Beacon Lights of History, Volume 08: Great Rulers

Part 1

LORD'S LECTURES

BEACON LIGHTS OF HISTORY, VOLUME VIII

GREAT RULERS.

BY JOHN LORD, LL.D.,

AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ROMAN WORLD," "MODERN EUROPE," ETC., ETC.

CONTENTS.

ALFRED THE GREAT.

THE SAXONS IN ENGLAND.

The early Saxons Their conquest of England Division of England into petty kingdoms Conversion of the Saxons The Saxon bishoprics Early distinguished men Isadore, Caedmon, and Baeda, or Bede Birth and early life of Alfred Succession to the throne of Wessex Danish invasions Humiliation and defeat of Alfred His subsequent conquests Final settlement of the Danes Alfred fortifies his kingdom Reorganizes the army and navy His naval successes Renewed Danish invasions The laws of Alfred Their severity Alfred's judicial reforms Establishment of shires and parishes Administrative reforms Financial resources of Alfred His efforts in behalf of education His literary labors Final defeat of the Danes Death and character of Alfred His services to civilization Authorities

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

WOMAN AS A SOVEREIGN.

The reign of Queen Elizabeth associated with progress Her birth and education Her trials of the heart Her critical situation during the reign of Mary Her expediences Her dissembling State of the kingdom on her accession to the throne Rudeness and loyalty of the people Difficulties of the Queen The policy she pursued Her able ministers Lord Burleigh Archbishop Parker Favorites of Elizabeth The establishment of the Church of England Its adaptation to the wants of the nation Religious persecution Development of national resources Pacific policy of the government Administration of justice Hatred of war Glory of Elizabeth allied with the prosperity of England Good government Royal economy Charge of tyranny considered Power of Parliament Mary, Queen of Scots Palliating circumstances for her execution Character of Mary Stuart Her plots and intrigues The execution of Essex Other charges against Elizabeth Her coquetry Her defects Her virtues Her public services Her great fame Her influence contrasted with power Verdict of Lord Bacon Elizabethan era Constellation of men of genius

HENRY OF NAVARRE.

THE HUGUENOTS.

The Cause and the Hero The sixteenth century contrasted with the nineteenth A New Spirit in the world Differences of progress Religious, civil, and social upheavals John Calvin Reformed doctrines in France Persecution of the Huguenots They arm in self-defence to secure religious liberty Henry of Navarre Jeanne D'Albret Education of Henry Coligny Slaughter of St. Bartholomew The Duke of Guise, Catherine de Medicis, and Charles IX. Effects of the massacre Responsibility for it Stand taken by the Protestants They retire to La Rochelle Bravery and ability of Henry Battle of Coutras Battle of Ivry Abjuration of Henry IV His motives The ceremony Edict of Nantes Henry's service to France Effects of the Abjuration of Henry IV. on the Huguenots Character of Henry

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS.

THIRTY YEARS' WAR.

The Thirty Years' War a political necessity Agitation which succeeded the death of Luther Brilliancy of the period Persecution of the Protestants Ferdinand II Bohemia Its insurrection Renewed persecution Its success Elector Count Palatine Rallying of German princes against the Emperor Wallenstein His successful warfare Consternation of Germany Gustavus Adolphus comes to its relief Character of Gustavus Adolphus His brilliant exploits Balance of power Dismissal and recall of Wallenstein The contending forces Battle of Lutzen Death of Gustavus Adolphus Peace of Westphalia Its political consequences Ultimate effects of the Thirty Years' War

CARDINAL RICHELIEU.

ABSOLUTISM.

State of France in the 17th Century Elevation of Richelieu He perceives the great necessities of the State Makes himself necessary to Louis XIII. His aims as Prime Minister His executive ability His remorseless tyranny His warfare on the Huguenots Aims of the Huguenots La Rochelle Fall of the Huguenots Character of the Nobility; their decimation The Queen-Mother The Duke of Orleans The justification of Richelieu The Parliaments Their hostilities Their humiliation The policy of Richelieu His services to the Crown His internal improvements His defects of character Necessity of absolutism amid treasons and anarchies Abuse of absolutism

OLIVER CROMWELL.

ENGLISH REVOLUTION.

The Puritans Their peculiarities Love of Civil Liberty Charles I. and his ministers Laud Strafford Tyranny of the King Persecution of the Puritans Petition of Right Reforms The Parliament Contest between the King 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.

Part 2

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 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.

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