Encyclopædia americana. A popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, a new ed.; including a copious collection of original articles in American biography; on the basis of the 7th ed. of the German Conversations-lexicon. Ed. by Francis Lieber, assisted by E. Wigglesworth ...

CAERNARVON —CIESAR. 379
CAERNARVON, the principal town of son of the pretor Caius Julius Cesar,
North Wales, stands on the Menai strait, and of Aurelia, a daughter of Aurelius
with a good harbor, but difficult of access. Cotta. From his earliest boyhood, he
It is built in the form of a square, enclos- discovered extraordinary talents. I-He
ed on three sides with walls. Edward I had a penetrating intellect, a remarkably
built it in 1282, and his son, Edward II, strong memory, and a lively imagination;
first prince of Wales, was born here. C. was indefatigable in business, and able, as
stands near the site of the ancient Segon- we are told by Pliny, to read, write, bear
tium of Antoninus, the Caer Seiont of the and dictate, at the same time, fiiom four to
Britons. Being formerly a strong hold, seven different letters. When the party
it was firequently attacked in the wars be- of Marius gained the ascendency in Rome,
tw-een the Welsh and English, and in the Cinna gave his daughter Cornelia in marcivil wars. Population, 5788. Distant riage to C., with the view thereby to
253 miles N. W. from London. establish his own power more firnaly.
CA;ERPHILLY, or CAERPHILI; a small Sylla, when he came to Rome, tried to
market-town in the county of Glamorgan, prevail on him to repudiate her. His redistinguished for the ruins of one of the fusal provoked the anger of the usurper,
most magnificent castles in Great Britain. who was prevented only by the earnest
The date of its foundation is unknown; entreaties of his friends from putting him
but, till the time of Henry III, it was call- under proscription. The saying of Sylla,
ed the castle of Senghenydd. The great that "he saw in this stripling many a
hall, 70 feet by 30, and the hanging tower, Marius," hastened the departure of C.
nearly 80 feet high, and inclining about 11 from Rome. He travelled into the Safeet from the perpendicular, are remark- bine territory, was seized by the soldiers
able objects. The position of the latter of Sylla, and was obliged to procure his
was produced by the steam of a quantity release by a bribe of two talents. He
of water which was thrown upon a fur- then proceeded to the court of Nicomedes,
nace of melted iron beneath the tower. king of Bithynia. Thence he went to M.
Distant 158 miles west from London. Minucius Thermus, the pretor in Asia,
CA:EERWENT; a village of England, sup- who intrusted him with the command of
posed to have been the Venta Silurum of the fleet which was to blockade Mitylene.
Antoninus. The vestiges of a large Ro- In the execution of this trust, C. distinmnan camp are visible. A mosaic pave- guished himself highly, although but 22
ment of blue, white, yellow and red was years old. He next visited Rhodes, and
discovered here some years ago. Distant placed himself under the instruction of
17 miles N. W. of Bristol. Apollonius, to fit himself for speaking at
CAERwYs, a small town of North the bar. On the way, he was taken by
Wales, is noted for the celebration of the pirates, and compelled to pay 50 talents
Eisteddfod, or competition of the bards for his release. To revenge himself, he
(q. v.). They recited their odes, or per- fitted out some vessels at Miletus, overformed on the harp, in presence of judges took the pirates, made the greatest part
appointed by the native princes. The of them prisoners, and had them crucified
prize was a small silver harp. Distant before Pergamus. He now returned to
212 miles N. W. from London. Rome, and became military tribune, quesC-sAR was the family name of the five tor and edile. At the same time, he
first Roman emperors. With Nero the had the address to win the favor of the
imperial family became extinct (A.D. 68), people by affability, by splendid enterand Ccsar became merely a title of dig- tainments and public shows; and, trustnity. The emperor, who bore the title ing to his popularity, he ventured to erect
of Alugustus, appointed his successor, with again the statues and trophies of Marius,
the title of Ccesar. On medals and mon- who was hated by the senate and the pauments we find the title Ccesar preceding tricians. By means of one of his relaLhe name of the emperor, as, Imp. Ccesar tions, L. Julius Caesar, whom he had aidJ.Nerva Trajanus.Augustts, and following ed in obtaining the consulship, he caused
that of the designated successor, as, Marc. many of Sylla's followers to be banished
ularel..ntonin. CUsar. In the lower or put to death. In the conspiracy of
Greek empire, a new dignity of Sebasto- Catiline he certainly had a secret part.
crator was conferred, and that of Ccesar He defended the conspirators, who were
became the third rank in the state. arrested, and succeeded in raising a tumC SAR, Caius Julius, a great general, mult against Cato, who strongly opposed
statesman and historian, was born July him, so that he was obliged to quit the
10th (Quinctilis), B. C. 100. He was the rostrum, and even his life was endanger.