Nocera dei Pagani (anc. Nuceria Alfaterna). A town of Southern Italy, province and 8 miles northwest of Salerno. During the second Samnite war (315 B.C.) the Nucerians, who were on friendly terms with the Romans, were induced to abandon their alliance and make common cause with the Samnites, for which they were punished in 308 by the Roman consul Fabius, who invaded their territory, laid siege to their city, and compelled them to unqualified submission. In the second Punic war the city was besieged by Hannibal, and after a vigorous resistance was compelled by famine to surrender; it was given up to plunder and totally destroyed, while the surviving inhabitants took refuge in the other cities of Campania. It again became a flourishing town, and its territory was ravaged in the Social war, 90 B.C. The decisive battle between Narses and Teïas, which put an end to the Gothic monarchy in Italy (533 A.D.), was fought in its neighborhood. Its modern appellation is derived from the circumstance that in the 13th century a body of Saracens were established there by the emperor Frederick II.
Nogent-le-Rotrou. A parish and town of France, in the department of the Eure and Loire, 33 miles southwest from Chartres. Taken by the English in 1428.
Nola. A city of Italy, province of Terra di Lavoro, 14 miles east-northeast of Naples. The ancient Nola was founded by the Ausonians, but afterwards fell into the hands of the Tyrrheni (Etruscans). In 327 B.C. it was sufficiently powerful to send 2000 soldiers to the assistance of Neapolis. In 313 the town was taken by the Romans. It remained faithful to the Romans even after the battle of Cannæ, when the other Campanian towns revolted to Hannibal; and in consequence retained its own constitution as an ally of the Romans. In the Social war it fell into the hands of the confederates, and when taken by Sulla it was burnt to the ground by the Samnite garrison.
Nolan’s Range-finder. See [Range-finder].
Nolle Prosequi (Practice). An entry made on the record of courts-martial, by which the prosecutor or plaintiff declares that he will proceed no further. The effect of a nolle prosequi, when obtained, is to put the defendant without day, but it does not operate as an acquittal; for he may be afterwards re-indicted, and even upon the same indictment fresh process may be awarded.
Nomenclature. Technical designation. For [nomenclature of ordnance], see appropriate headings in this work.
Nominal. By name, hence nominal call, which corresponds with the French appel nominatif; and, in a military sense, with our roll-call.
Non-combatant. Any person connected with an army, or within the lines of an army, who does not make it his business to fight, as any one of the medical officers and their assistants, chaplains, and others, also any of the citizens of a place occupied by an army; also, any one holding a similar position with respect to the navy.
Non-commissioned Officers (Fr. sous-officers, Ger. unter-offizieren). Are the subordinate officers of the general staff, regiments, and companies who are appointed, not by commission, but by the secretary of war or commanding officers of regiments; and they are usually selected on account of good conduct or superior abilities.
Non-effective. Signifies men not fit or available for duty, in contradistinction to [effective] (which see).