Leopold Joseph Maria Daun (Count von Daun) was an Austrian soldier. He was born in 1705 and died in 1766. He served in the Turkish war in 1710, as major-general in Italy in 1734, and distinguished himself at the battle of Krozka in 1737, and the capture of Dingelfingen in 1740. In 1748, after serving against the French in the Netherlands, he was made knight of the Golden Fleece. His skilful passage of the Rhine, and his marriage with the Countess of Fux, a favourite of Maria Theresa, procured for him the post of master-general of the ordnance, and in 1757 that of general field-marshal. That same year he defeated Frederick the Great at Kollin, and soon after took Breslau. In 1758 he again defeated Frederick at Hochkirch; but he was at last thoroughly defeated by Frederick at Torgau in 1759. He afterwards became president of the aulic council. Research Leopold Daun
Manuel Godoy, Duke of Alcudia, better known as the Prince of the Peace, was a Spanish soldier and politician. He was born in 1767 at Badajoz and died in 1851. He entered the royal body-guards in 1787. His personal qualities soon made him a favourite at the Spanish court, and his promotion was rapid. In 1791 he became adjutant-general of the guards, in 1792 lieutenant-general, Marquis of Alcudia, grandee of Spain of the first class, and prime-minister; and in 1795, as a reward for the part he had taken in concluding peace with France, he was presented with a large and valuable landed estate, and made a knight of the Golden Fleece. It was on this occasion also that he was named by the king Prince of Peace. As he used his vast power in the promotion of French more than Spanish interests, he became extremely unpopular, and the hatred of the people became so great in 1808 that he had to take refuge in France. Having lost everything, he lived for a long time only on the bounty of his royal friends. In 1847 he was permitted to return to Spain and resume his titles. The larger portion of his domains, however, was irrecoverably lost, and he ended his days in obscurity and poverty. Research Manuel Godoy
In Greek mythology the Argonauts were heroes who made a hazardous voyage to Colchis with Jason in the ship the Argo to get the golden fleece. Research Argonauts
In Greek mythology the Argus was a beast and son of Arestor with a hundred eyes of which he could only close two at a time. He was placed by Juno to guard Io, whom Jupiter had changed into a heifer. But Mercury, who was sent to carry her off, managed to surprise and kill Argus whereupon Juno transferred his eyes to the tail of a peacock, her favourite bird. In Greek mythology, Argus was the name of the builder of the Argo, the ship that carried the hero Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece Research Argus
The Golden Fleece was the fleece of the ram on which Phrixus had escaped and was given to Aetes the king of Colchis. It hung from an oak tree in the grove of Ares where a dragon guarded it. Research Golden fleece
In Greek mythology, Helle was the daughter of Athamas, King of Thessaly, and sister of Phryxes. With her brother she ran away from Ino, their cruel stepmother, on a ram with a Golden Fleece. Helle fell into the sea and drowned, thus giving her name to the Hellespont. Research Helle
Jason was the rightful king of Iolcus. He was smuggled out of Iolcus by Cheiron. When Jason returned to claim his birthright, Pelias sent him to fetch the golden fleece from Colchis. Research Jason
In Greek mythology, Medea was the sorceress daughter of the king of Colchis. When Jason reached Colchis, she fell in love with him, helped him acquire the Golden Fleece, and they fled together. When Jason later married Creusa, daughter of the king of Corinth, Medea killed his bride with the gift of a poisoned garment, and then killed her own two children by Jason. Research Medea
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Abbreviations
Research Golden Fleece
