Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/182

VALENCIA 152 VALENTINIAN II. Suchet captured the city in 1812. The old kingdom of Valencia, now subdivided into the three modern provinces of Va- lencia, Alicante and Castellon de la Plana, comprises a tract of country in the E, of Spain, washed by the Medi- terranean, and extending from Catalonia to Murcia. It has a hot but fine cli- mate, a fertile soil, mineral wealth and nany industries. VALENCIA, the capital and most im- portant city of Carabobo, Venezuela; in the Aragua valley, 24 miles S. of Puerto Caoello; altitude 1,824 feet above sea- level. It is the second city of Venezuela in population and importance, and is the trade center of a large section handling sugar, hides, coffee, cocoa, etc. Here are electric lights, beautiful parks and squares, regular streets, a National Col- lege, a cathedral, etc. In the vicinity are celebrated hot springs. Valencia was es- tablished in 1555. After the separation from Colombia the first Venezuelan Con- gress met here. Pop. about 55,000. VALENCIA, LAKE OF, a body of water in Venezuela, 2 miles from Valen- cia and near the Caribbean Sea; length, 22 miles; average breadth, 4 miles. It contains many islands and is the outlet of the Aragua river. VALENCIENNES (va-long-syen'), a fortified city of France, in the depart- ment of Nord; at the junction of the Rhondelle and the Scheldt. It is noted for its manufactures of lace. It contains a citadel, a fine town hall, a communal college, civil and military hospitals, a library, museum, theater, arsenal, etc. Before the World War its industries were varied, comprising manufactures of batiste, linens, lawns, printed muslins, lace, beet sugar, gold and silver tissues, toys and leather. It also had foundries, rolling-mills, distilleries, glass works and dye works. It was taken in 1793 by the English and Austrians after a siege of six weeks. It was the birthplace of Froissart, Watteau and Pujol. The city was taken by the Germans in 1914, and was held by them during the World War. Pop. about 35,000. VALENS, FLAVIUS, Roman emperor of the East; born in Pannonia, in 328; declared emperor of the East by his brother Valentinian I., who had already been elected emperor. The chief event of his reign was the war with the Goths under Athanaric, which lasted during the whole of Valens' reign. The Goths were several times defeated, and sued for peace, which was granted them (370). In 377 the Goths, driven S. by the Huns, asked and received permission to settle on Roman territory. Irritated by the treatment they received at the hands of the imperial officials, they soon took up arms, and in 378 defeated Valens and destroyed the greater part of his army. Valens was never seen or heard of after- ward. VALENTIA, or VALENCIA, a small fertile island off the S. E. coast of Ire- land, belonging to County Kerry, about 5 miles long by 2 miles broad. It has slate and flag quarries, and productive fisheries. The British Atlantic telegraph cables to Newfoundland start from Va- lentia, and there is here a lighthouse. VALENTINE, a sweetheart or choice made on St. Valentine's day. According to the legend, St. Valentine was beheaded on Feb. 14, at Rome, under Claudius. The old notion was that birds began to couple on that day, and hence arose the custom of young persons of both sexes choosing each other as "Valen- tines" for the ensuing year by a species of lottery, and of sending love missives to each other. Also a letter or other missive sent by young persons of both sexes to each other on Valentine's day; a printed missive of an amatory or satirical nature, gen- erally sent by post anonymously. Some valentines are highly ornamental and ar- tistic, while others (commonly called "comic valentines") are caricatures, de- signed to reflect on the personal appear- ance, habits, character, etc., of the per- sons to whom they are addressed. The practice of sending valentines by mail appears to be diminishing year by year, the later practice, confined almost exclu- sively to children, being to insert them under the door of the person to whom they are addressed, and then to knock or ring the door bell and hurry away. In the various cities of the United States many millions of hideous caricatures thus change hands each year. VALENTINIAN I., a Roman emperor (364-375) ; born of humble family in Ci- balis, Pannonia, in A. D. 321. By his ca- pacity and courage he rose rapidly in rank under Constantius and Julian, and on the death of Jovian was chosen as his successor (Feb. 26, 364). He resigned the East to his brother Valens, and him- self governed the West with watchful care down to his sudden death at Bre- getio, Nov. 17, 375, brought on by a fit of passion. By his first wife he had one son, Gratianus, and by the second, Jus- tina, another son, Valentinian II., and three daughters, one of whom, Galla, be- came the wife of the Emperor Theodo- sius I. VALENTINIAN II., a Roman em- peror; born A. D. 372; received from his