CASSIVELLAUNUS, a British warlike chief, who unsuccessfully opposed Caesar on his second invasion of Britain, 52 B.C.; surrendered after defeat, and became tributary to Rome.

CASTALIA, a fountain at the foot of Parnassus sacred to the Muses; named after a nymph, who drowned herself in it to escape Apollo.

CASTANET, bishop of Albi; procured the canonisation of St. Louis (1256-1317).

CASTANOS, a Spanish general; distinguished for his victory over the French under Dupont, whom he compelled to surrender and sign the capitulation of Baylen, in 1808; after this he served under Wellington in several engagements, and was commander of the Spanish army, ready, if required, to invade France in 1815 (1758-1852).

CASTE, rank in society of an exclusive nature due to birth or origin, such as prevails among the Hindus especially.  Among them there are originally two great classes, the twice-born and the once-born, i. e. those who have passed through a second birth, and those who have not; of the former there are three grades, Brahmans, or the priestly caste, from the mouth of Brahma; Kshatriyas, or the soldier caste, from the hands of Brahma; and Vaisyas, or the agricultural caste, from the feet of Brahma; while the latter are of one rank and are menial to the other, called Sudras, earth-born all; notwithstanding which distinction often members of the highest class sink socially to the lowest level, and members of the lowest rise socially to the highest.

CASTEL, RENE-RICHARD, French poet and naturalist (1758-1832).

CASTELAR, EMILIO, a Spanish republican, born in Cadiz; an eloquent man and a literary; appointed dictator of Spain in 1873, but not being equal to the exigency in the affairs of the State, resigned, and made way for the return of monarchy, though under protest; wrote a history of the “Republican Movement in Europe” among other works of political interest; b. 1832.

CASTELLAMARE (15), a port on the coast of Italy, 115 m.  SE. of Naples, the scene of Pliny’s death from the eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79.  It takes its name from a castle built on it by the Emperor Frederick II.; has a cathedral, arsenal, and manufactures.

CASTELLIO, Protestant theologian, a protege of Calvin’s for a time, till he gave expression to some heretical views, which led to a rupture; he ventured to pronounce the Song of Solomon a mere erotic poem (1515-1563).

CASTIGLIONE, a town of Sicily, on N. slope of Etna, 35 m.  SW. of Messina; famed for hazel nuts.

CASTIGLIONE, COUNT, an accomplished Italian, born in Mantua; author of “II Cortegiano,” a manual for courtiers, called by the Italians in admiration of it “The Golden Book”; had spent much of his time in courts in England and Spain, as well as Rome, and was a courtly man (1478-1529).