Burgos. A city of Spain, capital of the new province of the same name, was founded in 844; sacked by the French in 1808; in 1812 the castle was four times unsuccessfully besieged by Wellington, who, however, took it in the following year, when the French blew it up, as well as the fortifications.
Burguete. A town of Navarre, Spain. Here the army of Charlemagne was defeated in 778.
Burgundy. A large province in France, derives its name from the Burgundians, a Gothic tribe who overran Gaul in 275, but were driven out by the Emperor Probus; they returned in 287, and were defeated by Maximin. In 413 they established a kingdom, comprising the present Burgundy, large parts of Switzerland, with Alsace, Savoy, Provence, etc., Gondicaire, their leader, the first king. It was conquered by the Franks, 534. Annexed to France, 1477.
Burhampoor. A town of Hindostan, in the province of Bengal. It is one of the military stations of the British government; and the cantonments, consisting of a grand square inclosing a fine parade ground, command the notice of the traveler. It was captured by the English troops under Col. Stevenson in 1803.
Burial Honors. See [Funeral Honors].
Burich. A small town in the circle of Lower Rhine; its fortifications were burned by the French in 1672.
Burkersdorf. A village of Austria, where a combat took place between the Prussians and Austrians, July 21, 1762, in which the former were victorious.
Burley. The butt end of a lance.
Burlington Heights. Here a fierce contest took place between the British and the U. S. forces, June 6, 1813. The British carried the heights.
Burmah, Burma, or Birmah. Also called the Burmese empire, or kingdom of Ava, formerly the most extensive and powerful state in Farther India. The most celebrated ruler of the country was Alompra, the founder of the present dynasty, who reigned about the middle of the 18th century. The Burmese became involved in a war with the English 1824-26, which terminated in the curtailment of their power and the loss of several provinces.