The Flight to Varennes was the unsuccessful attempt by Louis XVI to escape from France and join the exiled royalists in June 1791. He had been prevented from leaving Paris in April 1791, and elaborate plans for an escape were made. On the night of the 20th of June the royal party, disguised and with forged passports, left Paris. However, they were recognised by a postmaster, pursued, and stopped at Varennes. The fugitives were returned and became virtual prisoners in the Tuileries. Research Flight to Varennes
The oath of abjuration was an oath which by an English act passed in 1701 had to be taken by all holders of public offices, clergymen, teachers, members of the universities, and lawyers, adjuring and renouncing the exiled Stuarts. It was superseded in 1858 by a more comprehensive oath, declaring allegiance to the present royal family. Abjuration of the realm was an oath that a person guilty of felony, and who had taken sanctuary, might take to go into exile, and not return on pain of death. Research Oath of Abjuration
Abbas Himi Pasha was the last Khedive of Egypt. He was born in 1874 at Alexandria and died in 1944. He attempted to rule Egypt independently of British influence and in 1914 with the outbreak of war sided with Turkey, being deposed and exiled later that year when Britain made Egypt a protectorate. Research Abbas Pasha
Abd-el-Krim ('The Wolf Of The RifMountains') was a Moroccan Berber chief, revolutionary and founder of the North African Liberation Committee. He was born in 1880 at Adjir and died in 1963. Leading unsuccessful revolts against the Spanish and French occupiers of Morocco during the early 1920's he formed the Republic of the Rif and served as its President from 1921 to 1926 before being defeated by a Franco-Spanish army and exiled on the island of Reunion. He was granted amnesty in 1947 and went to Egypt where he formed the North African Liberation Committee. Research Abd-el-Krim
Abd-ul-Hamid II also known as Abdul Hamid II ('The Great Assassin') was the last Sultan of Turkey. He was born in 1842 at Constantinople (now Istanbul) and died in 1918. He succeeded his brother Murad V, who was deposed on proof of his insanity in 1876, as Sultan.
Abd-ul-Hamid passed the first Ottoman constitution in 1876. At that time Turkey, which was at war with Serbia, was compelled to agree to an armistice at the demand of Russia. The persecution and oppression of the Christian population of Bulgaria had roused remonstrances from other European countries, and a congress met at Constantinople (Istanbul) to consider a constitution which the Porte had proclaimed. The conference was a failure, and in April, 1877, war was declared by Russia. During the sanguinary struggle which ensued the Turks fought with great bravery, but they had ultimately to sue for peace. A treaty was signed at San Stefano in February 1878, but its provisions were modified by a congress of the great powers which met at Berlin. Turkey was compelled to part with some of its choicest provinces, while the sultan also ceded the island of Cyprus to be occupied and administered by Britain, which in turn agreed to guarantee his Asiatic dominions to the sultan.
Abd-ul-Hamid suspended the Ottoman constitution in 1878 and thereafter ruling as absolute monarch. Abd-ul-Hamid's reign was further disturbed in 1885 by a revolution in Eastern Rumelia, and was stained by the massacre of many thousands of Armenians.
Revolution in Turkey forced him to restore the constitution in 1908 and summon a parliament, in 1909 he attempted a counter-revolution and was deposed and exiled. Research Abd-ul-Hamid II
Andocides was an Athenian orator. He was born in 467 BC and died about 393 BC. He took an active part in public affairs, and was four times exiled; the first time along with Alcibiades, for profaning the Eleusinian mysteries. Several of his orations are extant. Research Andocides
Anna Ivanovna was Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740. She was born in 1693 and died in 1740. She was the daughter of Ivan, the elder half-brother of Peter the Great. She was married in 1710 to the Duke of Courland, in the following year was left a widow, and on the death of Peter II in 1730 she succeeded to the throne on the condition proposed by the senate, that she would limit the absolute power of the czars, and do nothing without the advice of the council composed of the leading members of the Russian aristocracy. However she declared herself autocratic, and gave supreme power to her favourite, Biron, who ruled her empire with intolerable tyranny and oppression. Several of the leading nobles were executed, and many thousand men exiled to Siberia. On her death, Anna Ivanovna left the throne to Ivan, son of her niece, Anna Carlovna. Research Anna Ivanovna
Anne Louise Germaine Stael (Baronne de Stael) was a French writer. She was born in 1766 at Paris and died in 1817. She left France during the French Revolution, she retired to her father's estate at Coppet near Geneva, only to return to Paris in 1797 and to be subsequently exiled by Napoleon, before returning to France upon the fall of the Empire. Research Anne Stael
Awni Abd-al Hadi was a Palestinian politician. He was born in 1889 and died in 1970. He was active in the Arab nationalist movement against the Turks prior to the Great War, helping to organise the first Arab Congress in 1913 at Paris and later became involved in the Pan-Arab movement. Organising the Arab Rebellion of 1936 he was exiled from Palestine by the British in 1937 until 1941 and in 1945 helped to found the Arab League. From 1951 to 1955 he was Jordanian ambassador to Britain. Research Awni Abd-al Hadi
Baldomero Espartero (Duke of Vittoria) was a Spanish statesman. He was born in 1792 and died in 1879. The son of a wheelwright, be was educated for the priesthood, but joined the army as a volunteer in 1808. He took a leading part in the conflict witli the Carlists, and was one of the most prominent men in Spain during several decades of the 19th century. He was regent of the kingdom from 1841 until 1843, and again head of the government from 1854 until 1856. He was exiled in England for several years between 1843 and 1847. In 1868 his name way vaguely put forward in the Cortes as a candidate for the throne, but the proposal fell flat, and the closing years of his life were spent in retirement. Research Baldomero Espartero
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Flight to Varennes
