Bandes d’Ordonnance.
A body of 3,000 cavalry which formed the only standing army of the Netherlands, circ. 1550.
Bank Charter Act, 1833.
An Act renewing the charter of the Bank of England, originally granted in 1694. It made the notes of the bank legal tender, and provided that the notes issued should bear to the specie in hand a ratio not exceeding three to one.
Bank Charter Act, 1844.
By this Act it was provided that the Bank of England should not issue notes in excess of £14,000,000, unless a corresponding reserve of specie were held. It also restricted the note issue of other banks, and provided that no banks established after the passing of the Act should have the right to issue notes.
Bar, Confederation of.
A league of Polish nobles, formed in 1876, with the object of dethroning Stanislas Augustus (Poniatowski), and freeing the country from foreign influence.
Barbarossa.
Frederick II, Emperor of Germany (1152-1190), so called from his red beard.