Page 949 : ITURBIDE — IVORY
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under the title of minister president of state, instituted sweeping economical reforms, and during the next two years everything was done to make Japan the Asiatic counterpart of the German empire. A reaction in 1888 resulted in Ito’s retirement from the premiership, to which, however, he was recalled in 1892. In the war with China in 1894–95 he played a leading part, being premier of the empire and high admiral of the Japanese fleet. In recognition of his services he was made a marquis. He was prominent in the conduct of the Russo-Japanese war and later was resident-general of Korea. He was assassinated by a Korean at Harbin, Manchuria, Oct. 26, 1909
Iturbide (ē′ to͞or-bē′ thā́), Don Augustin, emperor of Mexico, was the son of a Biscayan nobleman and a rich Creole. He was born at Valladolid, Mexico, in 1783. In May, 1822, he ascended the throne of Mexico as emperor, under the name of Augustin I, and the congress declared the crown hereditary in his family. He was rather a despotic sovereign. His reign was full of trouble, and came to an end in less than a year by his abdication of the throne, March 20, 1823. He was banished to Italy with a pension. He attempted in 1824 to regain bis crown, and was shot.
I′tys, in Greek mythology, son of Procne and Tereus. After the birth of Itys, Tereus concealed Procne in the country, that he might marry her sister Philomela, whom he deceived by saying Procne was dead. At the same time he deprived Philomela of her tongue. She, however, soon found out the truth, and made it known to her sister by a few words which she wove into a peplus. Procne thereupon killed her own son, Itys, and served up the child’s flesh in a dish before Tereus. She then fled with her sister. When Tereus was about to overtake the fleeing sisters, the gods, in answer to their prayer, changed all three into birds: Tereus into a hoopoe or hawk, Philomela into a swallow and Procne into a nightingale, which from that time to this has never ceased to cry: “Itys, Itys.”
I′vaine, also spelt Yvain and Ywaine. Sir Ivaine was a knight of King Arthur’s Round Table. See Idylls of the King.
Ivan (ē-vȧn′), the Russian form of John, is the name of a number of Russian czars.
Ivan (or Joaan, i.e., John) I, grand-duke of Moscow from 1328 to 1340, was surnamed Kalita, in allusion to the purse which he always carried at his girdle. The importance of Ivan in Russian history is that he was the consolidator of the power of Moscow, the nucleus out of which the empire was to be formed at a future period.
Ivan III, surnamed the Great, grand-duke from 1462 to 1505, forms one of the most important figures in the annals of Russia, for to him is due the consolidation of the autocracy (i.e., absolute and independent power). His long reign of 43 years was very beneficial to his country. He was a skillful diplomatist, and often brought about by intrigue what others could effect only by force of arms. In 1472 he married Sophia, niece of Constantine Palae-ologus. On account of this union Ivan considered himself the heir of the Byzantine emperors, and adopted the two-headed eagle for his arms. Embassies were sent to foreign powers. Italian architects were invited into Russia. Many learned monks found refuge there from the yoke of the Turk.
Ivan IV, called the Terrible, is the best known. He reigned as czar from 1533 to 1584. While his reign was marked by many improvements in the arts and sciences and in the advancement of the wealth and prosperity of his kingdom, his name was a terror to most of his subjects. The first printing-press in Russia he established. He was cruel and heartless, and in some of his towns large numbers were killed. In Novgorod, during the latter part of his reign, 60,000 people were slain in six weeks. Ivan died of sorrow for his son. whom three years before he had slain in a mad fit of anger. He was the first Russian sovereign to be crowned as czar, and from his reign dates the annexation of Siberia. A plot was discovered to deliver parts of his territory into the hands of the king of Poland, and it was to revenge this treason that he executed large numbers both of the innocent and guilty. See Ivan the Terrible by Pember.
Ivanhoe, one of the best of the novels of Sir Walter Scott, was published by him in 1819. The book takes the hero’s name, Ivanhoe is the son of a Saxon freeholder who has not lost his mistrust of the Normans nor his own independence. Ivanhoe himself, however, is well-versed in Norman arms and manners; and in the Holy Land has been the bravest of the warriors of the lion-hearted Richard I of England. His return in the guise of a pilgrim, his victory in the admirably described tournament, his adventures, together with those of his royal master, and a motley but representative assemblage of characters (including the sluggish but powerful Saxon Athelstan, the greedy Norman Baron Front-de-Boeuf, the Templar Brian-de-Bois-Guilbert, the old Jew Isaac and his brave and lovely danghter Rebecca, the outlaw Robin Hood, the hedge-priest Friar Tuck, the swine-herd Gurth and the jester Wamba) make Ivanhoe one of the most delightful tales of the early middle ages written by any modern novelist.
I′vory, the name given to the tooth-substance of all animals, but now only used of the teeth and tusks of the elephant, which are of the character of true ivory. Many other animals, however, possess teeth, horns or tusks, which, from their large size and density, can be used for the same pur-
