Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) González de Ávila, Gil hēl gōnthäˈlĕth dā äˈvēlä [key], d. 1543, Spanish conquistador. Despite the opposition of Pedro Arias de Ávila, he conquered Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua in ...

(Encyclopedia) Bagnères-de-Luchon bänyĕrˌ-də-lüshôNˈ [key], town, Haute-Garonne dept., S France, at the foot of the Maladetta Mts. It is an important resort in the Pyrenees. Its warm sulfur springs have been...

(Encyclopedia) Mont-de-Marsan môN-də-märsäNˈ [key], town (1990 pop. 31,864), capital of Landes dept., SW France. It is a commercial center where important fairs are held. The town's products include lumber, goo...

(Encyclopedia) Bobadilla, Francisco de fränthēsˈkō dā bōbädēˈlyä [key], d. 1502, Spanish colonial governor. He superseded Columbus in the West Indies (1500) and sent him home as a prisoner. Recalled in 150...

(Encyclopedia) Gata, Sierra de syārˈrä ᵺā gäˈtä [key], mountain range, W Spain. Between the valleys of the Douro and Tagus rivers, it separates León from Extremadura. Its highest point is the Jálama peak ...

(Encyclopedia) Girardin, Delphine Gay de dĕlfēnˈ gā də zhērärdăNˈ [key], 1804–55, French writer; wife of Émile de Girardin. She wrote patriotic poems and, under the pseudonym Vicomte Charles de Launay, w...

(Encyclopedia) Narváez, Pánfilo de pänˈfēlō ᵺā närväˈĕth [key], c.1470–1528, Spanish conquistador. After service in Jamaica, he aided Diego de Velázquez in conquering Cuba and was sent (1520) to Mexi...

(Encyclopedia) Mariana, Juan de hwän dā märyäˈnä [key], 1536?–1623?, Spanish historian and political philosopher, a Jesuit. He taught in Rome and in Paris before going to Toledo, where he wrote his two great...

(Encyclopedia) Herrera, Francisco de ᵺā ārāˈrä [key], c.1576–1656, Spanish painter, engraver, miniaturist, and draftsman. He worked in Seville most of his life, executing religious and genre subjects. His ...

(Encyclopedia) Ronsard, Pierre de pyĕr də rôNsärˈ [key], 1524–1585, French poet. As page, then squire, Ronsard seemed destined for a career at court both in France and abroad. However, deafness turned him to ...