Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/501

ANCONA ANCRE 469 pop. in 1872, 45,741, including about 5,000 Jews and a number of Greeks, Levantines, and Turks. The city is built in the form of an am- phitheatre, on the slope of two hills rising from the shores of the Adriatic. It is connected by railways and steamers with all parts of Europe and the East. The annual arrivals of ships are over 1,500, besides steamers. The chief imports are colonial produce, metals, and coals. The principal exports are corn, hemp, bacon, sulphur, and cotton. The coasting trade is also very active. The chief manufactures are woollens, cotton, silk hats, and paper. The port is form- ed by two moles : one, built by Trajan, is 2,000 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 65 feet above water, and is spanned by the famous arch of Trajan, considered the finest in the world ; the other has a triumphal arch constructed by Pope Benedict XIV. from the designs of Vanvi- tellL The harbor, defended by several forts, had fallen into decay and was filling up ; but it has recently been dredged and is now rapidly improving. Ancona, notwithstanding its fine quay and a beautiful situation, has the disagree- able appearance of a Levantine city, with dirty and narrow business streets, though with a number of good residences along the quay. The cathedral, situated on a promontory, has a remarkable porch, a cupola reputed to be the most ancient in Italy, and fine marble pillars. The churches of San Domenico and San Fran- cesco contain pictures by Titian ; and there are also notable pictures in the other churches, most of those in St. Agostino being by Lilio, known as Andrea di' Ancona. The English residents worship in the Free Church of Scot- land chapel. The city is believed to have been founded by a colony of Syracusans in the time of Dionysius the Elder. Trajan used the port as a military station. After having been gov- Ancona, with the Arch of Trajan. wned by Romans and Lombards, and devas- tated by Saracens on several occasions, partic- ularly in the 10th century, Ancona remained for a considerable period independent until 1532, when Clement VII. annexed it to the Papal States. In 1832 the citadel was seized by the French as a demonstration against the Austrians, who had occupied the insurgent Marches ; but the papal authorities continued to preside over the civil administration. The French occupation lasted till 1838. In 1849 the city surrendered to the Austrians, who evacuated it after the battle of Magenta, fought June 4, 1859. Gen. Lamoriciere, commander of the Papal troops, afte.r his defeat at Castel- fidardo, surrendered here to the Italians, Sept. 29, 1860. Ancona became part of Victor Emanuel's possessions Dec. 17, 1860. A ( HE, Conclno do' Concini, marshal and mar- quis d', a Florentine adventurer and prime minister of France, shot in Paris, April 24, 1617. He was the son of a notary, and went to France in 1600 in the suite of the bride of Henry IV., Maria de' Medici, one of whose at- tendants, Leonora Dori or Galigai, was his wife. With the aid of this woman, who was the daughter of Maria's nurse, he soon rose to high favor at court. He fomented the dis- agreements between the king and queen, and when the latter became regent on Henry's death he was recognized as the prime favorite of the palace. He bought the marquisate of Ancre, and, though he had never been a sol- dier, was created marshal of France. The re- sentment of the country at his sudden eleva- tion and his insolence was aggravated by his