Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIV.djvu/805

 SERTORIUS defeated the government troops at Alcolea, Sept. 28, and entered Madrid on Oct. 3. The junta made him president of the council and commander-in-chief of the army ; and in Feb- ruary, 1869, with the consent of the cortes, he assumed the executive power. The new eon- stitution was promulgated in June, and on the 15th, by a vote of the cortes, Serrano became regent. He resigned that office on the arrival of Amadeus to take the throne, Jan. 2, 1871, and was made prime minister. In April, 1872, he was appointed to the chief command of the forces sent against the Carlists, with whom he concluded in May the convention of Amoro- vieta; and on his return he succeeded Sagasta as head of the ministry. His concessions to the Carlists in the late convention were the cause of much popular dissatisfaction, but the cortes passed a vote of approval. The insurrection however was still active ; the republicans also threatened armed opposition ; and in the diffi- culties which beset Amadeus, Serrano sug- gested that the ministry should have the power to suspend the constitutional guarantees when they should deem it necessary. Amadeus re- fused; Serrano and his cabinet resigned, and he was succeeded by Zorrilla. After the proc- lamation of the republic following the abdica- tion of Amadeus (Feb. 11, 1873), Serrano was conspicuous in the opposition to the new gov- ernment, in April became implicated in a se- ditious movement, and fled from the country. With the restoration of quiet he soon returned, and in February, 1874, after the coup d'etat by Pavia, which followed the resignation of Cas- telar's administration, he was elected by the cortes president of the republic. He almost immediately placed himself at the head of the army against the Carlists, whom he engaged with varying success till May, when he re- turned to Madrid. In August he obtained a recognition of his government and the repub- lic by Great Britain, France, and Germany, in September resumed command of the army against the Carlists, and in January, 1875, retired from office on the proclamation of Alfonso XII. as king of Spain. SERTORIUS, Qiitotus, a Roman general, born at Nursia, in the country of the Sabines, about 121 B. 0., assassinated in 72. He distinguished himself in the campaign of Marius against the Cimbri and Teutons, was tribune in Spain under the prsetor Didius, joined the party of Cinna and Marius upon his return, and when Marius was driven from Italy raised fresh troops with Cinna and upheld the fortunes of the party. In the subsequent triumph of Ma- rius, Sertorius was the only one of his adherents who exhibited any moderation of conduct ; 'and so strongly was he incensed by the excesses committed at this time, that after the death of their chief he put to the sword 4,000 slaves who had been the body guard of Marius, and had perpetrated every possible crime against the citizens. When Sulla returned to Italy in 83, Sertorius obtained the post of proconsul of SERVETUS 779 Spain, where he governed with justice. An army having been sent against him by Sulla, he was forced after a temporary success to cross into Africa, where, joining the native princes, he defeated Sulla's general Paccianus. Returning to Spain, he placed himself at the head of the Lusitanians, and defeated the four Roman generals who held possession of the greater part of the country. His design was to found an independent power in Spain, in which the native Spaniards should enjoy equal rights with the Roman settlers. He gained the affection of the inhabitants, and impressed them with a superstitious awe by means of a white fawn which he pretended had been given to him by Diana. The Roman senate at length sent Pompey with a large force against Ser- torius, and the first battle took place near Su- cro. The force under the command of Per- perna was beaten by the Romans under Me- tellus; but the Romans under Pompey were beaten by Sertorius, and Pompey himself was wounded. Pompey was a second time beaten on the plains of Saguntum, and compelled to withdraw beyond the Pyrenees. Reenforced from Rome, he began a second campaign, but through the summer of 73 failed to bring Sertorius to battle or to gain any material advantage. An offer was finally made of 100 talents and 20,000 acres of land to any Roman citizen who should kill Sertorius ; and he was slain by conspirators at a banquet to which he had been invited by his own general Perperna. SERVAL (felis serval, Linn.), a carnivorous animal of the cat family, a native of southern Africa. It is about 4 ft. long, of which the tail is 15 in. ; the color above is ochrey yel- low, darkest on the back, and shading into white on the under parts; body with dark brown spots forming longitudinal marks on the neck and shoulders; inside of fore legs with two transverse black bands; tail tipped and Serval. ringed with black. The legs are rather long, the body slender, the head small and rounded, and the hair long and shaggy, especially on the flanks. It is about the size of the lynx, and preys upon the smaller mammals and birds ; is not very savage, and the young are gentle like the common cat. SERVANT. See MASTER AND SERVANT. SERVETIS, Michael, a Spanish author, born ai Villanueva, near Saragossa, in 1509, burned at