an ancient town of France, in Lower Bretagne, and capital of the Lyonnaise, with a bishop's see. It is seated near the sea, in W. Long. 3. 55. N. Lat. 48. 41.

province of Spain, with the title of a kingdom; bounded on the north by Asturias; on the west by Galicia and Portugal; and on the south by Extremadura and Castile, which also bounds it on the east. It is about 125 miles in length, and 100 in breadth; and is divided into two almost equal parts by the river Duero, or Douro. It produces all the necessaries of life, and Leon is the capital town.

ancient and large episcopal town of Spain, and capital of the kingdom of that name, built by the Romans in the time of Galba. It has the finest cathedral church in all Spain. It was formerly more rich and populous than at present, and had the honour of being the capital of the first Christian kingdom in Spain. It is seated between two sources of the river Ebro, in W. Long. 5. 13. N. Lat. 42. 55.

Leon (Peter Cicca de), author of the history of Peru. He left Spain his native country at 13 years of age, in order to go into America, where he resided 17 years; and observed so many remarkable things, that he resolved to commit them to writing. The first part of his history was printed at Seville in 1553. He began it in 1541, and ended it in 1550. He was at Lima, the capital of the kingdom of Peru, when he gave the finishing stroke to it, and was then 32 years of age.

Leon de Nicaragua, a town of North America, in New Spain, and in the province of Nicaragua; the residence of the governor, and a bishop's see. It consists of about 1000 houses, and has several monasteries and nunneries belonging to it. At one end of the town is a lake which ebbs and flows like the sea. The town is seated at the foot of a volcano, which renders it subject to earthquakes. It was taken by Leonard the buccaneers in 1685, in fight of a Spanish army who were six to one. W. Long. 86. 10. N. Lat. 12. 25.

LEONARD de NOBLET (St.) an ancient town of France, in the province of Guienne and territory of Limosin, with a considerable manufactory of cloth and paper. It is seated on the river Vienne, in E. Long. 1. 35. N. Lat. 45. 50.