A.
Acanzi. In military history, the name of the Turkish light-horse who formed the vanguard of the sultan’s army.
Adoni, or Adonani. A city in Hindostan, formerly strongly fortified; captured by Tippoo Sahib in 1787; sold to England after his death in 1800.
Afabuar (Fr.). Color-bearer of the ancient Icelanders. Every war-vessel had one of these officers aboard, who commanded the soldiers. These officers were selected for this duty for their bravery.
Alains (Fr.). People of ancient Sarmatia; they followed the Huns in their invasions, and penetrated as far as Spain in the 6th century.
Alexandria. A port in Egypt, where, on March 21, 1801, the French army destined by Napoleon Bonaparte to conquer Egypt, and afterwards proceed to India with hostile designs, was routed by the British under Sir Ralph Abercromby. The town capitulated to Hutchinson on September 2, 1801; and surrendered upon a subsequent occasion to Gen. Fraser, on March 20, 1807.
Allezoir. A frame of timber firmly suspended in the air with strong cordage, on which is placed a piece of ordnance with the muzzle downwards. In this situation the bore is rounded and enlarged by means of an instrument which has a very sharp and strong edge made to traverse the bore by force of machinery, or horses, and in a horizontal direction.
Allezures. The metal taken from the cannon by boring.
Ancient. A term formerly used to express the grand ensign or standard of an army.
Anspessade (Fr.). This term was originally used to denote dismounted horsemen, who were obliged to serve temporarily in the infantry, and who broke off the tops of their lances so as to reduce their length to that of the halberds of the sergeants. Also, a non-commissioned officer who acts subordinate to a corporal; a lance-corporal.
Antoninus, Wall of. Was a rampart or defense (the remains of which still exist under the name of Graham’s Dyke), which was erected in Scotland in 139 by the Romans against the incursions of the North Britons.
Aquileia (Istria). Made a Roman colony about 180 B.C., and fortified A.D. 168. Constantine II. was slain in a battle with Constans, fought at Aquileia towards the close of March, 340. Maximus was defeated and slain by Theodosius, near Aquileia, July 28, 388. Theodosius defeated Eugenius and Arbogastes, the Gaul, near Aquileia, and remained sole emperor, September 6, 394. Eugenius was put to death, and Arbogastes died by his own hand, mortified by his overthrow. In 452 Aquileia was almost totally destroyed by Attila the Hun, and near it in 489 Theodoric and the Ostrogoths totally defeated Odoacer, the king of Italy.
Auberoche, Guienne. In Southern France. The Earl of Derby defeated the French, besieging this place, August 19, 1344.
Auray (Northwest France), Here on September 29, 1364, the English under John Chandos defeated the French and captured their leader, Du Guesclin. Charles of Blois, made duke of Brittany by the king of France, was slain, and a peace was made in April, 1365.