P. 489, c. 1—“Benedict.” Saint. (480-543). A native of Italy. While a student at Rome he became so disgusted with its vices that he fled to the desert of Subiaco. Finally, being unable to remain concealed, he built a monastery and formed the Benedictine order.
P. 489, c. 1—“Glebes.” The farms and lands belonging to a monastery, or any ecclesiastical organization, are called Glebes.
P. 489, c. 1—“Ivan the Fourth.” (1533-84). Called the Terrible from the horrible energy which he showed in restoring to order his rebellious subjects. He did more for improving the material interests of his kingdom than any of his predecessors, enlarging the army and advancing commerce. Especially important was his treaty with Queen Elizabeth after the discovery by the English of a sea-passage to Archangel. In 1570 he put to death 60,000 citizens of Novgorod, which he hated on account of its independent spirit. Almost as cruel were his massacres in Tver and Moscow.
P. 489, c. 1—“Peter the Great.” He was born in 1672; began to reign, jointly with his brother Ivan, in 1682, his sister being regent. Peter, however, soon obtained complete control. At once his energy began to display itself. The army was reorganized, the czar going through every grade of service, and requiring his nobles to do the same. Shipwrights from other countries were employed to build a navy, and as he had no sea-ports but those on the White Sea, he declared war against Turkey and took Azof. He visited many countries of Europe to study their civilization; sent his young nobles with their wives, to the European courts to polish their manners; introduced men of learning and established much needed schools. Indeed, every conceivable reform was carried on. His wars were principally with Charles XII, of Sweden, (short accounts of which have already been given), with Turkey, and with Persia. He died in 1725.
P. 489, c. 1—“Catherine the Second.” See note on Scandinavian History, present number.
P. 489, c. 2—“Ar-chi-măn´drīte.” Literally, the chief monk. The title in the Greek church corresponds to abbot in the Catholic church.
P. 489, c. 2—“Bells.” The bells of Russia are the most famous of the world. Before the great fire there were in Moscow alone, 1,706. Of these the Tsar Kolokol is the largest. This “king of bells” was cast in 1733 from the fragments of what had been the giant bell of Moscow, but had fallen from its support and been broken. The Tsar bell is said to weigh 443,772 pounds, and to be worth $300,000. It is not now hanging, and it is not known whether it has ever been. It stands on a granite pedestal, and has been consecrated as a chapel.
P. 489, c. 2—“Krŏt´kī.”
P. 489, c. 2—“Debonair,” dĕb-o-nar´. Anglicized from the French expression de bon air—of fine bearing or appearance,—so in its present use, as an adjective, it means courteous or gentle.
P. 489, c. 2—“Dmĭt´rī.”