She is

render, she was confined in the castle of San Angelo, but soon set at liberty, though never restored to her dominions. She died soon after. praised by a French historian for her talents, courage, military powers, and her beauty.

SFORZA, ISABELLA, of the same family as the preceding, was distinguished in the sixteenth century for her learning. Her letters possessed great merit. One of them is a letter of consolation, written to Bonna Sforza, widow of the king of Poland; and one was in vindication of poetry.

CATHARINE,

DAUGHTER of Charles VI. of France, and Isabella of Bavaria, married Henry V. of England, and after his death, Owen Tudor, a Welshman, by whom she had Edmund, the father of Henry VII. She died in 1438. She was celebrated for her beauty.

CATHARINE, ST.,

Was born at Sienna, in 1347. The monks relate of this saint, that she became a nun of St. Dominic at the age of seven, that she saw numberless visions, and wrought many miracles while quite young, and that she conversed face to face with Christ, and was actually married to him. Her influence was so great that she reconciled pope Gregory XI. to the people of Avignon, in 1376, after he had excommunicated them; and in 1377, she prevailed on him to re-establish the pontifical seat at Rome, seventy years after Clement V. had removed it to France. She died April 30th, 1380, aged thirty-three, and was canonized by Pius II., in 1461. Her works consist of letters, poems, and devotional pieces.

CATHARINE, ST.,

WAS a noble virgin of Alexandria. Having been instructed in literature and the sciences, she was afterwards converted to Christianity, and by order of the emperor Maximinian she disputed with fifty heathen philosophers, who, being reduced to silence by her arguments and her eloquence, were all to a man converted, and suffered martyrdom

in consequence. From this circumstance, and her great learning, she is considered in the Romish church as the patron saint of philosophy, literature, and schools. She was afterwards condemned to suffer death, and the emperor ordered her to be crushed between wheels of iron, armed with sharp blades; the wheels, however, were marvellously broken asunder, as the monks declare, and, all other means of death being rendered abortive, she was beheaded in the year 310, at the age of eighteen. Her body being afterwards discovered on Mount Sinai, gave rise to the order of the Knights of St. Catharine.

CATHARINE OF VALOIS,

SURNAMED the Fair, was the youngest child of Charles VI. and Isabeau of Bavaria. She was born October 27th, 1401, at the Hotel de St. Paul, Paris, during her father's interval of insanity. She was entirely neglected by her mother, who joined with the king's brother, the duke of Orleans, in pilfering the revenues of the household. On the recovery of Charles, Isabeau fled with the duke of Orleans to Milan, followed by her children, who were pursued and brought back by the duke of Burgundy. Catharine was educated in the convent at Poissy, where her sister Marie was consecrated, and was married to Henry V. of England, June 3, 1420. Henry V. had previously conquered nearly the whole of France, and received with his bride the promise of the regency of France, as the king was again insane, and on the death of Charles VI. the sovereignty of that country, to the exclusion of Catharine's brother and three older sisters. Catharine was crowned in 1421, and her son, afterwards Henry VI., was born at Windsor in the same year, during the absence of Henry V. in France. The queen joined her husband at Paris in 1422, leaving her infant son in England, and was with him, when he died, at the Castle of Vincennes, in August 1422. Some years afterwards Catharine married Owen Tudor, an officer of Welsh extraction, who was clerk of the queen's wardrobe. This marriage was kept concealed several years, and Catharine, who was a devoted mother, seems to have lived very happily with her husband. The guardians of her son, the young Henry VI., at length suspected it, and exhibited such violent resentment, that Catharine either took refuge, during the summer of 1436, in the abbey of Bermondsey, or was sent there under some restraint. Her children (she had four by Owen Tudor) were torn from her, which cruelty probably hastened the death of the poor queen. She was ill during the summer and autumn, and died January, 1437. The nuns, who piously attended her, declared she was a sincere penitent. She had disregarded the injunctions of her royal husband, Henry V., in choosing Windsor as the birth-place of the heir of England; and she had never believed the prediction, that "Henry of Windsor shall lose all that Henry of Monmouth had gained." But during her illness she became fearful of the result, and sorely repented her disobedience of her husband.

CATHARINE, ST.,

A SAINT of the Romish church canonized by pope Clement VII. She was born at Bologna in 1413, and admitted a nun at Ferrara, in 1432. She was afterwards abbess of a convent at Bologna, where she died in 1463. She wrote a book of "Revelations," and several pieces in Latin and Italian.

CERETA,

LAURA, an Italian lady, born at Brescia, eminent for her knowledge of philosophy and the learned languages. She became a widow early in life, and then devoted herself entirely to literary labours. Her Latin letters appeared at Padua in 1680. She died in 1498, aged twenty-nine. Her husband's name was Pedro Serini.

CHRODIELDE,

A NUN of the convent founded by Radegonde at Poitiers, was the cause of the temporary dispersion of this powerful community. Soon after Radegonde's death, which occurred in 590, Chrodielde, who pretended that she was the daughter of the late king Cheribert, induced many of the nuns to take an oath, that as soon as she succeeded in forcing the abbess Leubovére to leave the convent, by accusing her of several crimes, they would place her at their head. She then, with more than forty nuns, among whom was Basine, daughter of Chilperic, went to Tours, where she wished to place her companions under the care of Gregory, bishop of Tours, while she went to lay her complaint before Gentran, king of Burgundy. Gregory advised her to return, but in vain; and Chrodielde went to make her petition to the king, who promised to examine into the cause of her dissatisfaction. Chrodielde would not return to the cloister, but went with her companions into the cathedral of St. Hilary, while the bishops, whom the king had sent, were investigating the affair. Here she collected around her for her defence, thieves, murderers, and criminals of all kinds, who drove away with violence the bishops who came to disperse them. Childebert, king of

France, sent orders that these disturbances should be repressed by force if necessary; but Chrodielde, at the head of her banditti, made such a valiant resistance, that it was with difficulty the king's orders were executed. The abbess of St. Radegonde was tried by the tribunal of bishops, on the charges of severity, ill-treatment, and sacrilege, which Chrodielde had preferred against her, and found entirely innocent of everything but too great indulgence. Chrodielde and her followers were excommunicated on account of their violent conduct, and their attack on the convent, and on the abbess Leubovére, and the nuns, whom they had maltreated and wounded, even in their oratories. Leubovére they had drawn through the streets by the hair, and afterwards imprisoned.

LARA,

A NATIVE of Assisi, in Italy, of respectable parentage, early devoted herself to a religious and recluse life. Her example was followed by her sister Agnes, and other female friends. She obtained from St. Francis d'Assisi the church of Damain, and became abbess of a new order of nuns, which she there established. She died in 1193, aged one hundred, and was canonized by Alexander IV.

CLELIA,

A YOUNG Roman girl, whose courage and patriotism entitle her to a place among the distinguished of her sex. She was one of ten virgins who were sent as hostages by the Roman senate to Porsena. The young Clelia hated the enemies of her people, and resolved not to live among them. One day while walking near the Tiber with her companions, she persuaded them to throw themselves with her in the river, swim to the opposite shore, and then return to Rome. Her eloquence prevailed upon them, and they all reached their home in safety, although they had to accomplish the feat amidst a shower of arrows that were poured upon them by the enemy. But the consul, Publicola, did not approve of the bold deed, and sent the poor maidens back to king Porsena's camp. Porsena was moved by the courage of the girls and the generosity of the Romans, and gave them their liberty; and to Clelia in addition, as a mark of his particular esteem, a noble charger splendidly caparisoned. Rome then erected, in the Via Sacra, an equestrian statue in honour of the fair heroine, which Plutarch mentions in his writings.

CLOTILDE,

WIFE of Clovis, king of France, was the daughter of Chilperic, third son of Gandive, king of Burgundy. Gandive dying in 470, left his kingdom to his four sons, who were for three years engaged in a constant contest to obtain the entire control of the country. At length the two elder princes succeeded. Chilperic and Godemar were murdered, Chilperic's wife was drowned, his two sons killed, his eldest daughter placed in a convent, and Clotilde, still very young, confined in a castle. Clovis, hearing of her beauty, virtues,

and misfortunes, and besides wishing to have an excuse for extending his dominions, sent to demand her in marriage of her uncle, who was afraid to refuse the alliance, though he foresaw the disasters it might bring on his country. Clotilde was married to Clovis in 493, at Soissons. She then devoted her whole life to the fulfilment of two great designs; one was to convert her husband, still a pagan, to the Christian faith; and the other to revenge on her uncle Gondebaud, the deaths of her father, mother, and brothers. She at length succeeded in the first object, and Clovis was baptized in 496, together with his sister Alboflede and three thousand warriors, on the occasion of a victory he obtained through the intercession of the god of Clotilde, as he thought. Clovis next turned his arms against Gondebaud, and conquered him, but left him in possession of his kingdom. Clovis died in 511, and Clotilde retired to Tours, but used all her influence to induce her three sons to revenge her injuries still more effectually; and in a battle with the Burgundians her eldest and best-beloved son Chlodomir was slain. He left three young sons, of whom Clotilde took charge, intending to educate them, and put them in possession of their father's inheritance. She brought them with her to Paris, when her two remaining sons obtained possession of them, and sent to her to know whether they should place them in a monastery or put them to death.

Overcome by distress, Clotilde exclaimed, "Let them perish by the sword rather than live ignominiously in a cloister." The two elder children were killed, but the younger one was saved, and died a priest. After this catastrophe, Clotilde again retired to Tours, where she passed her time in acts of devotion. She died in 545. She was buried at Paris, by the side of her husband and St. Genevieve, and was canonized after her death.

CLOTILDE,

THE unfortunate queen of the Goths, was daughter of Clovis and Clotilde of France. She married Amalaric, who was an Arian, while she was a pious Catholic. She was so persecuted by her subjects for her faith, that her life was in danger, while her bigoted husband united with her foes in abusing her. She at last applied to her three brothers, who then governed the divided kingdom of the Franks, sending to Chilperic, king of Paris, her eldest brother, a handkerchief saturated with the blood drawn from her by the blows of her barbarous husband. Her brothers took up arms to revenge her cause, and in this bloody war the cruel Amalaric was slain. Clotilde returned to her native France, and died soon after, about 535. She was a pious and amiable woman.

COLONNA,

VITTORIA, daughter of Fabricio, duke of Paliano, was born at Marino in 1490, and married in 1507, Francesco, Marquis of Pescara. Her poems have often been published, and are highly and deservedly admired. Her husband died in 1525, and she determined to spend the remainder of her

life in religious seclusion, although various proposals of marriage were made to her. Her beauty, talents, and virtue, were extolled by her contemporaries, among others by Michael Angelo and Ariosto. She died in 1547, at Rome. She was affianced to the Marquis of Pescara in childhood, and as they grew up a very tender affection increased with their years. Congenial in tastes, of the same age, their union was the model of a happy marriage. Circumstances showed whose mind was of the firmer texture and higher tone. Francesco having exhibited extraordinary valour and generalship at the battle of Pavia, was thought of importance enough to be bribed; a negotiation was set on foot to offer him the crown of Naples, if he would betray the sovereign to whom he had sworn fealty. The lure was powerful, and Francesco lent a willing ear to these propositions, when Vittoria came to the aid of his yielding virtue. She sent him that remarkable letter, where, among other things, she says, "Your virtue may raise you above the glory of being king. The sort of honour that goes down to our children with real lustre is derived from our deeds and qualities, not from power or titles. For myself, I do not wish to be the wife of a king, but of a general who can make himself superior to the greatest king, not only by courage, but by magnanimity, and superiority to any less elevated motive than duty."

COMNENUS,

ANNA, daughter to the Greek emperor Alexius Comnenus, flourished about 1118, and wrote fifteen books on the life and actions of her father, which she called "The Alexiad." Eight of these books were published by Hæschelius in 1610, and the whole of them with a Latin version in 1651; to another edition of which, in 1670, the learned Charles du Fresne added historical and philological notes.

The authors of the "Journal des Savans," for 1675, have spoken as follows of this learned and accomplished lady. "The elegance with which Anna Comnenus has described the life and actions of her father, and the strong and eloquent manner

with which she has set them off, are so much above the ordinary understanding of women, that one is almost ready to doubt whether she was indeed the author of those books. It is certain that we cannot read her descriptions of countries, towns, rivers, mountains, battles, sieges, her reflections upon particular events, the judgments she passes on human actions, and the digressions she makes on many occasions, without perceiving that she must have been very well skilled in grammar, rhetoric, philosophy, mathematics, physic and divinity; all of which is very uncommon in any of that sex."

CONSTANCE,

DAUGHTER of Conan, duke of Brittany, wife of Geoffrey Plantagenet, son of Henry II., king of England. She was contracted to him while they were both in the cradle, and, by her right, Geoffrey became duke of Brittany. By him she had two children, Eleanor, called the Maid of Brittany, and Arthur, who was born after the death of his father. She afterwards married Ralph Blundeville, earl of Chester, who suspected her of an intrigue with John of England, his most bitter enemy. He obtained a divorce, and Constance married Guy, brother of the viscount de Thouars. She had by him a daughter, Alix, whom the Bretons, on the refusal of John to set free her elder sister, elected for their sovereign. The king of France, and Richard Coeur de Lion, king of England, both claimed Brittany as a fief. Constance, to keep it in her own name, fomented divisions between the sovereigns. On the death of Richard, it was found that he had left the kingdom to his brother John, instead of his nephew Arthur, to whom it rightfully belonged. Constance resented this injustice, and being a woman of judgment and courage, might have reinstated her son in his rights, if she had not died before she had an opportunity of asserting his claims. She died in 1202. Her eldest daughter was kept all her life in prison.

CONTARINI,

GABRIELLO CATTERINA, of Agolfio. No exact date of her birth is to be procured; that she lived towards the end of the fifteenth century is indubitable. She possessed a very fertile vein of poetic fancy. Her poetry manifests natural facility in composing, as well as considerable erudition. She was distinguished for her pleasing manners and solid virtues. Her works are, "Life of St. Francesco," a poem; "Life of St. Waldo," a poem ; five odes, seven canzonets, and some occasional poems.

COPPOLI,

ELENA OF CECILIA, of Perugia, born 1425, died 1500. This learned woman was the daughter of Francesco Coppoli. In the twenty-seventh year of her age she entered the religious house of Santa Lucia, and became a member of the sisterhood. She was an intimate friend of the famous Porcellio, who addressed many Latin poems to her. She was not only mistress of the Greek and Latin, but well acquainted with elegant literature. She

CATERINA, queen of Cyprus. At the court of James IV., king of Cyprus, resided a Venetian gentleman, exiled for some youthful indiscretions. He found especial favour with his adopted monarch, and rose to an intimate intercourse with him. One day, happening to stoop, he let fall a miniature, which represented so beautiful a face that the king eagerly inquired about the original. After stimulating his curiosity by affecting a discreet reserve, he acknowledged it to be the likeness of his niece. In subsequent conversations he artfully praised this young lady, and so wrought upon the sovereign that he resolved to take her for his wife. This honourable proposal being transmitted to Venice, she was adopted by the state, and sent as a daughter of the republic-a mode often adopted by that oligarchy for forming alliances with foreign powers. The fine climate and rich soil of Cyprus -an island so favoured by nature, that the ancients dedicated it to the queen of beauty and love-had made it always a coveted spot of earth. After the dominion of the Ptolemies, it was governed successively by the Arabs, the Comneni, and the Templars. In 1192, it fell into the possession of Guy de Lusignan. Fourteen kings of that house kept the dominion for 240 years, until the accession of John III., a weak man, who resigned all power to his wife Elena, a woman of haughty disposition, and an object of public dislike. This king had two children, a daughter, Carlotta, married to John of Portugal, and residing in the island, and a son who was illegitimate, James. Elena, that there might be no danger of his rivalling her daughter in the succession, had

obliged him to take monastic vows; and he was subsequently made archbishop of the kingdom; but he entertaining ambitious views, obtained a dispensation, resigned his ecclesiastical dignity, and upon the death of his father openly offered himself as heir and claimant to the throne. Carlotta had lost her husband. She maintained an opposition to her natural brother with various success, but the people had imbibed so thorough a disgust of her mother's domination, that she met with obstacles everywhere, and James obtained triumphant success. He had been for some years peaceably possessed of the crown, when he married the beautiful Venetian. His wedded felicity was of short duration; he died, leaving the queen in a state of pregnancy. Venice stepped in to support her claims to a regency, which she obtained without much difficulty. She gave birth to a son, who lived but two years. Here Carlotta appears again on the scene; she raised troops and began a war, but the Venetian republic had determined upon the fate of Cyprus. Her power easily defeated the pretender Carlotta, and when Catherine was proclaimed queen, as easily procured her abdication in favour of the state of Venice. After various forms, and overpowering some opposition, Cyprus was annexed to the republic of Venice, in 1489, the 20th of June. Catherine returned to her country and family, where she passed so obscure a life that no historian has taken the pains to note the period of her death.

Her name remains in the archives of Venice, because through her means a kingdom was acquired. Her features enjoy immortality, for she was painted by Titian.

CUNEGONDE,

DAUGHTER of Ligefroi, count of Luxembourg, married the emperor Henry II. of Germany, by whom she had no children. She has been accused by some historians of incontinence, while others regard her as ill-treated by her husband, after whose death, in 1024, she retired to a monastery.

D.

D'ANDALO, or BRANCALEONE GALEANA. NOTHING is known of the early youth of this lady, but that she belonged to the noble house of Saviolo of Bologna. She lived in the thirteenth century, a melancholy epoch for Italy, divided, and torn to pieces by factions and princely demagogues. In 1251 her husband, Brancaleone D'Andalo, was selected by the upper council of Bologna to go to Rome, where the imbecile administration wished to confer on him the dignity of Senator, and to obtain the advantage of his services in appeasing their dissensions. He declined going until they sent hostages to Bologna. Galeana remained at Bologna to receive these noble Romans, and upon their arrival wrote to her husband a very elegant Latin letter, describing them and their reception. She then proceeded to Rome, where she found D'Andalo precipitated from his

honours-the caprice of popular favour had turned he was in a dungeon and his life menaced. Struck with horror, she sunk not under this blow, but courageously presented herself to the council, and with a manly eloquence did this Bolognese matron appeal to the public faith; and solemnly one by one call upon the weak and perfidious individuals who had invited her husband to this snare. The good cause triumphed; Galeana had the felicity of returning home with D'Andalo, endeared to him by her virtuous exertions. She died in 1274.

DANTI,

THEODORA, an Italian artist, was born at Perugia, in 1498, and died there in 1573. She painted small pictures in the manner of Pietro Perugino, in an excellent style. She also excelled in mathematics, in which science she instructed one of her nephews, who, with his aunt, acquired great reputation for learning.

DESMOND,

CATHARINE FITZGERALD, countess of, who attained the age of one hundred and forty-five years, was daughter of the house of Drumana, in the county of Waterford, Ireland, and second wife of James, twelfth earl of Desmond, to whom she was married in the reign of Edward IV. (1461), and being on that occasion presented at court, she danced with the duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III. The beauty and vivacity of lady Desmond rendered her an object of attraction to a very advanced age, and she had passed her hundredth year before she could refrain from dancing, or mingling in gay assemblies. She resided at Inchiquin, in Munster, and held her jointure as dowager from many successive earls of Desmond, till the family being by an attainder deprived of the estate, she was reduced to poverty. Although then one hundred and forty, she went to London, laid her case before James I., and obtained relief. Sir Walter Raleigh was well acquainted with this lady, and mentions her as a prodigy. Lord Bacon informs us that she had three new sets of natural