Beacon Lights of History, Volume 08 | Page 2

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 Li��ge 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 K?ben After the painting by Arthur Kampf.
Embarkation of Anglo-Saxons for the Conquest of England _After the painting by H. Mert��_.
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 of his people and nation in the Middle Ages. As a man of military genius he yields to many of the kings of England, to say nothing of the heroes of ancient and modern times.
When he was born, A.D. 849, the Saxons had occupied Britain, or England, about four hundred years, having conquered it from the old Celtic inhabitants soon after the Romans had retired to defend their