or Gabres. See Gabres.

Guelphs, or Guelps, a celebrated faction in Italy, antagonists of the Gibelins. See Gibelins.

The guelphs and Gibelins filled Italy with blood and carnage for many years. The Guelphs stood for the Pope, against the emperor. Their rise is referred by some to the time of Conrad III. in the twelfth century; by others, to that of Frederic I.; and by others, to that of his successor Frederic II. in the thirteenth century.

The name of Guelph is commonly said to have been formed from Welfe, or Welfo, on the following occasion: the emperor Conrad III. having taken the duchy of Bavaria from Welfe VI. brother of Henry duke of Bavaria, Welfe, assisted by the forces of Roger king of Sicily, made war on Conrad, and thus gave birth to the faction of the Guelphs.

Others derive the name Guelphs from the German Wolff, on account of the grievous evils committed by that cruel faction: others deduce the denomination from that of a German called Guelfe, who lived at Pi-floye; adding, that his brother, named Gikel, gave his name to the Gibelins. See the article Gibelins.

Guelerland, one of the united provinces, bounded on the W. by Utrecht and Holland, on the E. by the bishoprick of Munster and the duchy of Cleves, on the N. by the Zuider sea and Overysel, and on the S. it is separated from Brabant by the Maas. Its greatest extent from N. to S. is about 47 miles, and from W. to E. near as much; but its figure is very irregular. The air here is much healthier and clearer than in the maritime provinces, the land lying higher. Excepting some part of what is called the Veluwe, the soil is fruitful. It is watered by the Rhine, and its three branches, the Walah, the Yssel, and the Leck, besides lesser streams. In 1679, it was raised to a county by the emperor Henry IV. and in 1339 to a duchy by the emperor Louis of Bavaria. It had dukes of its own till 1528, when it was yielded up to the emperor Charles V. In 1579, it acceded to the union of Utrecht. It is divided into three districts, each of which has its states and diets. Those for the whole province are held twice a year at the capital towns. The province sends 19 deputies to the states-general. Here are computed 285 Calvinist ministers, 14 Roman-Catholic congregations, 4 of the Lutheran persuasion, besides 3 others of Romanists and Anabaptists. The places of most note are Nimeguen, Zutphen, Arnheim, Harderwyk, Loo, &c.