(1712-1786) King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynaasty, known as the founder of Germany's military power.

Frederick II

(1712-1786) King of Prussia from the Hohenzollern dynaasty, known as the founder of Germany's military…

"Germany's most beautiful cathedral, Cologne." -Foster, 1921

Cologne Cathedral

"Germany's most beautiful cathedral, Cologne." -Foster, 1921

(1834-1921) American Roman Catholic Cardinal.

Cardinal James Gibbons

(1834-1921) American Roman Catholic Cardinal.

"The more angular the wing of birds - that is to say, the longer the feathers on the edge of the wing - the more rapidly does it propel itself through the air."

Wing of an Eagle

"The more angular the wing of birds - that is to say, the longer the feathers on the edge of the wing…

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and adapted for walking."

Foot of White-Headed Eagle

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and…

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and adapted for walking."

Foot of Honey-Buzzard

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and…

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and adapted for walking."

Foot of Cassowary

"In birds of prey the claws are powerful and hooked; in others the foot is flat, claws straight, and…

"The beak or bill of birds is composed of two bony pieces, called mandibles, surrounded by a horny substance, differing both in form and thickness, according to the habits of the species."

Bill of Eagle

"The beak or bill of birds is composed of two bony pieces, called mandibles, surrounded by a horny substance,…

"Its flight is as powerful as that of the golden eagle, and its adroitness and strength are even greater. This eagle is the chosen emblem of the United States."

Bald or White-headed Eagle (Haliaetus Leucocephalus)

"Its flight is as powerful as that of the golden eagle, and its adroitness and strength are even greater.…

"The Harpy or Crested Eagle is the model species of the genus to which it belongs. It measures nearly five feet from the extremity of the head to that of the tail."

Harpy-Eagle (Harpyia Destructor)

"The Harpy or Crested Eagle is the model species of the genus to which it belongs. It measures nearly…

"The falcons, it may be said, realize the ideal of a bird of prey. They feed only on living animals, birds or small mammals. They always hunt on the wing."

Red-Necked Falcon, or Turumdi (Falco Chiquera)

"The falcons, it may be said, realize the ideal of a bird of prey. They feed only on living animals,…

An eagle landing with its wings outstretched.

Eagle

An eagle landing with its wings outstretched.

A stack of double eagle coins. A Double Eagle is a gold coin of the United States with a denomination of $20.

Double Eagles Stack

A stack of double eagle coins. A Double Eagle is a gold coin of the United States with a denomination…

The Pantheon is a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt circa 125 AD during Hadrian's reign. Since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a Catholic church. The Pantheon is currently the oldest standing domed structure in Rome.

The Pantheon at Rome

The Pantheon is a building in Rome which was originally built as a temple to all the gods of Ancient…

Hadrian's Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of what is now northern England. Construction began in 122 AD.

Hadrian's Wall

Hadrian's Wall is a stone and turf fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of what…

Saint Alban was the first British Christian martyr. Along with his fellow saints Julius and Aaron, Alban is one of three martyrs remembered from Roman Britain.

St. Alban's Shrine

Saint Alban was the first British Christian martyr. Along with his fellow saints Julius and Aaron, Alban…

A group of Roman soldiers heading into battle.

Roman Soldiers

A group of Roman soldiers heading into battle.

Byzantine Constantinople had been the capital of a Christian empire, see Christendom, successor to ancient Greece and Rome. Throughout the Middle Ages Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city, known as the Queen of Cities (Vasileuousa Polis).

The City of Constantinople (Byzantium)

Byzantine Constantinople had been the capital of a Christian empire, see Christendom, successor to ancient…

The Arles Amphitheatre is a Roman amphitheatre in the southern French town of Arles.

Roman Amphitheatre at Arles

The Arles Amphitheatre is a Roman amphitheatre in the southern French town of Arles.

The distinction between rank and unit type doesn't seem to have been as precise as in a modern-day army, in which a soldier has a separate pay-grade, job description, and assigned unit.

Roman Soldiers

The distinction between rank and unit type doesn't seem to have been as precise as in a modern-day army,…

St Asaph Cathedral, (Welsh: Eglwys Gadeiriol Llanelwy) at St Asaph, Denbighshire, north Wales, is sometimes claimed to be the smallest Anglican cathedral in Britain.

St. Asaph Cathedral

St Asaph Cathedral, (Welsh: Eglwys Gadeiriol Llanelwy) at St Asaph, Denbighshire, north Wales, is sometimes…

The lighthouse on the Eastern Heights still stands in the grounds of Dover Castle to 80 foot (24 m) high close to its original height, and has been adapted for use as the bell tower of the adjacent castle church of St Mary de Castro.

Roman Lighthouse, and Part of St. Mary's Church, Dover

The lighthouse on the Eastern Heights still stands in the grounds of Dover Castle to 80 foot (24 m)…

St Paul's Cathedral, is the Anglican cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral sits on the edge of London's oldest region, the City, which originated as a Roman trading post along the edge of the River Thames.

St. Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral, is the Anglican cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat…

This image depicts the door leading to the Puente Romano, a Roman bridge in Cordoba, Spain.

The Door of the Roman Bridge

This image depicts the door leading to the Puente Romano, a Roman bridge in Cordoba, Spain.

There has been a church on the site for over 1300 years since Etheldreda, Queen of Northumbria made a grant of lands to Wilfrid, Bishop of York c.674. Of Wilfrid's Benedictine abbey, which was constructed almost entirely of material salvaged from nearby Roman ruins, the Saxon crypt and apse still remain.

Hexham Abbey

There has been a church on the site for over 1300 years since Etheldreda, Queen of Northumbria made…

He is well known as an author and scholar, and his most famous work, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (The Ecclesiastical History of the English People) gained him the title "The father of English history". Bede is regarded as a Doctor of the Church by the Roman Catholic Church, a position of theological significance; he is the only man from Great Britain to achieve this designation.

Bede's Tomb, Durham Cathedral

He is well known as an author and scholar, and his most famous work, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum…

Within Roman Catholicism, a monk is a member of a religious order who lives a communal life in a monastery, abbey, or priory under a monastic rule of life (such as the Rule of St. Benedict) and under the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. St. Benedict of Nursia is considered to be the founder of western monasticism. He established the first monastic community in the west and authored the Rule of St. Benedict, which is the foundation for the Order of St. Benedict and all of its reforms such as the Cistercians and the Trappists.

Benedictine Monk

Within Roman Catholicism, a monk is a member of a religious order who lives a communal life in a monastery,…

The influence is very much Roman, and this can be seen by looking at the doors and windows of the tower. The tower has a number of functions. At Earls Barton, the ground floor probably served as the main body of the church and would have been annexed by a chancel to the east.

Earls-Barton Saxon Tower

The influence is very much Roman, and this can be seen by looking at the doors and windows of the tower.…

Pope Saint Gregory VII (c. 1020/1025 – May 25, 1085), born Hildebrand of Soana (Italian: Ildebrando di Soana), was pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal authority and the new canon law governing the election of the pope by the college of cardinals.

Pope Gregory VII

Pope Saint Gregory VII (c. 1020/1025 – May 25, 1085), born Hildebrand of Soana (Italian: Ildebrando…

Odo of Bayeux (c. 1036 – February 1097, Palermo), Norman bishop and English earl, was the half-brother of William the Conqueror, and was for a time second only to the king in power in England.

Odo of Bayeux

Odo of Bayeux (c. 1036 – February 1097, Palermo), Norman bishop and English earl, was the half-brother…

Rochester Castle stands on the east bank of the River Medway, in Rochester, Kent. It is one of the best-preserved castles of its kind in the UK. There has been a castle on this site since Roman times (c <small>AD</small>43), though it is the keep of 1127 and the Norman castle which can be seen today. With the invention of gunpowder other types of defense became more appropriate, and the military center of the Medway Towns moved to Chatham.

Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle stands on the east bank of the River Medway, in Rochester, Kent. It is one of the best-preserved…

The Basilica of St. John Lateran (Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the cathedral of the church of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope. As the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, containing the papal throne (Cathedra Romana), it ranks above all other churches in the Roman Catholic Church, even above St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

St. John's Church, Lateran Palace, Rome

The Basilica of St. John Lateran (Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the cathedral of…

The mitre is a type of headgear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, some Lutherans.In Western Christianity, the crozier is shaped like a shepherd's crook. A bishop bears this staff as "shepherd of the flock of God"

Mitre and Crosier

The mitre is a type of headgear now known as the traditional, ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain…

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with more than 2.7 million residents, and a metropolitan area of almost 4 million inhabitants. It is located in the central-western portion of the Italian peninsula, on the Tiber river. Rome stands on top of more than two and a half thousand years of history, was once the largest city in the world and the center of Western civilization. Rome is still the heart of Christianity, being seat of the Roman Catholic Church which controls the Vatican City as its sovereign territory, an enclave of Rome.

General View of Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with more…

The Order of Cistercians, sometimes called the White Monks, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monks. The first Cistercian abbey was founded by Robert of Molesme in 1098, at Cîteaux Abbey near Dijon, France. Two others, Saint Alberic of Citeaux and Saint Stephen Harding, are considered co-founders of the order, and Bernard of Clairvaux is associated with the fast spread of the order during the 12th century.

Cistercian Monk

The Order of Cistercians, sometimes called the White Monks, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed…

The pontifical vestments, also referred to as episcopal vestments or pontificals, are the liturgical vestments worn by bishops in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Anglican, and some Lutheran churches, in addition to the usual priestly vestments for the celebration of the Mass and the other sacraments.

Costume of a Bishop (12th Century)

The pontifical vestments, also referred to as episcopal vestments or pontificals, are the liturgical…

John Wycliffe (mid-1320s &ndash; 31 December 1384) was an English theologian, translator and reformist. Wycliffe was an early dissident in the Roman Catholic Church during the 14th century. He is considered the founder of the Lollard movement, a precursor to the Protestant Reformation (for this reason, he is sometimes called "The Morning Star of the Reformation"). He was one of the earliest opponents of papal encroachment on secular power.

John Wycliffe

John Wycliffe (mid-1320s – 31 December 1384) was an English theologian, translator and reformist.…

The term Norman architecture is used to categorise styles of Romanesque architecture developed by the Normans in the various lands under their dominion or influence in the 11th and 12th centuries. They introduced large numbers of castles and fortifications including Norman keeps, and at the same time monasteries, abbeys, churches and cathedrals, in a style characterised by the usual Romanesque rounded arches (particularly over windows and doorways) and especially massive proportions compared to other regional variations of the style.

Norman Doorway

The term Norman architecture is used to categorise styles of Romanesque architecture developed by the…

The most significant and characteristic development of the Early English period was the pointed arch known as the lancet. Pointed arches were used almost universally, not only in arches of wide span such as those of the nave arcade, but also for doorways and lancet windows.

Early English Door

The most significant and characteristic development of the Early English period was the pointed arch…

The most significant and characteristic development of the Early English period was the pointed arch known as the lancet. Pointed arches were used almost universally, not only in arches of wide span such as those of the nave arcade, but also for doorways and lancet windows.

Decorated Doorway

The most significant and characteristic development of the Early English period was the pointed arch…

A piscina or sacrarium is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion vessels. They are often made of stone and fitted with a drain, and are in some cases used to dispose of materials used in the sacraments. They are found in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, and a similar vessel is used in Eastern Orthodox churches.

Decorated Arch and Piscina

A piscina or sacrarium is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion…

The Cathedral of Constance (Konstanzer M&uuml;nster in German) served as the central church of the diocese of Konstanz until 1821. Records indicate that in 590 the Alemannic diocese of Constance is established. The former bishopric of Vindonissa was replaced by Lausanne in the west and Constance in the east.

Constance Cathedral

The Cathedral of Constance (Konstanzer Münster in German) served as the central church of the diocese…

The church foundations date back nearly nine hundred years, being created by Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick in 1123. In addition to founding the church, de Beaumont established the College of Dean and Canons at the church. The only surviving part of the Norman church which de Beaumont had built is the crypt. The college was dissolved in 1544, and granted by the crown to the burgesses of Warwick.

Beauchamp Chantry, St. Mary's, Warwick

The church foundations date back nearly nine hundred years, being created by Roger de Beaumont, 2nd…

Henry VI planned a university counterpart to Eton College, the chapel being the only portion that was built. The Chapel features the world's largest fan vault, stained glass windows, and the painting The Adoration of the Magi by Rubens, originally painted in 1634 for the Convent of the White Nuns at Louvain in Belgium.

King's College Chapel, Cambridge

Henry VI planned a university counterpart to Eton College, the chapel being the only portion that was…

The Alamo, originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero, is a former Roman Catholic mission and fortress compound, now a museum in San Antonio, Texas located at 30 Alamo Plaza. The compound which originally comprised a santuary and surrounding buildings, was built by the Spanish Empire in the 18tth century for education of local Native Americans after their conversion to Christianity. In 1793, the mission was secularized and soon abandoned. Ten years later, it became a fortress housing the Mexican Army group the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras. Mesican soldiers held the mission until December 1835, when General Matrin Perfecto de Cos surrendered it to the Texian Army following the siege of Bexar. A relatively small number of Texian soldiers then occupied the compound. Texian General Sam Houston believed the Texians did not have the manpower to hold the fort and ordered Colonel James Bowie to destroy it. Bowie chose to disregard those orders and instead worked with Colonel James C. Neill to fortify the mission. On February 23, Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna led a large force of Mexican soldiers into San Antonio de Bexar and promptly initiated a siege. The siege ended on March 6, when the Mexican army attacked the Alamo; by the end of the Battle of the Alamo all or almost all of the defenders were killed. When the Mexican army retreated from Texas at the end of the Texas Revolution, they tore down many of the Alamo walls and burned some of the building

The Alamo

The Alamo, originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero, is a former Roman Catholic mission and…

Hidalgo Castello was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest and revolutionary rebel leader. He is regarded by most Mexican people as the "Father of the Country" and was founder of the Mexican War of Independence movement which fought for independence from Spain in the early 19th century.

Hidalgo Castello

Hidalgo Castello was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest and revolutionary rebel leader. He is regarded…

John Wycliffe (mid-1320s &ndash; 31 December 1384) was an English theologian, translator and reformist. Wycliffe was an early dissident in the Roman Catholic Church during the 14th century. He is considered the founder of the Lollard movement, a precursor to the Protestant Reformation (for this reason, he is sometimes called "The Morning Star of the Reformation"). He was one of the earliest opponents of papal encroachment on secular power. Wycliffe was also an early advocate for translation of the Bible directly from the Vulgate into vernacular English in the year 1382, now known as the WycliffeBible. It is believed that he personally translated the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; and it is possible he translated the entire New Testament, while his associates translated the Old Testament. Wycliff's Bible appears to have been completed by 1384, with additional updated versions being done by Wycliffe's assistant John Purvey and others in 1388 and 1395

John Wycliffe

John Wycliffe (mid-1320s – 31 December 1384) was an English theologian, translator and reformist.…

Mary I (18 February 1516 - 17 November 1558), was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death. The fourth crowned monarch of the Tudor dynasty, she is remembered for restoring England to Roman Catholicism after succeeding her short-lived half brother, Edward VI, to the English throne. In the process, she had almost 300 religious dissenters burned at the stake in the Marian Persecutions, earning her the sobriquet of Bloody Mary. Her reestablishment of Roman Catholicism was reversed by her successor and half-sister, Elizabeth I.

Mary I of England

Mary I (18 February 1516 - 17 November 1558), was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July…

St Paul's Cathedral, is the Anglican cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat of the Bishop of London. The present building dates from the 17th century and is generally reckoned to be London's fifth St Paul's Cathedral, although the number is higher if every major medieval reconstruction is counted as a new cathedral. The cathedral sits on the edge of London's oldest region, the City, which originated as a Roman trading post along the edge of the River Thames.

St. Paul's Cathedral, London (Interior)

St Paul's Cathedral, is the Anglican cathedral on Ludgate Hill, in the City of London, and the seat…

Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (c.1470~1471 &ndash; November 28 or November 29, 1530), who was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, was an English statesman and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Wolsey's affairs prospered and by 1514 he had become the controlling figure in all matters of state and extremely powerful within the Church. The highest political position he attained was Lord Chancellor, the King's chief advisor, enjoying great freedom and often depicted as an alter rex (other king). Within the Church he became archbishop of York, the second most important see in England, and then was made a cardinal in 1515, giving him precedence over even the Archbishop of Canterbury. His main legacy is from his interest in architecture, in particular his old home of Hampton Court Palace, which stands today.

Thomas Cardinal Wolsey

Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (c.1470~1471 – November 28 or November 29, 1530), who was born in Ipswich,…

Pope Leo X, born Giovanni de' Medici (December 11, 1475 &ndash; December 1, 1521) was Pope from 1513 to his death. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known primarily for the sale of indulgences to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 theses. He was the second son of Lorenzo de' Medici, the most famous ruler of the Florentine Republic, and Clarice Orsini. His cousin, Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, would later succeed him as Pope Clement VII (1523&ndash;34).

Pope Leo X

Pope Leo X, born Giovanni de' Medici (December 11, 1475 – December 1, 1521) was Pope from 1513…

Pope Julius II (5 December 1443 &ndash; 21 February 1513), born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513. His reign was marked by an aggressive foreign policy, ambitious building projects, and patronage for the arts.

Pope Julius II

Pope Julius II (5 December 1443 – 21 February 1513), born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from…

John Cardinal Fisher (c.1469 – 22 June 1535), from 1935 Saint John Fisher, was an English Catholic bishop, cardinal and martyr. He shares his feast day with Saint Thomas More on June 22 in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and 6 July on the Anglican calendar of saints. Fisher and More were executed by King Henry VIII during the English Reformation for refusing to accept him as Head of the Church of England. He is the only member of the College of Cardinals to have suffered martyrdom.

John Cardinal Fisher

John Cardinal Fisher (c.1469 – 22 June 1535), from 1935 Saint John Fisher, was an English Catholic…

The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns. The order has its own Rule, called the Statutes, rather than the Rule of St Benedict (as is often erroneously reported) and combines eremitical and cenobitic life.

A Carthusian

The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed…

Pope Paul III (February 29, 1468 &ndash; November 10, 1549), born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He also called the Council of Trent in 1545. Born in Canino, Latium (then part of the Papal States), Farnese was the oldest son of Pier Luigi Farnese, Signore di Montalto (1435-1487) and wife Giovanna Caetani, descended from the Caetani family, which had also produced Pope Boniface VIII. He was one of the few Popes to have fathered children before his election, by Silvia Ruffini, one of whom, Pier Luigi, he created Duke of Parma. The others were Ranuccio Farnese and Costanza Farnese.

Pope Paul III

Pope Paul III (February 29, 1468 – November 10, 1549), born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the…

Hugh Latimer (c. 1485-October 16, 1555) was the bishop of Worcester, and by his death he became a famous martyr among Protestants and the Church of England. From around 14 years of age he started to attend Peterhouse, Cambridge, and was known as a good student. After receiving his academic degrees and being ordained, he developed a reputation as a very zealous Roman Catholic. At first he opposed the Lutheran opinion of his day, but his views changed after meeting the clergyman Thomas Bilney.

Bishop Hugh Latimer

Hugh Latimer (c. 1485-October 16, 1555) was the bishop of Worcester, and by his death he became a famous…

Mary I (18 February 1516 &ndash; 17 November 1558), was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19 July 1553 until her death. The fourth crowned monarch of the Tudor dynasty, she is remembered for restoring England to Roman Catholicism after succeeding her short-lived half brother, Edward VI, to the English throne. In the process, she had almost 300 religious dissenters burned at the stake in the Marian Persecutions, earning her the sobriquet of Bloody Mary. Her re-establishment of Roman Catholicism was reversed by her successor and half-sister, Elizabeth I.

Queen Mary Tudor

Mary I (18 February 1516 – 17 November 1558), was Queen of England and Queen of Ireland from 19…

Josip Juraj Strossmayer (February 4, 1815 – May 8, 1905) was a Roman Catholic bishop, benefactor and a politician from Croatia. Josip Juraj Strossmayer died at the age of 90. The university of the city of Osijek is named after him, and a large statue of Strossmayer is located in the park that the Academy building overlooks. The city of Dakovo built in memorial museum in 1991.

Josip Juraj Strossmayer

Josip Juraj Strossmayer (February 4, 1815 – May 8, 1905) was a Roman Catholic bishop, benefactor and…

Pope Sixtus V (December 13, 1521 &ndash; August 27, 1590), born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590. The subsequent administrative system of the Church owed much to Sixtus V. He limited the College of Cardinals to seventy; and doubled the number of the congregations, and enlarged their functions, assigning to them the principal role in the transaction of business (1588). He regarded the Jesuits with disfavour and suspicion. He meditated radical changes in their constitution, but death prevented the execution of his purpose. In 1589 was begun a revision of the Vulgate, the so-called Editio Sixtina.

Pope Sixtus V

Pope Sixtus V (December 13, 1521 – August 27, 1590), born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope…

Edmund Grindal (c. 1519 &ndash; 6 July 1583) was an English church leader who successively held the posts of Bishop of London, Archbishop of York and Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1570 Grindal became Archbishop of York, where Puritans were few and coercion would be required mainly for Roman Catholics. His first letter from Cawood to Cecil told that he had not been well received, that the gentry were not "well-affected to godly religion and among the common people many superstitious practices remained."

Archbishop Edmund Grindal

Edmund Grindal (c. 1519 – 6 July 1583) was an English church leader who successively held the…