scripture in Ethiopic, with Latin translations, which, however, are said not to be accurate.—W. L. A.
NITHARD, a mediæval chronicler, was the son of Angelbertus and of Bertha, a daughter of Charlemagne, and was born in 790. Living at the court of Charles the Bold, and dying about 859 of wounds received in his service, Nithard is chiefly remembered as the author of a Latin history of the wars between that king and his brother. This work, which is inserted in Duchesne's collection, Historiæ Francorum Scriptores, contains the text of the treaty agreed to at Strasburg in 842 between Charles and Louis. Written both in the Latin and Romance languages, it is frequently quoted for its philological value as an illustration of the state of the latter tongue at the period referred to.—W. J. P.
* NITZSCH, Gregor Wilhelm, a distinguished German antiquary, was born at Wittenberg, 22nd November, 1790, where he devoted himself to classical learning under Lobeck. After serving as a volunteer in the war of liberation in 1813, he obtained a mastership in the Wittenberg gymnasium, but was in 1827 called to the chair of ancient literature at Kiel, where in 1834 he was also appointed inspector of the gymnasia of the two duchies, Schleswig and Holstein. In 1852 he was dismissed, but was immediately after offered a chair at Leipsic. The fame of Nitzsch chiefly rests upon his Homeric investigations. In opposition to F. A. Wolf and Lachmann he has in his "Sagenpoesie der Griechen," Braunschweig, 1852, endeavoured to prove the Iliad and Odyssey the works of one individual Homer, and not of a number of unknown minstrels. His minor treatises are numerous.—K. E.
NITZSCH, Karl Immanuel, a German theologian, son of Karl Ludwig Nitzsch, was born at Borna, Saxony, September 21, 1787. He studied theology at the university of Wittenberg, and early imbibing the doctrinal views of his father, wrote a treatise on the historical signification of the Old Testament, when still a student. The university of Berlin awarded him the D.D. diploma in 1817, and in 1822 he was appointed professor of theology and university-preacher at Bonn. He rose rapidly through the various degrees of the Prussian evangelical hierarchy, and in 1843 obtained the title of Oberconsistorialrath, approaching the dignity of bishop in the episcopal church. In 1847 he was translated to Berlin as upper-church councillor (Oberkirchenrath) and university-preacher, and as such took an active part in the deliberations of the general convocation, as well as in the political debates of the Prussian house of peers. His literary activity is represented chiefly in—"Theologische Studien," Leipsic, 1816; "Über das Ansehen der heiligen Schrift," Bonn, 1827; "System der christlichen Lehre," ib. 1829; 5th edition, 1844; "Ad theologiam practicam felicius excolendam observationes," ib. 1831; "Urkundenbuch," ib. 1853; and a large number of sermons published under the title "Predigten," in 1815, 1819, and 1833-44.—He died in 1868.
NITZSCH, Karl Ludwig, a distinguished German theological writer, was born at Wittenberg, August 6, 1751, the son of a clergyman. Having studied theology and philosophy at the university of his native town, he devoted himself for some time to teaching, until he obtained, in 1781, a small living at Beucha, Saxony. In 1785 he was appointed rector of Borna; in 1787 clerical superintendent at Zeitz; and in 1790 professor of theology at the university of Wittenberg. In this sphere of activity he acquired considerable fame by his lectures and published works, in both which he endeavoured to reconcile the orthodox and the rationalistic schools, leaning, however, somewhat more to the latter than the former. He lost his appointment at the university in 1815; but two years after obtained the post of principal of the newly-formed theological academy at Wittenberg, which he held till his death, December 5, 1831. His chief works are—"De revelatione religionis externa eademque publica," Leipsic, 1808; "Über das Heil der Welt," Wittenberg, 1817; "Über das Heil der Kirche," ib. 1822; "Über das Heil der Theologie," ib. 1830; "De discrimine revelationis imperatoriæ et didacticæ," ib. 1830.—F. M.
NIVERNOIS, Louis Jules Mancini Mazarini, Duc de, was born at Paris in 1716. Having served some time in the army, he was appointed ambassador to Rome. Subsequently fulfilling the same office at Berlin, he earned the favour of Frederick the Great. His most important diplomatic employment was in 1763, when he was intrusted with the conduct of the negotiations that led to the definitive peace of London. Returning to Paris, he devoted his leisure to literature, producing various works that obtained his admission into the French Academy and into that of Inscriptions. His "Fables" especially are spoken of with high praise as resembling those of La Motte, and equalling them in general merit. An ably executed English translation of them appeared in 1799. Well acquainted with our own literature, he translated the fourth book of Paradise Lost, Pope's Essay on Man, and Walpole's Modern Gardening; whilst his classical attainments were evidenced by a translation of the Agricola of Tacitus. During the Reign of Terror he was imprisoned, but recovered his liberty on the fall of Robespierre. He died in 1798.—W. J. P.
NIZA, Marcos de, an Italian Franciscan missionary of the sixteenth century the discoverer of Sonora, was sent from Nice to Nova Hispania, then governed by Antonio de Mendoza. In 1539 he set out from Mexico on a mission to the inhabitants of New Galicia, and traversing the valley of the Sonora arrived in the neighbourhood of Civola or Cebola (now called Grenada), a town built of stone, the size and splendour of which he reported on his return to the viceroy in terms such as travellers use. An expedition was organized by Mendoza in the following year to take possession of the country discovered by Niza. Guided by the missionary, the Spaniards penetrated into the province of Tucayan, and then returned, greatly diminished in numbers, to Culiacan, having visited fifteen cities and traversed in all three thousand miles. Niza's account of his discoveries is to be found in Hakluyt.
NIZAM UL MULK, the title and name given to Prince Tchyn Qelytch Khan, a remarkable political character, who was born at Delhi about 1648, and brought up at the court of the Great Mogul. His father was viceroy of Gujerat. Nizam ul Mulk successfully aided Aurungzebe in several military expeditions and plots against the princes of the Deccan. He won great influence in the court of Bahadur-Shah, but was feeble under Farukhsir, and in 1715 was recalled from the Deccan. In 1717, however, he was appointed viceroy of the Deccan, where he tried to suppress the Mahratta brigands, and refused them the tribute which had been granted them by Aurungzebe. He succeeded in defeating them in a great battle, but was suddenly deprived of his office; whereupon he associated with those who conspired against and deposed his sovereign, by whose successor he was in 1720 appointed viceroy of Malwah. There, under the pretext of intending to put down the brigands, he raised forces and took possession of the Deccan. After this he was summoned to court by the Mogul; and in 1731 was made vizir. While his master was on a hunting expedition he seized the opportunity to return to his old post in the Deccan, to which he annexed Gujerat and Malwah, and acted altogether independently. He is charged with encouraging the invasion of Nadir Shah. After the retreat of the Persians he returned again to the Deccan, and ruled four years over a fourth of the states of the Great Mogul. His activity continued to the close of his protracted life, and he figured in both English and French affairs. He died in 1748, aged one hundred and four lunar years, "cursed by the inhabitants of the Peninsula and Upper Hindustan, and despised by the English, French, and Persians."—B. H. C.
NIZAMI or NIDHAMI, a Persian poet, whose true name was probably Yousouf, and who bore numerous other appellations. His chief works are five poems, called by the Arabs "Khamseh" (the Five). They are—1, Moral pieces, apologues, and stories; 2, The loves of Khosrun and Shireen; 3, The loves of Leila and Madjnun; 4, The history of King Bahramgur and the Seven Princesses; and 5, The Escander Nameh, or history of Alexander. Parts of these have been published. A divan or collection of elegies in twenty thousand distichs, also bears the name of Nizami. He died in 1180-81. The Persians have preferred him to Firdusi.—B. H. C.
NOAILLES: the name derived from an estate situated near Brises and Turenne, in the province of Limousin, of a noble family which has given many illustrious names to the history of France. Records of the bounty of the representatives of this family as far back as 1023 may be traced in the neighbouring abbeys and churches. Passing over the heroes of chivalry, the first members of the family taking part in public affairs within the period of modern history are two brothers. Antoine, born in 1504, enjoyed the confidence of King Francis I., for whom he fought valiantly and negotiated ably, distinguishing himself especially in 1544 at the battle of Cerisolles. By
