History & Biography
Storia, Storici E Biografie Varie · 3,275 articles · Principal contributors · All subjects-
Berger, Elie
BERGER, ELIE. - Historian, b. at Beaucourt in 1850, d. at Paris on 2 April 1925. Professor of paleography at the Ecole des Chartes, member… -
Berington, Joseph
BERINGTON, JOSEPH. - Theologian, b. 16 Jan. 1743 at Winsley, d. 1 Dec. 1827 at Buckland (Berkshire). As a young man he studied at the… -
Berlière, Ursmer
BERLIÈRE, URSMER. - Benedictine, b. 3 Sept. 1861 at Gosselies, d. 28 Aug. 1932 in the abbey of Maredsous. After attending the Collège du… -
Bermudes, João
BERMUDES, JOÃO. - Portuguese, pseudo-patriarch of Ethiopia. A strange figure of a 16th-century adventurer who, from being a barber-surgeon,… -
Bernardi, Gaetano
BERNARDI, GAETANO. - Cassinese Benedictine of the abbey of Montecassino, scholar and educator, b. at Caramanico (Chieti) on 1 Nov. 1827, d.… -
Bernardino D'Asti
BERNARDINO D'ASTI. - Capuchin, b. ca. 1484 in the castle of Rinco near Asti, d. in Rome in 1554. He entered the Order of Observant Friars… -
Bernardo, Bishop Of Parma (BERNARDO, VESCOVO DI PARMA)
BERNARDO, vescovo di PARMA. - Elected in 1169 and confirmed the following year, he worked as lord of the city and the countryside of Parma… -
Bernardo Of Lippe (BERNARDO DI LIPPE)
BERNARDO OF LIPPE. - Cistercian, who lived in the 12th-13th centuries. He was a canon of the cathedral of Hildesheim when, upon the death… -
Bernardus Compostellanus Junior (BERNARDUS COMPOSTELLANUS IUNIOR)
BERNARDUS COMPOSTELLANUS JUNIOR. - Spanish decretalist, b. at Vernant (whence the nickname Brigantius, by which he is also sometimes… -
Bernetti, Tommaso
BERNETTI, TOMMASO. - Cardinal, b. at Fermo on 29 Dec. 1779, d. there on 21 March 1852. He studied law in his native city and went to Rome… -
Bernier, Étienne-Alexandre (BERNIER, ETIENNE-ALEXANDRE)
BERNIER, ÉTIENNE-ALEXANDRE. - Bishop of Orléans, b. 31 Oct. 1762 at Daon, d. 1 Oct. 1806 in Paris. A doctor of theology, parish priest of… -
Bernini, Domenico
BERNINI, DOMENICO. - Eldest son of the famous artist Gian Lorenzo, he entered the ecclesiastical state and was a canon of St. Mary Major.… -
Bernis, François-Joachim De Pierres De
BERNIS, François-Joachim De Pierres De. - Cardinal, b. May 22, 1715 at St-Marcel de l'Ardèche, of a noble family, he studied first with the… -
Bernold of Constance (BERNOLDO DI COSTANZA)
BERNOLD OF CONSTANCE. - Chronicler, b. around the middle of the 11th century in the diocese of Constance, d. 16 September 1100 at… -
Bernone, Bishop Of Schwerin (BERNONE, VESCOVO DI SCHWERIN)
BERNONE, Bishop Of Schwerin. - A Cistercian of the monastery of Amelungsborn on the Weser. We know almost nothing of him before his… -
Bertaldo, Iacopo
BERTALDO, IACOPO. - Bishop of Veglia, d. in Venice, 3 April 1315. His name appears for the first time in a document of 1295. There he… -
Bertarius (BERTARIO)
BERTARIUS. - Chronicler, priest of Verdun and canon of St. Vanne (c. 917). He wrote, at the commission of his bishop Dado, the Gesta… -
Bertazzoli, Francesco
BERTAZZOLI, FRANCESCO. - Cardinal, b. at Lugo on 1 May 1754, d. at Rome on 7 Apr. 1830; he studied theology in Bologna and in 1777 received… -
Berthier, Jean-Baptiste
BERTHIER, JEAN-BAPTISTE. - Missionary of Our Lady of "La Salette", founder of the Missionaries of the Holy Family (v.), b. at Châtonnay… -
Berthold of Henneberg (BERTOLDO DI HENNEBERG)
BERTHOLD OF HENNEBERG. - Archbishop and Elector of Mainz, b. in 1441, d. on 21 Dec. 1504. In 1484 he was named Archbishop of Mainz and… -
Bertoldo Of Reichenau (BERTOLDO DI REICHENAU)
BERTOLDO OF REICHENAU. - Chronicler, died, according to the testimony of Bernold of Constance, on 12 March 1088, at an advanced age. A… -
Bertram, Adolf
BERTRAM, ADOLF. - Cardinal, b. March 14, 1859, in Hildesheim, d. July 6, 1945, in Breslau. He devoted himself to philosophical and… -
Bertrando del Poggetto (Bertrand du Poujet)
BERTRANDO del POGGETTO (BERTRAND DU POUJET). - Born at Castelnau-Montattier (Lot) ca. 1280, died February 1, 1352, cardinal bishop of… -
Bertrand, Pierre (Bertrandus, Petrus)
BERTRAND, Pierre (Bertrandus, Petrus). - French decretalist, d. June 23, 1348 or June 24, 1349. He studied at the University of Orléans. He… -
Besse, Jean-Martial
BESSE, JEAN-MARTIAL - Benedictine, b. at Saint-Angel (Corrèze) on 29 Oct. 1861, d. at Ligugé on 26 July 1920. In 1885 he was ordained a… -
Bessi
BESSI. - A population of Thracian stock living in the time of Strabo on the plain between the mountain groups of the Haemus (Balkans) and… -
Besson, François-Nicolas-Louis
BESSON, FRANÇOIS-NICOLAS-LOUIS. - Bishop of Nîmes, b. at Baume-les-Dames on 5 Oct. 1821, d. at Nîmes on 18 Nov. 1888. He studied at the… -
Besson, Joseph-Antoine
BESSON, JOSEPH-ANTOINE. - Priest and historian, b. at Flumet (Savoy) on 10 Feb. 1717, d. at Chapeiry, in the diocese of Geneva, on 26 March… -
Bethlen, Gábor
BETHLEN, GÁBOR. - Prince of Transylvania, b. in 1580 into a very ancient Hungarian family, d. in 1629. He spent his youth at the court of… -
Bettinger, Franziskus
BETTINGER, FRANZISKUS. - Cardinal, b. at Landstuhl (Palatinate) on 17 Sept. 1850, d. on 13 Apr. 1917 in Munich. Ordained priest in 1873, he… -
Bettini, Elena
BETTINI, ELENA. - Foundress of the institute of the Daughters of Divine Providence (v.), born in Rome on 6 January 1814, died there on 21… -
Beust, Friedrich Ferdinand
BEUST, FRIEDRICH FERDINAND. - Protestant diplomat and statesman, b. in Dresden on 13 Jan. 1809, d. at Altenberg on 24 Dec. 1886. Having… -
Beveregius, Guillelmus (Beveridge, William) (BEVEREGIUS, GUILLELMUS (BEVERIDGE WILLIAM))
BEVEREGIUS, Guillelmus (Beveridge, William). - English Protestant theologian and orientalist; b. at Banow (Leicestershire) in 1638, d. on 3… -
Bicchieri, Guala
BICCHIERI, GUALA. - Cardinal, b. at Vercelli around the middle of the 12th century, d. at Rome on 31 May 1227. He entered as a very young… -
Bichi, Alessandro
BICHI, ALESSANDRO. - Cardinal, b. in Siena in 1596, d. in Rome in 1657. In 1628 he was elected bishop of Isola and sent as nuncio to Naples… -
Bigard, Jeanne E Stephanie
BIGARD, JEANNE e STEPHANIE. - Mother and daughter, foundresses of the "Work of St. Peter the Apostle for the Native Clergy." The mother,… -
Biglia (de Bilis), Andrea
BIGLIA (DE BILIS), ANDREA. - Theologian and humanist, b. in Milan around 1395, d., it seems, in the last months of 1435. While still a boy… -
Bihlmeyer, Karl
BIHLMEYER, KARL. - Dean of the faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Tübingen, b. in 1874, d. there on 27 March 1942. He… -
Bildt, Carl Nils Daniel
BILDT, CARL NILS DANIEL. - Swedish diplomat and historian, b. in Stockholm on 15 May 1850, d. on 26 Jan. 1931 in Rome. Ambassador of Sweden… -
Bilio, Luigi
BILIO, LUIGI. - Cardinal, b. 25 March 1826 in Alessandria (Piedmont), d. 30 Jan. 1884 in Rome. Of a very poor family (his father was a… -
Billuart, Charles-René
BILLUART, CHARLES-RENÉ. - Thomist theologian, b. at Revin on the Meuse (Ardennes) on 8 Jan. 1685, d. there on 20 Jan. 1757. A Dominican… -
Bindi, Enrico
BINDI, ENRICO. - Bishop, writer, b. at Canapale (Pistoia) on 29 Sept. 1812, d. at Pistoia on 3 June 1876. For 24 years, until 1856, he was… -
Binet, François
BINET, FRANÇOIS. - Theologian and preacher of the Order of Minims, b. in 1452, d. in 1524, in repute of sanctity at the convent of Trinità… -
Bini (Binius), Severino
BINI (Binius), SEVERINO. - Canonist, b. at Randerath (near Aachen) in 1573, d. 14 February 1641 at Cologne, where he carried out his entire… -
Birago, Renato
BIRAGO, RENATO. - Cardinal, born in Milan on 2 February 1506 to Galeazzo, who was ambassador of the Duke of Milan in France. He lived at… -
Bismarck, Otto Eduard Leopold, von (BISMARCK, OTTO EDUARD LEOFOLD, VON)
BISMARCK, Otto Eduard Leopold, von. - German statesman, called the Iron Chancellor, b. at Schönhausen on 1 April 1815, d. at Friedrichsruhe… -
Bisticci, Vespasiano da
BISTICCI, VESPASIANO da. - He is the most famous of the great cartolai (1421-98), as the booksellers of the Renaissance were called before… -
Blainville, Henri-Marie Ducrotay de (BLAINVILLE, HENRI-MARIE DUCTROY DE)
BLAINVILLE, HENRI-MARIE DUCROTAY DE. - Naturalist, b. at Arques near Dieppe on 12 Sept. 1777 and d. in Paris on 1 May 1850. He was Cuvier's… -
Blass, Friedrich
BLASS, FRIEDRICH. - Classical philologist and New Testament scholar, b. at Osnabrück on 22 Jan. 1843, d. at Halle on 5 March 1907. A… -
Blemmydes, Nicephoros (BLEMMYDES, NICEFORO)
BLEMMYDES, NICEPHOROS. - Byzantine philosopher and theologian, b. in Constantinople in 1197, d. in 1272. At first an opponent of the… -
Blum, Peter Joseph
BLUM, PETER JOSEPH. - Bishop of Limburg, b. at Gelsenheim on 18 Apr. 1808, d. at Limburg on 30 Dec. 1884. He studied philosophy at Würzburg… -
Bocskay, István
BOCSKAY, ISTVÁN. - Prince of Transylvania, b. in 1557, d. in 1606, probably poisoned by the chancellor Michael Kátay. Educated in Vienna… -
Bodin, Jean
BODIN, JEAN. - One of the most remarkable thinkers of the French Renaissance, b. at Angers in 1529 or 1530, d. at Laon in 1596. He first… -
Boemondo of Taranto (BOEMONDO DI TARANTO)
BOEMONDO OF TARANTO. - Norman prince, son of Robert Guiscard and Alberada, who lived in the 11th-12th centuries. He took part, with his… -
Boetto, Pietro
BOETTO, PIETRO. - Jesuit, cardinal, archbishop of Genoa, b. at Vigone in Piedmont on 19 May 1871, d. at Genoa on 31 Jan. 1946, rightly… -
Boffito, Giuseppe
BOFFITO, GIUSEPPE. - Barnabite. Scholar, bibliographer, historian of science, Dante scholar, erudite, b. at Gavi (Alessandria) on 3 July… -
Bofondi, Giuseppe
BOFONDI, GIUSEPPE. - Cardinal, born of a patrician family at Forlì on 24 Oct. 1795, died at Rome on 2 Dec. 1867; a scholar and man of… -
Bogino, Giambattista Lorenzo
BOGINO, GIAMBATTISTA LORENZO. - Born in Turin on July 21, 1701, and died there on February 9, 1784. A distinguished statesman, he was a… -
Bohemond, Prince of Antioch (BOEMONDO, PRINCIPE DI ANTIOCHIA)
BOHEMOND, PRINCE OF ANTIOCH. - Born around 1170, died in 1233, he was the son of Bohemond III and Orguilleuse. On his father's death (1201)… -
Böhmer, Johann Friedrich
BÖHMER, JOHANN FRIEDRICH. - Historian, b. 22 April 1795 in Frankfurt am Main, d. there 22 October 1863. Archivist and librarian in his… -
Böhmer, Just Henning (Bohemerus Iustus Henningius)
BÖHMER, Just Henning (Bohemerus Iustus Henningius). - Protestant jurist, b. in Hannover on 27 Aug. 1674 to a family of Bohemian refugees,… -
Boileau, Jacques
BOILEAU, JACQUES. - Theologian, canonist, historian and polemicist, brother of the satirical poet Nicolas, b. in Paris on 16 March 1635. He… -
Boisgelin, Jean-de-Dieu-Raymond de Cucé de
BOISGELIN, JEAN-DE-DIEU-RAYMOND DE CUCÉ DE. - Cardinal, b. 27 Feb. 1732 at Rennes, d. 22 Aug. 1804 at Angervilliers. In 1765 bishop of… -
Bolingbroke, Henry Saint John, Viscount of (BOLINGBROKE, HENRY SAINT JOHN, VISCONTE DI)
BOLINGBROKE, Henry Saint John, Viscount of. - Politician and philosopher, one of the most advanced representatives of English deism. B. on… -
Bolivar, Simón
BOLIVAR, SIMÓN. - Founder of the independent states of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, b. 24 July 1783 at Caracas, d. 17… -
Bonald, Louis-Gabriel-Ambroise, Viscount of (BONALD, LOUIS-GABRIEL-AMBROISE, VISCONTE DI)
BONALD, Louis-Gabriel-Ambroise, Viscount of. - French philosopher and statesman, b. at Le Monna near Millau in Rouergue on 2 Oct. 1754 and… -
Bonaparte
BONAPARTE. - Italian family, descended, according to some, from the Lombard Cadolingi, mentioned in the 11th and 12th centuries; according… -
Bonazzi, Benedetto
BONAZZI, BENEDETTO. - Cassinese Benedictine of the abbey of Cava dei Tirreni, philologist and writer, b. in Naples on 11 Oct. 1840 from the… -
Boncompagni di Mombello, Carlo
BONCOMPAGNI di MOMBELLO, CARLO. - Politician, b. in Turin on 25 July 1804, d. there on 14 Dec. 1880. Having graduated in law in July 1824,… -
Boncompagni, Family (BONCOMPAGNI, FAMIGLIA)
BONCOMPAGNI, FAMILY. - According to a tradition it would be originally from Umbria, but we find it in Bologna, where it belonged to the… -
Bonelli, Michele
BONELLI, MICHELE. - Cardinal, b. at Bosco in the diocese of Tortona on 25 Dec. 1541, d. at Rome on 29 March 1598. A nephew on his mother's… -
Bonfado, Jacopo
BONFADO, JACOPO. - Italian man of letters and humanist, b. at Salò on Lake Garda around 1500, d. in 1550. He is numbered among the first… -
Bongars, Jacques
BONGARS, JACQUES. - French diplomat, b. at Orléans in 1554, d. at Paris on 29 July 1612. After studying first in Germany and then in… -
Bonghi, Ruggero
BONGHI, RUGGERO. - Writer, critic, politician, b. in Naples on 21 March 1826, d. at Torre del Greco on 22 Oct. 1895. A vivid and versatile… -
Bonhomini (Bonomi), Giovanni Francesco
BONHOMINI (Bonomi), Giovanni Francesco. - Nuncio, bishop of Vercelli, b. 6 Dec. 1536 at Cremona. He did his early studies in his native… -
Bonifazio da Ceva
BONIFAZIO DA CEVA. - Franciscan, b. at Ceva (Piedmont), of a noble marquisal family, between 1460 and 1470, d. at Paris on 12 April 1517… -
Bonilli, Pietro
BONILLI, PIETRO. - Priest, b. at San Lorenzo di Trevi on 15 March 1841, d. at Spoleto on 5 Jan. 1935. He was parish priest at Cannaiola for… -
Bonner, Edmund
BONNER, EDMUND. - Bishop of London, whose origin is obscure and whose date of birth is uncertain (late 15th century), perhaps as a result… -
Bonnet, Alfred-Maximilien
BONNET, ALFRED-MAXIMILIEN. - French philologist, b. in Frankfurt am Main on 3 Nov. 1841, to a Swiss Huguenot family; he obtained French… -
Bonomi, Ermete
BONOMI, ERMETE. - Archivist, b. in 1734 at Milan, d. April 22, 1816 there. A Cistercian monk and priest, he held the offices of librarian… -
Bonsignore, Stefano
BONSIGNORE, STEFANO. - Bishop of Faenza, b. at Busto Arsizio on 23 Feb. 1738, d. at Faenza on 23 Dec. 1826. Professor of theology and… -
Bora, Caterina von
BORA, CATERINA von. - Born into a noble but impoverished family at Klein-Laussig on 29 January 1499, at the age of ten she was placed with… -
Borghese
BORGHESE. - We find this family in Siena, where its members appear in the 13th century as jurists, city officials, and orators. In the 15th… -
Borgia, Carlo, of the Dukes of Gandia (BORGIA, CARLO, DEI DUCHI DI GANDIA)
BORGIA, Carlo, of the Dukes of Gandia. - Cardinal, b. in Madrid on 30 Apr. 1663, d. at La Granja on 8 Aug. 1773. Third son of the ninth… -
Borgia, Cesare
BORGIA, CESARE. - Condottiere, b. in Rome in the summer of 1475, d. at Viana, near Pamplona, on 12 March 1507. Son of Cardinal Roderic… -
Borgia, Giovanni
BORGIA, GIOVANNI. - Cardinal, called senior to distinguish him from a namesake. Born around 1447 at Valencia, died on August 1, 1503. He… -
Borgia, Lucrezia
BORGIA, LUCREZIA. - Daughter of Cardinal Roderigo and of Vannozza, born 18 April 1480. At the age of 11 she was promised in marriage to… -
Borgia, Luigi Obeste
BORGIA, LUIGI OBESTE. - Priest, described by Benedict XV as a "gem of the Roman clergy," b. in Rome on 28 March 1840, d. there on 14 Jan.… -
Borgiotti, Luisa
BORGIOTTI, LUISA. - Co-foundress of the Sisters of Jesus of Nazareth, b. in Turin on 16 Feb. 1802, d. there in the odor of sanctity on 23… -
Borgofranco
BORGOFRANCO. - Also called Villanova or Villafranca, it is a medieval settlement, surrounded by walls and ditches, generally of square or… -
Borromeo, Family (BORROMEO, FAMIGLIA)
BORROMEO, FAMILY. - The family originates from Vitaliano Vitaliani of Padua, who took the surname of his wife Margherita, a native of S.… -
Bortolucci, Giovanni
BORTOLUCCI, GIOVANNI. - Politician, b. 6 Aug. 1819 at Pavullo nel Frignano, d. 6 March 1900 at Bologna. After his early schooling in the… -
Bossio (Bossi), Giovanni Angelo
BOSSIO (BOSSI), GIOVANNI ANGELO. - Milanese Barnabite, theologian and jurist, superior general of his Order, b. in Milan in 1590, d. in… -
Botero, Giovanni
BOTERO, GIOVANNI. - Born at Bene Vagienna (province of Cuneo) in 1543 or 1544, he was admitted to the Society of Jesus in 1560 and assigned… -
Botta, Carlo
BOTTA, CARLO. - Italian politician and historian, b. at S. Giorgio Canavese on 6 Nov. 1766, d. at Paris on 10 Aug. 1837. A physician richly… -
Bottari, Giovanni Gaetano
BOTTARI, GIOVANNI GAETANO. - Born in Florence on 15 January 1689, died in Rome on 4 June 1775. He applied himself to Greek and Latin… -
Bottero, Giovan Battista
BOTTERO, GIOVAN BATTISTA. - Journalist, b. at Nice on 6 Feb. 1822, d. at Turin on 16 Nov. 1897. He first founded the Opinione, then, in… -
Boucat, Antoine
BOUCAT, ANTOINE. - Theologian of the Order of Minims, b. in the 17th century at Bourges and d. around 1730. He was director general of the… -
Boucher (Bouchier), Gilles (BOUCHIER (BOUCHER), GILLES)
BOUCHER (BOUCHIER), GILLES. - Jesuit scholar, b. at Arras on 19 Oct. 1576, d. at Tournai on 8 March 1665. Having entered the Society of… -
Bougaud, Louis-Victor-Émile (BOUGAUD, LOUIS-VICTOR-EMILE)
BOUGAUD, LOUIS-VICTOR-ÉMILE. - French bishop, orator and writer, b. at Dijon on 26 Feb. 1823, d. at Laval on 7 Nov. 1888. A student of… -
Bouix, Marie-Dominique
BOUIX, MARIE-DOMINIQUE. - Canonist, b. at Bagnères-de-Bigorre on 15 May 1808, d. on 26 Dec. 1870 at Montech (Tarn-et-Garonne). A Jesuit, he… -
Boulainvilliers, Henri, Count of (BOULAINVILLIERS, HENRI, CONTE DI)
BOULAINVILLIERS, Henri, Count of. - Born at St-Saire (Normandy) on 11 Oct. 1658, died in Paris on 23 Jan. 1722. A curious figure of… -
Boulanger, Nicolas-Antoine
BOULANGER, NICOLAS-ANTOINE. - Born in 1722, died in 1759. Swiss, but lived in France for his career as a military and civil engineer.… -
Bouquet, Martin
BOUQUET, MARTIN. - Benedictine monk, b. at Amiens on 6 Aug. 1685, d. at Paris on 6 Apr. 1754. He entered the Congregation of St. Maur in… -
Bourbon, Carlo di (BORBONE, CARLO DI)
BOURBON, Carlo di. - B. around 1433 to Charles I, Duke of Bourbon, d. at Lyon on 13 Sept. 1488. At the age of eleven he was appointed in… -
Bourdeilles, Hélie
BOURDEILLES, HÉLIE. - Franciscan, cardinal, b. in the castle of Bourdeilles (Périgueux) between 1410-15, d. in the castle of Artennes… -
Bourne, Francis
BOURNE, FRANCIS. - Cardinal, b. 23 March 1861 at Clapham, a suburb of London, d. 1 January 1935 in London. He studied theology at the… -
Bourret, Ernest
BOURRET, ERNEST. - French historian and apologist, b. at Lubro (Ardèche) in 1827, d. at Rodez on 10 July 1896. He studied theology in… -
Bovara, Giovanni
BOVARA, GIOVANNI. - Priest and educationist, b. at Malgrate (Como) on 30 Sept. 1734 and d. at Milan on 13 Oct. 1812. A man of broad legal… -
Boxers, Society of (BOXERS, SÈTTA DEI)
BOXERS, Society of. - To the very numerous secret sects of China there was added after 1898 the so-called "Society of Good and Sincere… -
Boyle, Robert
BOYLE, ROBERT. - Famous 17th-century English scientist, b. at Lismore (Munster) in Ireland on 25 January 1627, d. in London on 10, or,… -
Bozio, Tommaso
BOZIO, TOMMASO. - Born in Gubbio in 1548, he took his degree in law at Perugia. He then entered the Congregation of the Oratory of Rome,… -
Braccio da Montone
BRACCIO DA MONTONE. - Condottiere, son of O. Fortebracci, founder of a school of military art, b. perhaps at Montone (Perugia) on 1 July… -
Bracciolini, Poggio (Poggio Fiorentino)
BRACCIOLINI, Poggio (Poggio Fiorentino). - Born at Terranova Valdarno, near Arezzo, ca. 1380. Not rich in family property, he had a… -
Bradwardine (Bragwardin, Bredwardin, Bradvardinus), Thomas (BRADWARDINE (BRAGWARDIN, BREDWARDIN, BRADVARDINUS), TOMMASO)
BRADWARDINE (Bragwardin, Bredwardin, Bradvardinus), Thomas. - English theologian, philosopher, scientist and mathematician, b. in the… -
Bragadino, Marcantonio
BRAGADINO, MARCANTONIO. - Born in 1523 into a well-known Venetian patrician family. He is found in Cyprus in 1570 as a military captain,… -
Braille, Louis
BRAILLE, LOUIS. - Born at Coupvray (Seine-et-Marne) on 4 Jan. 1809 and died in Paris on 6 Jan. 1852. Blind, he devoted himself to the… -
Brancacci, Nicola
BRANCACCI, NICOLA. - Cardinal, b. in Naples to a patrician family, d. in Florence on 29 June 1412. After taking a degree in law, he became… -
Brancaccio (Brancatio), Cesare
BRANCACCIO (BRANCATIO), CESARE. - Apostolic nuncio, b. in Naples in 1515 or 1516. After taking part in the Neapolitan revolution against… -
Branda da Castiglione
BRANDA da CASTIGLIONE. - Cardinal, b. at Castiglione Olona in 1350, d. there on 3 February 1443. He was already known as a canonist when he… -
Braschi, Family (BRASCHI, FAMIGLIA)
BRASCHI, FAMILY. - Leaving aside the supposed origins attributed to it, one may think that it derives from northern Italy, whence came to… -
Braun, Placidus
BRAUN, PLACIDUS. - Benedictine historian, b. at Peiting on 2 Jan. 1756, d. at Augsburg (Bavaria) on 23 Oct. 1829. He entered the Order in… -
Braunsberger, Otto
BRAUNSBERGER, OTTO. - German Jesuit, b. at Füssen (Bavaria) in 1850, d. at Roermond on 26 March 1926; he was ordained a priest in 1874; he… -
Bréhal, Jean
BRÉHAL, JEAN. - Dominican, inquisitor general of France, b. in Normandy at the beginning of the 15th century. He was already inquisitor… -
Brenti, Rosa Teresa
BRENTI, ROSA TERESA. - Foundress of the Institute of the Most Holy Sacrament of Fognano (Ravenna), b. at Tredozio (Forlì) on 23 Feb. 1790,… -
Briand, Aristide
BRIAND, ARISTIDE. - French politician, b. 28 March 1862 in Nantes, d. 7 March 1932 in Paris. After having carried on journalistic activity… -
Briard (Briaert), Jean
BRIARD (BRIAERT), JEAN. - Theologian and philosopher, called Athensis, b. at Beloeil (Ath) in Belgium in the second half of the 15th… -
Briconnet, Guillaume (BRIÇONNET, GUILLAUME)
BRICONNET, GUILLAUME. - Known under the name of Cardinal of St-Malo, born at Mours on an uncertain date and died at Narbonne on 14 Dec.… -
Briet, Philippe
BRIET, PHILIPPE. - French Jesuit, b. at Abbeville in 1601, d. at Paris in 1668. Having entered the Society in 1619, he taught rhetoric for… -
Brignole Sale, Antonio
BRIGNOLE SALE, ANTONIO. - Marquis of Groppoli. Diplomat and politician, b. 22 May 1786 in Genoa, and d. there 14 Oct. 1863. After the… -
Brinkmann, Johannes Bernhard
BRINKMANN, JOHANNES BERNHARD. - Bishop, b. 4 Feb. 1813 at Everswinkel near Münster, d. 13 Apr. 1889 at Münster. Ordained priest in 1839, he… -
Bristow, Richard
BRISTOW, RICHARD. - English theologian, b. at Worcester in 1538, d. at Harrow-on-the-Hill on 18 Oct. 1581. He studied at Oxford, where he… -
Brito, Bernardo de
BRITO, BERNARDO de. - Portuguese Cistercian monk, in the world Balthazar de Brito de Andrade, who lived between 1561 and 1617; he was a… -
Brjančanin, Ignatij (BRJANČANINOV, IGNATIJ)
BRJANČANIN, IGNATIJ. - Russian ascetic and mystic, b. in 1807, d. in 1867. Of an aristocratic family, he was first a military engineer,… -
Broca, Paul-Pierre
BROCA, PAUL-PIERRE. - French surgeon, naturalist and anthropologist, b. at Ste-Foy-la-Grande on 28 June 1824, d. in Paris on 9 July 1880.… -
Brocardus (Brocard), Nikolaus (BROCARTS (BROCARDUS), NIKOLAUS)
BROCARDUS (BROCARD), NIKOLAUS. - Carmelite theologian, b. at Sittard on 21 Aug. 1687, d. at Worms on 29 Sept. 1760. He taught philosophy… -
Broglie, Auguste-Théodore-Paul de
BROGLIE, AUGUSTE-THÉODORE-PAUL DE. - French apologist and philosopher, b. at Auteuil on 18 June 1834, d. by assassination in Paris on 11… -
Broglie, Jacques-Victor-Albert de
BROGLIE, JACQUES-VICTOR-ALBERT DE. - French politician and historian, b. in Paris on 15 May 1821 and d. there on 9 Jan. 1901. In 1843 he… -
Broglie, Maurice-Jean-Madeleine, Prince of (BROGLIE, MAURICE-JEAN-MADELEINE, PRINCIPE DI)
BROGLIE, Maurice-Jean-Madeleine, Prince of. - Bishop, b. at the castle of Broglie, in Normandy, on 5 Sept. 1766, d. on 20 July 1821 in… -
Brom, Giesbert
BROM, GIESBERT. - Dutch priest and historian, b. at Utrecht on 3 February 1864, d. at Rome on 6 February 1915. He studied at Rome and… -
Broughton, Richard
BROUGHTON, RICHARD. - English Catholic priest and historian, b. at Great Stukeley (Huntingdonshire) around 1556, d. at Wood on 18 January… -
Brouwer, Christoph (BROWER (BROUWER), CHRISTOPH)
BROUWER, CHRISTOPH. - Jesuit, b. in 1559 at Arnhem (Guelders, Holland), d. at Trier in 1617. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1580, and… -
Brownson, Orestes Augustus
BROWNSON, ORESTES AUGUSTUS. - American Catholic philosopher and apologist, b. at Stockbridge, Sept. 9, 1803, d. at Detroit, Apr. 17, 1876.… -
Brück, Heinrich
BRÜCK, HEINRICH. - Bishop, b. at Bingen on 25 Oct. 1831, d. at Mainz on 4 Nov. 1903. Ordained a priest in 1855, he was appointed two years… -
Brunengo, Giuseppe
BRUNENGO, GIUSEPPE. - Jesuit, b. 12 Jan. 1821 at Piverone (Turin), d. at Rome 11 Nov. 1891. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1835, and… -
Brunetti, Angelo, detto Ciceruacchio
BRUNETTI, ANGELO, detto CICERUACCHIO. - Born in Rome on 27 Sept. 1800, died at Ca' Tiepolo on 11 Aug. 1849. The son of common people (his… -
Brunner, Andreas
BRUNNER, ANDREAS. - German Jesuit and historian, b. at Hall (Tyrol) on 30 Nov. 1589, d. at Innsbruck on 20 Apr. 1650. He entered the… -
Bruno of Magdeburg (BRUNO DI MAGDEBURGO)
BRUNO OF MAGDEBURG. - A cleric of the cathedral of Magdeburg in Saxony, who lived in the 11th century. A fervent supporter and friend of… -
Bryennios
BRYENNIOS. - Two "Orthodox" ecclesiastics of this name. JOSEPH, a famous Byzantine controversialist, who lived between 1350 and 1439, in… -
Bucceroni, Gennaro
BUCCERONI, GENNARO. - Theologian, b. in Naples on 22 April 1841, entered the Society of Jesus on 7 September 1856, d. in Rome on 18… -
Bucharev, Aleksandr Matvejevič (BUCHAREV, ALEXANDR MATVEJEVIĆ)
BUCHAREV, ALEKSANDR MATVEJEVIČ. - Russian writer, known as "the archimandrite Theodore", b. in 1822 and d. in 1871. A dissident religious… -
Büchi, Albert
BÜCHI, ALBERT. - Swiss historian, b. June 1, 1864 in Frauenfeld, d. May 14, 1930 in Fribourg. He studied at the Universities of Munich and… -
Budkiewicz, Konstantin
BUDKIEWICZ, KONSTANTIN. - Priest, b. in 1867 in Livonia, d. on 30 March 1923 in Petersburg. He studied at the metropolitan seminary of… -
Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de (BUFFON, GEORGES-LOUIS LECLERC, CONTE DI)
BUFFON, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de. - Great French naturalist, b. at Montbard (Burgundy) on 7 Sept. 1707, and d. at Paris on 16 Apr.… -
Bugliari, Francesco
BUGLIARI, FRANCESCO. - Bishop, b. 14 Oct. 1742 at S. Sofia d'Epiro (Calabria), and d. there 18 Aug. 1806. After completing his studies at… -
Bulgakov, Sergii Nikolaevič (BULGAKOV, SERGII NICOLAJEVIĆ)
BULGAKOV, SERGII NIKOLAEVIČ. - Celebrated Russian religious thinker and dissident theologian, b. of a priestly family in 1871, d. in 1944.… -
Bulić, Francesco
BULIĆ, FRANCESCO - Archaeologist, b. at Vranjić (Vragnizza), near Split, on 4 Oct. 1846, d. at Zagreb on 28 July 1934. Having completed his… -
Bunsen, Christian Karl Josias
BUNSEN, CHRISTIAN KARL JOSIAS. - Lutheran diplomat and scholar, b. at Korbach in the principality of Waldeck on 25 Aug. 1791, d. at Bonn on… -
Buntić, Didak
BUNTIĆ, DIDAK. - Croatian Franciscan, b. at Paoča in Herzegovina on 9 Oct. 1871, d. at Bronjo on 3 Nov. 1922. He studied at Innsbruck, and… -
Buonarroti, Filippo
BUONARROTI, FILIPPO. - Archaeologist, b. in Florence in 1661, d. there in 1733. Having come to Rome as a young man, he entered the good… -
Burbank, Luther
BURBANK, LUTHER. - American botanist, b. in 1849, d. in 1926. He was the first in the United States to devote himself to selection and… -
Burchard II (BURCARDO II)
BURCHARD II. - Bishop of Halberstadt (1059-1088), from a noble Swabian family, nephew of Archbishop Anno of Cologne, was provost at Goslar… -
Burckhardt, Jacob
BURCKHARDT, JACOB. - Protestant historian, b. in Basel on 25 May 1818, d. there on 8 Aug. 1897. After completing his gymnasium studies, he… -
Burg, Joseph Vitus
BURG, JOSEPH VITUS. - Bishop, b. at Offenburg on 27 Aug. 1768, d. at Mainz on 22 May 1833. Having entered the Franciscan Order in 1787, he… -
Burgos (Isveglies), Alessandro
BURGOS (ISVEGLIES), ALESSANDRO. - Conventual Franciscan, philosopher, theologian, orator, and historian of vast learning and most pious… -
Burgundians (BURGUNDI)
BURGUNDIANS. - The first mention of the B. is in Pliny (Nat. Hist., IV, 99), before their settling beyond the Vistula. Of perhaps… -
Burke, Edmund
BURKE, EDMUND. - Born in Dublin in 1729, died at Beaconsfield in 1797. He is among the most notable figures of the Whig party; in 1765 he… -
Burlamacchi, Pacifico
BURLAMACCHI, PACIFICO. - Dominican, devoted to the memory of Savonarola, b. at Lucca around 1465, inherited from his father and from his… -
Buronzo Del Signore, Carlo Luigi
BURONZO DEL SIGNORE, CARLO LUIGI. - Archbishop of Turin, b. at Vercelli on 23 Oct. 1731, d. there on 22 Oct. 1806. He was vicar general at… -
Burriel, Andrés Marco
BURRIEL, ANDRÉS MARCO. - Spanish Jesuit, b. at Buenache de Alarcón in 1719, d. there in 1762. He taught rhetoric and philosophy in the… -
Bury, Richard Aungerville de
BURY, RICHARD AUNGERVILLE DE. - Bishop of Durham, b. 24 Jan. 1287 at Bury St Edmunds, d. 14 Apr. 1345 at Durham. He was tutor to King… -
Busaeus (Buseo)
BUSAEUS (BUSEO). - Latinized surname, from the Dutch Bury, of three brothers, all Jesuits, compatriots and relatives of St. Peter Canisius:… -
Busca, Ignazio
BUSCA, IGNAZIO. - Cardinal, b. in Milan on 23 Nov. 1731, d. in Rome on 12 Aug. 1803. Nuncio in Flanders from Sept. 1775 to June 1785, with… -
Bussi, Giovanni Andrea
BUSSI, GIOVANNI ANDREA. - Humanist, b. at Vigevano in 1417, d. at Rome in 1475. Having obtained his doctorate at the Sorbonne, he taught at… -
Bussi, Giovanni Battista
BUSSI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA. - Cardinal, from a noble Viterbese family, b. in 1656 at Viterbo, d. at Rome in 1726. Pope Innocent XII,… -
Bussolaro, Jacopo
BUSSOLARO, JACOPO. - Augustinian preacher, b. at Pavia ca. 1312, d. at Ischia in 1380. He entered the Hermits of St. Augustine at a young… -
Butler, Charles
BUTLER, CHARLES. - Born on 14 Aug. 1750 in London, died there on 2 June 1832; B. attended a Catholic school at Hammersmith, and then went… -
Byrne, William
BYRNE, WILLIAM. - Missionary and educator, b. in 1780 in County Wicklow (Ireland), d. June 5, 1833 at Bardstown, in the state of Kentucky,… -
Bzovius (Bzowski), Abraham
BZOVIUS (BZOWSKI), ABRAHAM. - Polish Dominican preacher, famous for his fiery oratory. Born at Proszowice in 1567, died in 1637 in Rome,… -
Čaadaev, Pjotr Jakovlevič (ČAADAEV, PIOTR JAKOVLEVIĆ)
ČAADAEV, PIOTR JAKOVLEVIČ. - Russian thinker, the "first Westernizer." Born between 1793 and 1796 into a noble family, he was educated in… -
Cabasilas, Nilos (CABASILAS, NILO)
CABASILAS, NILOS. - Greek theologian, a dissident of the 14th century. Born in Thessalonica at the end of the 13th century, of a noble… -
Cabezudo, Nuño Diego
CABEZUDO, NUÑO DIEGO. - Dominican theologian and polemicist, b. at Villalón (Castile), d. at Segovia in Feb. 1614, while he was prior. He… -
Caboto, Giovanni
CABOTO, GIOVANNI. - Italian navigator, naturalized Venetian in 1476. Having learned of the results of Columbus's first voyage, he… -
Cabrera, Alonso de
CABRERA, ALONSO de. - Famous Spanish preacher, b. in Cordova in 1546 to a noble family. Having become a Dominican in Cordova, he developed… -
Cacault, François
CACAULT, FRANÇOIS. - French diplomat, b. at Nantes on 10 Feb. 1743, d. at Clisson on 5 Oct. 1805. A professor at the military school of… -
Cacciatore, Niccolò
CACCIATORE, NICCOLÒ. - Priest and student of astronomy, b. at Casteltermini in Sicily on 26 Nov. 1780, d. toward the middle of the… -
Cadorna, Raffaele
CADORNA, RAFFAELE. - Italian general, b. in Milan on 9 Feb. 1815, d. in Turin on 6 Feb. 1897. Of a deeply Catholic family, of a difficult… -
Caesar, Gaius Julius (C. Iulius C. f. C. n. Caesar) (CESARE, CAIO GIULIO (C. IULIUS C. F. C. N. CAESAR))
CAESAR, Gaius Julius (C. Iulius C. f. C. n. Caesar). - Born July 13, 102 B.C., died March 15, 44 B.C. Consul in 59, conqueror of Gaul from… -
Caesarius of Speyer (CESARIO DA SPIRA)
CAESARIUS OF SPEYER. - Francesco, a disciple of St. Francis of Assisi, was born in Speyer (Germany) in the second half of the 12th century,… -
Caetani, Costantino
CAETANI, COSTANTINO. - Benedictine, b. at Syracuse in 1560, d. at Rome on 17 Sept. 1650. On 29 Oct. 1586 he entered the monastery of S.… -
Caetani (Gaetani)
CAETANI (GAETANI). - According to a family tradition the C. would trace back to the consuls (hypatoi) and dukes of Gaeta; but their certain… -
Caffarini, Tommaso
CAFFARINI, TOMMASO. - Dominican, properly Tommaso di Antonio (Thomas Antonii) of Siena. Laurent, who restored his surname to him, commonly… -
Caffaro
CAFFARO. - Genoese chronicler, b. around 1080, d. in 1166. Of noble lineage (he was the son of Rustico, lord of Castrofino) and related to… -
Cagliero, Giovanni
CAGLIERO, GIOVANNI. - Cardinal, born at Castelnuovo d'Asti on 11 Jan. 1838, died at Rome on 28 Feb. 1926. Having met St. John Bosco for the… -
Cagliostro, Alessandro, Count of (CAGLIOSTRO, ALESSANDRO, CONTE DI)
CAGLIOSTRO, Alessandro, Count of. - Famous 18th-century adventurer. His real name was Giuseppe Balsamo, born in 1743 to well-to-do… -
Calabiana, Nazari Luigi, Count of (CALABIANA, NAZARI LUIGI, CONTE DI)
CALABIANA, Nazari Luigi, Count of. - Bishop, b. 27 July 1808 at Savigliano, d. 23 Oct. 1893 at Milan. Elected on 12 Apr. 1847 bishop of… -
Calandione
CALANDIONE. - Patriarch of Antioch, successor in 481 to Stephen II who had been killed by the Monophysites, he owed his elevation to the… -
Calandrelli, Alessandro
CALANDRELLI, ALESSANDRO. - Scholar of military science, b. in Rome on 8 Oct. 1805, d. at Albano Laziale in 1888. An artillery officer, he… -
Caldora, Giacomo
CALDORA, GIACOMO. - Powerful Abruzzese baron and captain, b. at Castel del Giudice, on the Sangro, in 1368, and d. on 15 Nov. 1439. Elected… -
Calenzio, Generoso
CALENZIO, GENEROSO. - Erudite Oratorian, b. in Naples in 1831, d. in Rome on 11 Dec. 1915. He entered the Congregation of the Oratory of…