See Also: Alexander, Harold (Rupert Leofric George) Alexander, 1st Earl(encyclopedia)
Alexander(1)(dictionary)
Gay, Alexander(medicine)
Alexander VI(encyclopedia)
J. Alexander's(tourism)
Alexander III(encyclopedia)
Alexander II(encyclopedia)
Alexander I(encyclopedia)
Alexander(2)(dictionary)
Fleming, Sir Alexander(encyclopedia)

gendarmerie (iou) and Alexander III (sh)


gendarmerie (iou)



gendarmerie noun. Also gendarmery. M16.
[French, from gendarme: see GENDARME.]
Hist. A body of cavalry, esp. in the older French army (cf. GENDARME 1). M16.
In France and French-speaking countries: a body of police officers, a police force; orig. a military force employed as police. L18.
b. A headquarters or station of gendarmes; a police station. M20.

Alexander III (sh)




orig. Rolando Bandinelli

born งใ 1105, Siena, Tuscany
died Aug. 30, 1181, Rome

Pope (1159-81).

A member of the group of cardinals who feared the growing strength of the Holy Roman Empire, he helped draw up an alliance with the Normans (1156). As the representative of Pope Adrian IV, he angered Frederick I (Frederick Barbarossa) by referring to the empire as a "benefice," implying that it was a gift of the pope. On Alexander's election as pope in 1159, a minority of cardinals supported by Frederick elected the first of several antipopes, and imperial opposition obliged Alexander to flee to France (1162). A vigorous defender of papal authority, he supported St. Thomas Becket against Henry II of England. He returned to Rome in 1165 but was exiled again the following year. He gained support with the formation of the Lombard League, which defeated Frederick at Legnano in 1176, paving the way for the Peace of Venice and the end of the papal schism. Alexander stood in the reform tradition and presided at the third Lateran Council (1179).