Page:Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography Volume 1.pdf/87

ALA known by the name of "Breviarium Alaricianum," and also of Lex Romana, and Corpus Theodosii, dates its origin from the time of Alaric II. In the twentieth year of his reign, he caused a commission of jurists to assemble in Gascony, for the purpose of embodying in a code whatever was best in the Roman statutes and decrees; and this code, signed by Ananius, who is supposed to have superintended the preparation of it, was distributed by Alaric throughout his dominions.—J. S., G.  ALARY,, born at Grasse about the middle of the seventeenth century, acquired a large fortune as a seller of secret remedies. He first practised in his native place, and then removed to Paris, where, having cured various persons at the court of Louis XIV., he obtained the royal patronage. He published a book on the mode of administering his medicine, and the different effects produced by it.—J. B.  ALARY,, a French missionary, born in 1731. He was sent to Siam; but at the sack of Mergui, after suffering great privation, he was taken prisoner to Rangoon, in the kingdom of Ava. In 1768, he entered China, where he laboured with much success till he was recalled to Paris in 1772, to become the Director of the Seminary of Foreign Missions. He was interrupted in the discharge of the duties of that office by the Revolution, and obliged to take refuge in England; but in 1802 he returned to France, and re-established the seminary, which he superintended till its dissolution in 1809.—J. B.  ALARY,, a French advocate and poet, who lived in the close of the sixteenth and beginning of the seventeenth century. He was born at Toulouse, and practised in the parliament of that city. An intricate lawsuit took him to Paris, where he lived several years, and where he published the most of his works. Among these were several poems; but the book in connection with which his name is best known, is entitled "Abrege des longues études, ou pierre philosophique des sciences."—J. B.  ALARY,, prior of Gournay-sur-Marne, and member of the French Academy, was born at Paris in 1689. He was a favourite pupil of the Abbé de Longuerue, and the correspondent of Lord Bolingbroke. Though distinguished for his acquirements, he was indifferent to literary fame, and has left no completed work. Died in 1770.  ALASCO or, one of the reformers of the sixteenth century, born in Poland in 1499, and connected with a family of high rank in that country. After his elementary education was finished, he visited the most celebrated European universities. On his return to Poland he was offered two bishoprics, but he chose rather to seek a sphere of action abroad. After visiting Wittenberg, where he became acquainted with Melancthon, he went to Emden in East Friesland, where he was appointed preacher, and where he was largely instrumental in completing the Reformation. In 1548, Cranmer, at the request of Edward VI., invited him to England, where he organized a congregation of foreign protestants who had taken refuge in London. On the accession of Mary these foreigners had to leave their asylum, and Alasco went with them to Denmark, but soon left that country, because his views on the Lord's Supper were inconsistent with the ritual adopted by the Danish church. At Frankfort he again organized a body of foreign protestants, consisting chiefly of those who had been under his care in London. In 1556 Alasco returned to Poland, and became one of the most zealous reformers in his native country. He was one of eighteen divines who undertook to prepare a Polish translation of the Bible; but he died in 1560, before the completion of the work. He has left various theological and controversial works.—J. B.  ALAS'HARI´,, founder of the sect of the Ash'arites, was born at Basrah about 860.  ALASHKAR or ALISHKAR,, an African rabbi, was, according to Rossi, judge or ruler of his people in Egypt, and has left various works on the Hebrew scriptures. <section end="87H" /> <section begin="87I" />ALATI´NO,, a Jewish physician, born at Spoleto, in Italy, towards the end of the sixteenth century. He wrote two Latin translations, one of Galen on the treatise of Hippocrates, "De aere, locis, et aquis," the other from the Hebrew of Themistius on Aristotle's work, "On the Heavens and the World." <section end="87I" /> <section begin="87J" />ALATI´NO,, a Jewish physician, born at Spoleto, the author of many medical works. He lived in the early part of the 16th century, and was chief physician to Pope Julius III. <section end="87J" /> <section begin="87K" />ALATI´NO,, better known as , was an Italian rabbi, who lived early in the sixteenth century. He wrote an Italian translation of some Hebrew verses by R. Nathan Jedidja ben Elieser. It was named "The Trumpet of the Angel of M. Angelo Alatrino the Jew, with some spiritual sonnets of the same." Venice, 1628. <section end="87K" /> <section begin="87L" />A´LAVA,, a Spanish general and statesman, was born at Vittoria in 1771, and died at Bareges in France, in 1843. During the usurpation of Joseph Bonaparte, he took the side of the French, and became known as a zealous "Afrancesado." About 1811 he returned to his duty, and served with some distinction under Wellington. After the peace, he was elected president of the Cortes, joined the liberal movement of 1822, under Generals Murillo and Ballasteros, and was employed on several diplomatic missions.—J. W. S <section end="87L" /> <section begin="87M" />ALAVA Y NAVARE´TE,, a Spanish sailor, a native of Vittoria, who, in 1779, joined the fleet of Admiral Cordova, engaged in the war with England. After serving for a number of years, he was appointed admiral, and sailed to South America, doubled Cape Horn, crossed the Pacific to the Philippines, touching at the Mariana isles, and rectifying many errors in the charts of the South and Asiatic seas. On his return he was made second in command of the fleet under Admiral Gravina, and fought at Trafalgar, where he was severely wounded. He was raised, in 1817, to the rank of high admiral and president of the board of admiralty. He died at Chiclana, near Cadiz, on the 26th May of the same year.—J. B. <section end="87M" /> <section begin="87N" />ALAVIN, a chief of the Goths, invaded the Eastern empire, and defeated Valens at Adrianople about 378. <section end="87N" /> <section begin="87O" />ALAWY, a Persian physician, was born at Schiraz in 1669, and died at Delhi in 1749. He enjoyed the friendship of the Emperor Aurengzebe, and afterwards that of Nadir Shah, whom he cured of the dropsy. His greatest work is the "Djenia Al Djervami," an encyclopedia of medical science. <section end="87O" /> <section begin="87P" />ALAYMO,, an Italian physician, was born at Regalbuto in 1590, and died in 1662 at Palermo, where he had rendered great services during the plague in 1624. <section end="87P" /> <section begin="87Q" />ALBA,, called by some writers , an Italian historical painter, born at Alba in Piedmont in 1460, studied and worked for some time in Rome. Having returned to his native place, he excited such admiration amongst his fellow-citizens, that they used to call him the "Modern Apelles." The many authentic pictures by this artist that are to be seen at Alba, Asti, Pavia, &c., and the few belonging to galleries, one especially at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, are very remarkable for intensity of expression and carefulness of execution, but leave much to desire as regards colour, which is still hard and poor. He is supposed to have died in 1520.—R. M. <section end="87Q" /> <section begin="87R" />ALBAN,, the English protomartyr, was a native of Verulam, one of the most populous cities in Roman Britain, in which place he held military rank. When Diocletian's persecution extended to Britain, Alban was yet a heathen; but having sheltered a Christian priest who was striving to escape his persecutors, was by him converted to the Christian faith. The Roman governor, hearing that the priest was concealed in Alban's house, sent soldiers to take him, when Alban, having previously secured the priest's retreat, presented himself in the dress of his guest. He was captured, and led before the governor. On confessing himself a Christian, he was scourged and then beheaded, after his saintly demeanour had won another convert to the gospel, in the person of the soldier who was appointed to behead him. The date of his martyrdom is variously given; the most probable is. 303; and after ages have disfigured the simple and affecting narrative, by the addition of various legends. The noble church which bears his name was founded at the place where he suffered martyrdom, by Offa, king of Mercia,. 793, in the room of one which had been destroyed by the pagan Saxons. Part of Offa's work still remains, and there are few spots so interesting to the English Christian as the abbey of St. Alban. The church of Rome celebrates this saint's memory on June 22nd; the church of England, June 17th.—J. B., O. <section end="87R" /> <section begin="87S" />ALBAND, and, scientific agriculturists, who flourished about the year 1770, and turned their attention to the improvement of heaths and worn-out meadow lands. <section end="87S" /> <section begin="87Zcontin" />ALBANI,, a celebrated Roman family, the founders of which came originally from Albania, having been expelled thence by the Turks. Several of the Albani became cardinals of the church of Rome, and one of them pope, with the title of Clement XI. The most famous of the name are the five following:—

, Cardinal, was born at Bergamo on the 3rd January, 1504, and died the 23d April, 1591 <section end="87Zcontin" />