. IX. 9