Leon. A province of Spain, subdivided into the smaller provinces of Salamanca, Zumor, and Leon. The kingdom of Leon was erected in 746, by Alfonso the Catholic, out of the provinces he had wrested from the Saracens and the older kingdom of Asturias, and in 1230 it was permanently united to Castile. During the Peninsular war it suffered greatly.
Lepanto (anc. Naupactus). Called by the Greek peasants Epakto, a seaport town of Greece, 12 miles northeast from Patras. The name Naupactus is said to have originated with the Heraclidæ, who are reported to have there built the fleet with which they invaded the Peloponnesus. After the Persian war it fell into the possession of the Athenians, who settled it with the expatriated Messenians. The Athenians made it their chief military station in Western Greece during the Peloponnesian war. At its close Lepanto was taken by the Locrians, and afterwards passed in succession through the hands of the Etolians, Macedonians, Achæans, and Romans. In 1475 it was invested by the Turks, who, after the loss of 30,000 men in four months, were forced to raise the siege. Within the Gulf of Lepanto, in 1571, was fought the great naval engagement between the Ottomans and the Christian powers of the Mediterranean, under Don John of Austria, in which the former lost about 200 galleys and 20,000 men.
Lerida. A town of Spain, in Catalonia, on the Segre, 80 miles northwest from Barcelona. In 1707 this place was stormed by the French, and in 1810 it was again taken by French troops under Suchet.
Lesse (Fr.). A machine covered with raw hides, used as a mantelet by the ancient Greeks for different purposes.
Let Off, To. To discharge; to let fly, as an arrow; or fire the charge of, as a gun.
Letter Stamp. See [Inspection of Cannon].
Letters Patent. The written instrument by which a government grants to an inventor the exclusive right and use of his invention for a term of years.
Lettre de Cachet (Fr.). An infamous state paper, which existed before the French revolution, which was sealed, and the person upon whom it was served carried into confinement without ever seeing the authority by which he was hurried off in so peremptory a manner, or being tried afterwards for any specific offense. It was always written by the king, countersigned by one of his principal secretaries of state, and sealed with the royal signet.
Lettre de Passe (Fr.). A paper which was formerly signed by the kings of France, authorizing an officer to exchange from one regiment into another.
Leuctra. A village of Bœotia, situated between Thespia and Platæa, in the territory of the former, celebrated as the scene of the great battle between the Spartans, commanded by Cleombrotus, and the Thebans, under Epaminondas, in which the former were defeated, and the supremacy of Sparta finally overthrown.