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 96 DIDIUS SALVIUS JULIANUS to the change afterward accomplished in the dramatic style in France. Ilis industry brought him money, but his careless manner of spend- ing it and his dissipated habits frequently in- volved him in pecuniary difficulties. In 1765 he was forced to offer his library for sale. Catharine II. of Russia purchased it for 15,000 francs, but on condition that he would be the keeper of it at a salary of 1,000 francs a year; she moreover ordered 50 years' income to be paid at once. When the Encyclopedic was completed, Diderot paid a visit to his protec- tress, and spent several months at her court, where he was treated with great respect. On his return to Paris he published two novels, Jacques le fataliste and La religiewe, and in 1779 his Essai sur les regnes de Claude et de Neron, which is merely an encomium of Seneca. His later years were passed in comparative quiet and comfort. He had been all his life considered an atheist, but during his last year he was frequently visited by the curate of St. Sulpice, with whom he was pleased to talk on religious subjects ; and if he did not consent to any recantation of his philosophical opinions, he showed no particular enmity to Christianity. He left an only daughter, Mme. de Vandeul, who wrote Memoires of his life. His friend Naigeon published an edition of his works in 15 vols. 8vo, 1798 ; but a more complete one, in 22 vols., appeared in 1822. To this must be added his Memoires et csuvres inedites, 4 vols. 8vo, printed in 1830. See Diderot's Leben und Werlce, by Rosenkranz (Leipsic, 1866). DIDIUS SALVIUS JULIANUS, Marcus, Roman emperor for a short time under the name of Marcus Didius Commodus Severus Julianus, born about A. D. 133, killed June 1, 193. Having filled successively the offices of quaestor, aadile, and prsetor, he was appointed to the command of a legion in Germany, and afterward to the government of Belgic Gaul. Here he showed much energy in repressing an insurrec- tion of the Chauci, and for this service he was made consul. He also distinguished himself against the Catti, was governor of Dalmatia and afterward of Lower Germany, and then took charge of the commissariat in Italy. After this he was governor of Bithynia in Asia Minor, was again consul in 179, and having filled the office of proconsul of Africa, returned to Rome, where he was made commander of the city guards. After the assassination of Pertinax, the praetorian guards offered the imperial throne to him who would pay the highest price ; and after a brisk bidding against Sulpicianus, pre- fect of the city, Didius obtained it. The sen- ate was obedient to the will of the unruly soldiery, and Didius was acknowledged em- peror. But whenever he appeared in public he was received with cries of " Robber and parricide." Moreover, he was not recognized as emperor by Septimius Severus, who held command of three legions in Illyria, by Clodius Albinus, nor by Pescennius Niger, who held like commands in Britain and Syria respective- DIDOT ly. Severus, having been proclaimed emperor by his troops, marched upon Rome, and was recognized by the senate. Deserted by his adherents, Didius was murdered in his palace by a common soldier, having reigned a little more than two months, and Septimius Severus established himself in his place. DIDO, or Elissa, a legendary Phoenician prin- cess and founder of Carthage, daughter of Mutgo, Belus, or Agenor, king of Tyre. Ac- cording to Justin, she was the wife of her un- cle Acerbas (the Sichseus of Virgil), priest of Hercules, who was murdered for his wealth by Pygmalion, the son and successor of Mutgo. Dido dissembled her sorrow, and with a num- ber of disaffected Tyrian nobles escaped from her native country, bearing the treasures of her murdered husband. The party first landed at the island of Cyprus, whence they carried off by force 80 maidens, and then pursuing their journey debarked on the coast of Africa, purchased as much land as might be covered with the hide of a bull, and by cutting the hide into thin strips enclosed a large tract of coun- try, on which the city of Carthage soon began to rise. (See CARTHAGE.) Their prosperity excited the jealousy of a neighboring chief, Hiarbas, who demanded the hand of Dido in marriage, and threatened war in case of refu- sal. The queen asked three months for con- sideration, at the end of which time she mount- ed upon a funeral pile and plunged a sword int her breast. Virgil represents her as killing herself on being abandoned by JEneas. DIDOT, the name of a French family of printers. The firm, now existing under tl name of Firmin Didot freres, was established in 1713 by FRANQOIS DIDOT, who made himself known by several important publications, and gained such popularity as to be appointed syn- dic of the booksellers' corporation. His two sons, FEANgois AMBROISE (1730-1804) and PIERRE FRANQOIS (1732-'95), increased the business, and paid especial attention to the printing department. While the latter estab- lished paper mills at Essonne, near Paris, the former materially improved the casting of types, the best specimens of which ever seen in France were from his foundery ; and his stand- ard editions were admired for their correctness and beauty. The Collection d'Artois (64 vols. 18mo), and the Collection des classiquesfrancais, printed at once in 4to, 8vo, and 18mo, by or- der of Louis XVI., are still highly valued. Among the sons of Pierre, HENRI, a type foun- der, is known for the microscopical types with which he printed some little volumes which are esteemed as gems of their kind ; and SAINT- LEGER engaged in the manufacture of paper. The sons of Francois Ambroise, PIERRE (1760- 1853) and FIRMIN (1764-1836), who succeeded their father at the beginning of the revolution, added to the good name of the firm by publish- ing magnificent folio editions of classic French and Latin writers, known as editions du Louvre. Firmin also aimed to furnish the general reader