the Western Empire; but from the time of Arcadius, son and successor of Theodosius (395), both empires remained separate ever afterwards. The Eastern Empire fell, in 476, under the repeated blows of the Huns, the Visigoths, the French, &c. The Eastern Empire, called also the Greek Empire, was destroyed owing to the vices of the Government. Their provinces were successively invaded by Lanozins and Turks. In the 15th century the Crusaders took possession of Constantinople, and commenced a new empire under the protection of the Franks and Latins. After sixty years had elapsed the Greeks re-took it, but in 1453 the Eastern Empire was destroyed by Mahomet Ali II., Emperor of the Turks (15th century). Turkey possesses the greatest portion of this once vast empire.

HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE AGES.

POPES.

The name of Pope signifies father. It was in former times given to bishops, but from the time of Gregory VII., the Pope of the 11th century, it was given only to the Pope of Rome.

The commencement of the temporal greatness of the Popes takes place under Pepin and under his son, Charlemagne, in the 8th century; but the age when the greatest extension of the power of the church took place was in the reign of Gregory VII., towards the end of the 11th century.

The Crusades take place under Urban II. (11th century), who began the Crusades. Under Leon X., of the Medicis family (16th century), the birth of les belles lettres took place; also the reform of Luther. In the time of Clement VII. (16th century), the schism or religious reform of England took place.

The French invaded the States of the Church; two Popes were conducted as prisoners to France-Pius VI. and Pius VII. (18th century). In 1815 the Congress of Vienna gave the Holy Viacum all their former property with the exception of Knaissin county. Pius IX. was Pope in 1850.

FRENCH.

The Franks take possession of Gallia, and under Clovis, their king, in the 5th century, they founded the kingdom of France. Three principal races have governed France up to the present

time.

The Merovingians, remarkable for the establishment of Christianity, and the defeat of Sarrossius by Charles Martel, a French prince. The effeminacy of the kings caused the overthrow of this empire.

The Carlovingian race, so called after Charlemagne, in the 8th century, extended this power over almost all Europe, but at his death the glory of the nation faded away for a time. The Capetian is the next, and many great events take place, such as the Crusades, the wars of England, the wars of Italy, the religious wars. Amongst the numerous families appertaining to this race we notice particularly that of the Bourbons, who elevated France to the highest pitch of glory.

In 1789 a terrible revolution burst out, and in 1792 France became a Republic. After a time, thanks to Napoleon, it was converted it into an Empire, and gave laws to the whole of Europe. At last, after alternate successes and reverses, the family of the Bourbons remounted the throne in 1814. The revolution of 1830 upset the elder branch of the Bourbons, and the younger branch succeeded in the person of Louis Philippe I.; born the 6th of October, 1773. A third revolution took place on the 24th of February, 1848.

LOMBARDS.

The Lombards came from the borders of the Baltic. They invaded the north of Italy, where they founded a kingdom under Alboin, their first king, in the 6th century. Two centuries afterwards they were overcome by Charlemagne, King of France, who vanquished Didier, their last king. Lombardy has since formed part of the kingdom of France. After many vicissitudes it became the property of the Emperor of Austria.

SPANIARDS.

The Visigoths established themselves in Spain after having vanquished the Suaves, the Alains, and the Vandals. The monarchy they founded was destroyed by the Moors in the 8th century, but little by little they reconquered their provinces; and in 1474 (15th century), the marriage of Isabella of Castile with Ferdinand V. of Arragon, was, properly speaking, the commencement of the history of Spain. The Moors were chased, and the House of Austria reigned in Spain. Charles V. (16th century) was the hero of it, and Charles II. the last king.

In 1700, the House of Bourbon inherited this country. Philip V., grandson of Louis XIV., was the first king. In 1808 Charles IV. was obliged to abdicate the throne, and Napoleon gave it to his brother Joseph. Ferdinand VII., son of Charles IV., remounted the throne in 1814. He was born October 14th, 1784; he died September the 29th, 1833. His daughter, Isabella II., succeeded him in 1850.

ARABS.

The Arabs conquered, under Mahomet, their legislator, a great part of Asia in the 7th century. After the death of their prophet, whilst under the guidance of their caliphs, they took possession of the north of Africa, and of Spain, and advanced even to the centre of France, from whence they were chased. The principal families who governed the Arabs are the Ommiades and the Abbassides. After many vicissitudes the Arabs passed under the dominion of the Turks.

MOORS.

The Moors are a mixed race, the descendants of the Mauritanians and the Arabs, or Saracens, who overcame them, and with them passed into Spain in the 8th century. They became masters of this country, from whence they were chased in 1492 by Ferdinand V. The Catholic Boabdil was their last king.

SWEDEN..

The origin of the inhabitants of Sweden is obscure. It does not become interesting until the 14th century, when Margaret of Valdemar placed on her head the triple crown of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark (1397).

The cruelty of Christian II. caused a revolution, and placed the crown of Sweden on the brow of Gustavus Vasa in 1523. This prince established Lutheranism in his provinces. Three separate families have governed Sweden: first, that of Vasa (in the 16th century); secondly, that of Deux Ponts (17th century). The first king is Charles X., and the hero, Charles XII., surnamed the Alexander of the North. Thirdly, the House of Holstein Entin, whose first king was Adolphus Frederick (in the 18th century). A revolution burst in 1772, under Gustavus III., who was assassinated in a ball-room twenty

years afterwards. Oscar I., son of Charles XIV. (Bernadotte), reigned in 1848; born the 4th of July, 1799. Norway was united to Sweden in 1815.

ENGLISH.

The Anglo-Saxons took possession of Britain treacherously, and founded the Heptarchy up to 827, when Egbert was named King of England. Several families have governed the English: the Saxons in the 9th century, the Danes and the Normans in the 11th century, the Angovins, or Plantagenets, in the 12th century, the Lancastrians in the 14th century, the Yorkists in the 15th century, the Tudors in the 15th century, the Stuarts in the 17th century, and the Brunswick family, represented by Victoria. The most remarkable events of the History of England are the wars of France, from the time of William the Conqueror, in the 11th century, up to the reign of Edward IV. (15th century); the civil war of the two roses, or the battles of York and Lancaster, in the 15th century; the schism in the time of Henry VIII. (16th century); the brilliant reign of Elizabeth; the revolutions carried on under Charles I. (Stuart), who expired on the scaffold in 1649; also in the time of William III., in 1688; and lastly, the revolution of the AngloAmericans (1782), under the Hanoverians, in the 18th century. Victoria I. at present on the throne (1850); born May the 19th, 1819.

THE POLES.

The Poles are of Sarmatian origin. The posterity of Lectius, the first founder of the nation, being extinct, Piast was recognized as Duke of Bologna, in the 9th century. The most remarkable family was that of the Jagellons. After their demise the throne became elective. At the end of the 18th century, great troubles brought on revolutions between Poland, Prussia, Russia, and Austria. Poland no longer exists as a separate kingdom. The Duchy of Varsovia forms a viceroyalty, and belongs to Russia. In 1830 the Poles revolted against Russia, but without

success.

RUSSIA.

The Russians, descendants of the ancient Sarmatians, have been governed by several different families: Ruric (9th century), Vlademir (10th century), but the most celebrated was that

of Romanof. Peter the Great, one of the princes of this family, drew Russia from the obscurity of the past by introducing to his country science, industry, and commerce. Catherine II. became glorious owing to her great enterprise. She was of the family of Holstein-Gottorp. Her vessels navigated as far as the Dardanelles, in the 18th century. Nicholas I., her grandson, occupied the throne in 1850. He was born July the 6th,

1796.

GERMANS.

The Germans, inhabitants of this ancient country, resisted with courage the Romans, who failed effectually to subdue them. Charlemagne, in the 8th century, overthrew the Saxons, and obliged them to embrace the Christian religion, and became master of Germany. At the death of Louis le Debonaire, his son, Germany became separated from France. Lothaire was recognized king. The Carlovingian race maintained their power up to 911, when it became extinct in the person of Louis IV., surnamed L'Enfant, or Infant.

From this time the empire became elective. Conrad, Duke of Franconia and of Hesse, was elevated to the Imperial crown, and looked upon as Emperor of Germany.

Towards the end of the 13th century, in 1273, Rodolphus, Count of Hapsburg, first prince of the House of Austria, was recognized

emperor.

In 1519 the empire was united to Spain in the person of Charles V., but this reunion ceased after his abdication, in 1556. The line of Austro-Lorraine now occupies the throne of Austria only. Joseph I. was emperor in 1850. He was born the 18th of August, 1830.

DANES.

The commencement of the history of the Danes is uncertain. Towards the end of the 14th century, Queen Margaret reunited the three crowns of the North. Sweden detached itself in 1523, but Norway remained united to Denmark, first as a province, and afterwards as an independent kingdom. The royal dynasty of Skialdang being extinct in 1448, Count Christian d'Oldenburg succeeded him, and brought with him from Denmark the five provinces of Sleswick and Holstein.

In 1660 the revolution took place which changed entirely the form of government.

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