a town of Lombardy, on the left bank of the Chiese, 12 miles S.E. of Brescia. It is walled, and was formerly defended by a castle, of which one tower is all that now remains. There are two churches, and Montecuculi, several hospitals. Manufactures of silk are carried on; and there is a considerable trade. Near this town the French gained a victory over the Austrians in 1796. Pop. 6700.

Montecuculi, Raimondo, Count de, Prince of Melli, and generalissimo of the imperial armies of Germany, was descended from a noble family, and was born at Modena in 1608. He entered the imperial forces as a volunteer, was engaged in the war against the Swedes, and quickly rose through the several grades of rank until he was placed in command of 2000 horse. At the head of these, in 1639 he surprised an army of 10,000 before Numslau in Silesia, cut them to pieces, and took their artillery and baggage. But he was speedily overtaken and captured by General Bannier near Prague. After a captivity of two years, spent in close study of the military art, he returned with renewed eagerness to the scene of war. His reputation as a general was retrieved by the defeat of Wrangel at Triebel in 1647. On the peace of Westphalia in 1648, he visited his native duchy; but being so unfortunate as to kill one of his dearest friends, Count Manzani, in a tournament held in honour of the marriage of Duke Francesco I., he hastened his return to Germany. His next expedition was against Prince Ragotski and the Swedes, who, in 1657, were threatening to drive John Casimir, King of Poland, from his kingdom. No sooner had he forced these to conclude a treaty, than he was despatched to relieve the King of Denmark from the Swedish force that was besieging his capital. In this enterprise he continued to experience his usual success until peace was re-established in the north by the death of Charles Gustavus, King of Sweden. He was then sent to check the advance of the Turks into Hungary. At the head of a very inferior force, he continued, by the rapidity of his movements, to baffle all the projects of the grand vizier, until, receiving reinforcements from the French, he came forth boldly into a fair field of battle, and finished the war in 1664 by the brilliant victory of St Gotthard. Montecuculi was reserved for achievements still greater. On the outbreak of the war with France in 1673, he was placed at the head of the imperial troops, and contrived to effect a junction with the Prince of Orange, in spite of the manoeuvres of the great general Turenne. In the following year the elector of Brandenburg was chosen to supersede him. But it was soon manifest that none but Montecuculi could cope with Turenne; he was therefore reinstalled in the supreme command in 1675. Then began a series of manoeuvres and counter-maneuvres more glorious than an equal number of victories. For four months these two generals continued to follow each other, to watch every movement, and to be ever on the alert to seize the slightest advantage. Yet endurance, rapidity, and stratagem were all tried in vain, and could not affect the equality of the contest. Each divined the purposes of the other by supposing what he himself would have done in his position; and no sooner had the one begun to execute any plan than he found that he had been anticipated and thwarted by his opponent. At length the scarcity of provisions rendered it necessary for both parties that a battle should be risked. Turenne was already reconnoitring the ground, when a random ball from a cannon shot him dead, to the deep regret of the magnanimous general whom he had been ready to attack. His place was taken by the Prince of Condé. But not even that great commander could out-maneuvre Montecuculi; and the war was closed without any decisive action. Montecuculi had now finished his last and most glorious campaign. He spent the remainder of his life in the enjoyment of the distinction and honours which his great deeds had won, and in promoting the cause of learning and science. He died at Lintz in October 1681. The military memoirs which he wrote show how profoundly skilled he was in his profession. They were published in Italian at Cologne in 1704, and in Latin at Vienna in 1718. A French translation, with a Life of the author, appeared at Amsterdam in 1752.

Montecuculi, Sebastiano di, the alleged poisoner of the eldest son of Francis I., was a gentleman of Ferrara, and was originally in the service of the Emperor Charles V. He came to France in the suite of Catherine de Medici, and was appointed cup-bearer to the Dauphin. It was in this capacity that he accompanied the crown prince on a journey up the Rhone in the midsummer of 1536. While halting at Tournus, the Dauphin, in the midst of a game at tennis, became over-heated, and commanded his cup-bearer to give him a draught of cold water. He drank it off with great avidity, dropped down sick, and expired in a quarter of an hour. Montecuculi was immediately suspected of having poisoned him. His knowledge of medicine, and the fact that a treatise on poisons was found in his possession, confirmed the suspicion. He was therefore examined at Lyons in the usual manner of the day, and a wavering confession was wrung from him by torture. At one time he affirmed that he had been employed to perpetrate the crime by two of the generals of Charles V.; at another time he shifted the accusation on Catherine de Medici. But as he could adduce no facts in proof of either of these charges, he was dragged on a huritle to the scaffold and executed. The infuriated populace tore his still quivering limbs into a thousand pieces, and threw them into the Rhone. Yet since that time historians have generally agreed in thinking that the Dauphin died of pleurisy, and that Montecuculi was innocent.

Montefiascone, a town of Italy, in the Papal States, situated on a hill, 9 miles N.N.W. of Viterbo, and 54 N.W. of Rome. The only public buildings are a cathedral and a few convents. Some remains have been found here of an ancient Etruscan city, the place of which is occupied by the modern town. The wine of the vicinity is reckoned of fine quality. Pop. 4800.

Monteforte, a town of Naples, province of Principato Ultra, 5 miles W.S.W. of Avellino. It is situated at the foot of a hill, on which stand the remains of a castle formerly the residence of the family of De Montfort, who thence derived their name. The ruins are very picturesque; and from them a fine view of the neighbouring country may be obtained. Pop. 4000.

Montego, a town of Jamaica, capital of Cornwall county, is situated on a bay of the same name, on the N. coast of the island, 17 miles W. of Falmouth. The town is defended by a battery; and the harbour is protected by a breakwater, but is exposed towards the N. There is a considerable trade carried on here. Pop. 4000.

Monteleone, a town of Naples, in the province of Calabria Ultra II., in a lofty position, 15 miles N.E. of Nicotera. Its imposing appearance is heightened by its castle, which overlooks the town. The town itself is irregularly and meanly built, chiefly of wood, and is badly paved. There are four churches, with some fine paintings; a royal college; and a court of commerce. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the tunny fishery; but there are also some silk-mills; and a considerable trade is carried on. N. of the town, and on the coast, stands the village of S.Pietro di Vivona, where there are some remains of the harbour of Hipponium or Vibo, a city of considerable importance in ancient times. It was originally a colony from the Epizephyrian Locrians, on the other side of the peninsula of Bruttium; but was taken n.c. 389 by Dionysius of Syracuse, who transported the people to that town. Ten years later they were restored by the Carthaginians; but soon afterwards the town fell into the hands of the Bruttians, in whose possession it remained till conquered by the Romans. A colony was established here by the latter in 192 B.C., and the city became one of the most flourishing in this part of Italy. It had large dockyards for ship-building, and was conveniently situated for trade both by land and by sea. The ancient town probably stood on the same site as the modern, which is not older than the thirteenth century; but there are no ancient remains to be seen. Pop. 6630.