Varna. An important fortified seaport of European Turkey, in Bulgaria, on the northern side of a semicircular bay, an inlet of the Black Sea, 180 miles north-northwest from Constantinople. A great battle was fought near this place, November 10, 1444, between the Turks under Amurath II. and the Hungarians under their king Ladislaus, and John Hunniades. The latter were defeated with great slaughter; the king was killed, and Hunniades made prisoner. The Christians had previously broken the truce for ten years, recently made at Szegedin. The emperor Nicholas of Russia arrived before Varna, the headquarters of his army, then besieging the place, August 5, 1828. The Turkish garrison made a vigorous attack on the besiegers, August 7, and another on August 21, but were repulsed. Varna surrendered, after a sanguinary conflict, to the Russian arms, October 11, 1828. It was restored at the peace in 1829; its fortifications were dismantled, but have since been restored. The allied armies disembarked at Varna, May 29, 1854, and remained there till they sailed for the Crimea, September 3, following. While at Varna they suffered severely from cholera.
Varveled. In heraldry, when the leather thongs which tie on the bells to the legs of hawks are borne flotant with rings at the end, the bearing is termed jessed, belled, and varveled.
Vascones. A powerful people on the northern coast of Hispania Tarraconensis, between the Iberus and the Pyrenees, in the modern Navarre and Guipuzco. Their chief towns were Pompelon and Calagurris. They were a brave people, and fought in battle bare-headed. Under the empire they were regarded as skillful diviners and prophets. Their name is still retained in that of the modern Basques.
Vassy. A town of France, in the department of the Upper Marne, 29 miles northwest from Chaumont. The massacre of the Protestants at this place by the Duke of Guise on March 1, 1562, led to the civil wars which desolated France to the end of the century.
Vaud. A canton which forms the western corner of Switzerland between the Jura and the Bernese Alps. After having been successively held by the Franks, kings of Burgundy, emperors of Germany, dukes of Zahringen, and dukes of Savoy, it was conquered by the Bernese, January, 1536, and annexed, 1554. Vaud was made independent in 1798, and joined the Confederation in 1815.
Vaunt-mure. In fortification, a false wall; a work raised in front of the main wall. This word is written also vaimure and vamure.
Vectis, or Vecta (now Isle of Wight). An island off the southern coast of Britain. It was conquered by Vespasian in the reign of Claudius.
Vedettes, or Videttes. Mounted sentinels stationed at the outposts of an army or encampment, and so posted at all the avenues and rising grounds, that they can best observe the approach of an enemy, and communicate by signal to their respective posts, as well as with each other, when any danger is to be apprehended.
Veii (now Isola Farnese). One of the most ancient and powerful cities of Etruria, situated on the river Crimera, about 12 miles from Rome. It possessed a strongly-fortified citadel, built on a hill rising precipitously from the deep glens which bound it, save at the single point where a narrow ridge unites it to the city. The Veientes were engaged in almost unceasing hostilities with Rome for more than three centuries and a half, and we have records of fourteen distinct wars between the two nations. Veii was at last taken by the dictator Camillus, after a siege of ten years, 396 B.C. The city fell into his hands, according to the common story, by means of a cuniculus, or mine, which was carried by Camillus from the Roman camp under the city into the citadel of Veii. The citizens were massacred or sold as slaves, and the land confiscated.
Vekilchares. A word used among the Turks, which signifies the same as fourrier in the French and corresponds with quartermaster.