Beacon Lights of History, Volume 08 | Page 2

and Parliament War and Revolution Characteristics of the Age
Rise of Cromwell His military genius Battle of Naseby Of Preston
Conquest of Scotland Execution of Charles I. A war measure The
Independents gain ascendency Conquest of Ireland Cromwell made
Protector of the army Military despotism Motives of Cromwell His
great abilities as a ruler His services to England Greatness of England
under Cromwell Cromwell contrasted with Louis XIV. His intellectual
defects His death Cromwell as an instrument of Providence Occasional

necessity of absolutism Ultimate effect of Cromwell's rule
LOUIS XIV.
THE FRENCH MONARCHY.
Illustrious men on the accession of Louis XIV. State of France
Ambition of Louis XIV. His love of military glory His character His
inherited greatness His alliance with the Church His unbounded power
His great ministers Colbert Aims of Colbert His great services Louvois
His great executive abilities The first war of Louis XIV. Conquest of
Flanders Its iniquity Invasion of Holland Easy victories Rise of
William of Nassau Prevents the conquest of Holland Peace of
Nimeguen Louis in the zenith of power His aggrandizement His
palaces His court His mistresses His friendship with Madame de
Maintenon Elevation of Maintenon Religious persecution Revocation
of the Edict of Nantes Coalition against Louis XIV. Unfortunate wars
Humiliation His death Effects of his reign in France
LOUIS XV.
REMOTE CAUSES OF REVOLUTION.
Long reign of Louis XV. Decline of French military power Loss of
colonial possessions Cardinal Fleury Duke of Orleans Derangement of
the finances Injustice of feudal privileges John Law Mississippi scheme
Bursting of the bubble Excessive taxation Worthlessness of the nobility
Their effeminacy and hypocrisy Character of the King Corruption of
his court The Jesuits Death of the King The reign of court mistresses
Madame de Pompadour Extravagance of the aristocracy Improvements
of Paris Fall of the Jesuits The Philosophers and their
writings,--Voltaire, Rousseau Accumulating miseries and disgraceful
government
PETER THE GREAT.
HIS SERVICES TO RUSSIA.

State of Russia on the accession of Peter the Great The necessity for a
great ruler to arise Early days of the Czar Peter Accession to the throne
Lefort Origin of a navy Seizure of Azof Military reform Peter sets out
on his travels Works as a carpenter in Holland Mentchikof Peter visits
England Visits Vienna Completion of the apprenticeship of Peter He
abolishes the Streltzi Various other reforms Opposition of the clergy
War with Charles XII. of Sweden Battle of Narva Siege of Pultowa
Peter invades Turkey His imprudence and rashness Saved by the
sagacity of his wife Catherine Foundation of St. Petersburg Second tour
of Europe Misconduct and fate of Alexis Coronation of Catherine I.
Character of Peter His great services to Russia
FREDERIC THE GREAT.
THE PRUSSIAN POWER.
Characteristics of the man Education of Frederic II. His character
Becomes King Seizure of a part of Liège Seizure of Silesia Maria
Theresa Visit of Voltaire Friendship between Voltaire and Frederic
Coalition against Frederic Seven Years' War Carlyle's History of
Frederic Empress Elizabeth of Russia Decisive battles of Rossbach,
Luthen, and Zorndorf Heroism and fortitude of Frederic Results of the
Seven Years' War Partition of Poland Development of the resources of
Prussia Public improvements General services of Frederic to his
country His character His ultimate influence
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
VOLUME VIII.
Frederic the Great Reproaching his Generals at Köben After the
painting by Arthur Kampf.
Embarkation of Anglo-Saxons for the Conquest of England _After the
painting by H. Merté_.
Queen Elizabeth _After the "Ermine" portrait by F. Zucchero_.

Last Moments of Queen Elizabeth After the painting by Paul
Delaroche.
The Morning after the Massacre of St. Bartholomew _After the
painting by Ed. Debat-Ponsan_.
Henry of Navarre and La Belle Fosseuse _After the painting by A.P.E.
Morlon_.
The Imperial Counsellors are Thrown Out of the Window by the
Bohemian Delegates _After the painting by V. Brozik_.
Cardinal Richelieu _After the painting by Ph. de Champaign, National
Gallery, London_.
Richelieu Watches the Siege Operations from the Dam at Rochelle
After the painting by Henri Motte.
Oliver Cromwell After the painting by Pieter van der Picas.
Louis XIV. and Mlle. de la Valliere _After the painting by A.P.E.
Morlon_.
Peter the Great After a Contemporaneous Engraving.
Peter the Great Learns the Trade of Ship-Carpentry at Zaardam After
the painting by Felix Cogen.
Frederic the Great _After the painting by W. Camphausen_.

ALFRED THE GREAT.
A.D. 849-901.
THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.
Alfred is one of the most interesting characters in all history for those
blended virtues and talents which remind us of a David, a Marcus

Aurelius, or a Saint Louis,--a man whom everybody loved, whose
deeds were a boon, whose graces were a radiance, and whose words
were a benediction; alike a saint, a poet, a warrior, and a statesman. He
ruled a little kingdom, but left a great name, second only to
Charlemagne, among the civilizers