Teramo, Atri, Campli, Penne, Castellammare Adriatico; (2)
Aquila, Avezzano, Celano, Tagliacozzo, Sulmona; (3) Chieti,
Lanciano, Ortona, Vasto; (4) Campobasso, Agnone, Iscrnia.
Owing to the nature of the country, communications are not
easy. Railways are (i) the coast railway (a part of the
Bologna-Gallipoli line), with branches from Giulianova to
Teramo and from Termoli to Campobasso; (2) a line diverging
S.E. from this at Pescara and running via Sulmona (whence
there are branches via Aquila and Rieti to Terni, and via
Carpinone to (a) Isernia and Caianello, on the line from
Rome to Naples, and (b) Campobasso and Benevento), and
Avezzano (whence there is a branch to Roccasecca) to Rome.
The name Abruzzi is conjectured to be a medieval corruption of
Praetuttii. The district was, in Lombard times, part of the
duchy of Spoleto, and, under the Normans, a part of that of
Apulia; it was first formed into a single province in 1240 by
Frederick II., who placed the Justiciarius Aprutii at Solmona
and founded the city of Aquila. After the Hohenstauffen lost
their Italian dominions, the Abruzzi became a province of the
Angevin kingdom of Naples, to which it was of great strategic
importance. The division into three parts was not made until
the 17th century. The Molise, on the other hand, formed part
of the Lombard duchy of Benevento, and was placed under the
Justiciarius of Terra di Lavoro by Frederick II.: after various
changes it became part of the Capitanata, and was only formed
into an independent province in 1811. The people are remark.
ably conservative in beliefs, superstitions and traditions.
See V. Bindi, Monumenti storici ed artistici degli Abruzzi (Naples,
1889); A. de Nino, Ulsi e costumi Abruzzesi (Florence, 1879-1883).
ABSALOM (Hebrew for ``father of [or is] peace''), in the
Bible, the third son of David, king of Israel. He was deemed
the handsomest man in the kingdom. His sister Tamar having
been violated by David's eldest son Amnon, Absalom, after
waiting two years, caused his servants to murder Amnon at
a feast to which he had invited all the king's sons (2 Sam.
xiii.). After this deed he fled to Talmai, ``king'' of Geshur
(see Josh. xii. 5 or xiii. 2), his maternal grandfather, and
it was not until five years later that he was fully reinstated
in his father's favour (see JOAB.) Four years after this he
raised a revolt at Hebron, the former capital. Absalom was
now the eldest surviving son of David, and the present position
of the narratives (xv.-xx.)--after the birth of Solomon and
before the struggle between Solomon and Adonijah---may represent
the view that the suspicion that he was not the destined
heir of his father's throne excited the impulsive youth to
rebellion. All Israel and Judah flocked to his side, and
David, attended only by the Cherethites and Pelethites
and some recent recruits from Gath, found it expedient to
flee. The priests remained behind in Jerusalem, and their
sons Jonathan and Ahimaaz served as his spies. Absalom reached
the capital and took counsel with the renowned Ahithophel.
The pursuit was continued and David took refuge beyond the
Jordan. A battle was fought in the ``wood of Ephraim'' (the
name suggests a locality west of the Jordan) and Absalom's
army was completely routed. He himself was caught in the
boughs of an oak-tree, and as David had strictly charged his
men to deal gently with the young man, Joab was informed.
What a common soldier refused to do even for a thousand
shekels of silver, the king's general at once undertook.
Joab thrust three spears through the heart of Absalom as he
struggled in the branches, and as though this were not enough,
his ten armour-bearers came around and slew him. The king's
overwhelming grief is well known. A great heap of stones was
erected where he fell, whilst another monument near Jerusalem
(not the modern ``Absalom's Tomb,'' which is of later origin)
he himself had erected in his lifetime to perpetuate his name
(2 Sam. xviii. 17 seq.). But the latter notice does not seem
to agree with xiv. 27 (cf. 1 Kings xv. 2). On the narratives
in 2 Sam. xiii.-xix., see further DAVID; SAMUEL, BOOKS OF.
ABSALON (c. 1128-1201), Danish archbishop and statesman,
was born about 1128, the son of Asser Rig of Fjenneslev,
at whose castle he and his brother Esbjorn were brought up
along with the young prince Valdemar, afterwards Valdemar
I. The Rigs were as pious and enlightened as they were
rich. They founded the monastery of Soro as a civilizing
centre, and after giving Absalon the rudiments of a sound
education at home, which included not only book-lore but every
manly and martial exercise, they sent him to the university of
Paris. Absalon first appears in Saxo's Chronicle as a
fellow-guest at Roskilde, at the banquet given, in 1157, by
King Sweyn to his rivals Canute and Valdemar. Both Absalon and
Valdemar narrowly escaped assassination at the hands of their
treacherous host on this occasion, but at length escaped to
Jutland, whither Sweyn followed them, but was defeated and slain
at the battle of Grathe Heath. The same year (1158) which saw
Valdemar ascend the Danish throne saw Absalon elected bishop of
Roskilde. Henceforth Absalon was the chief counsellor of
Valdemar, and the promoter of that imperial policy which, for
three generations, was to give Denmark the dominion of the
Baltic. Briefly, it was Absalon's intention to Clear the
northern sea of the Wendish pirates, who inhabited that portion
of the Baltic littoral which we now call Pomerania, and ravaged
the Danish coasts so unmercifully that at the accession of
Valdemar one-third of the realm of Denmark lay wasted and
depopulated. The very existence of Denmark demanded the
suppression and conversion of these stiff-necked pagan
freebooters, and to this double task Absalon devoted the
best part of his life. The first expedition against the
Wends, conducted by Absalon in person, set out in 1160,
but it was not till 1168 that the chief Wendish fortress,
at Arkona in Rugen, containing the sanctuary of their god
Svantovit, was surrendered, the Wends agreeing to accept
Danish suzerainty and the Christian religion at the same
time. From Arkona Absalon proceeded by sea to Garz, in south
Rugen, the political capital of the Wends, and an all but
impregnable stronghold. But the unexpected fall of Arkona
had terrified the garrison, which surrendered unconditionally
at the first appearance of the Danish ships. Absalon, with
only Sweyn, bishop of Aarhus, and twelve ``house carls,''
thereupon disembarked, passed between a double row of Wendish
warriors, 6000 strong, along the narrow path winding among the
morasses, to the gates of the fortress, and, proceeding to the
temple of the seven-headed god Rugievit, caused the idol to
be hewn down, dragged forth and burnt. The whole population
of Garz was then baptized, and Absalon laid the foundations
of twelve churches in the isle of Rugen. The destruction of
this chief sally-port of the Wendish pirates enabled Absalon
considerably to reduce the Danish fleet. But he continued
to keep a watchful eye over the Baltic, and in 1170 destroyed
another pirate stronghold, farther eastward, at Dievenow
on the isle of Wollin. Absalon's last military exploit was
the annihilation, off Strela (Stralsund), on Whit-Sunday
1184, of a Pomeranian fleet which had attacked Denmark's
vassal, Jaromir of Rugen. He was now but fifty-seven, but
his strenuous life had aged him, and he was content to resign
the command of fleets and armies to younger men, like Duke
Valdemar, afterwards Valdemar II., and to confine himself
to the administration of the empire which his genius had
created. In this sphere Absalon proved himself equally
great. The aim of his policy was to free Denmark from the German
yoke. It was contrary to his advice and warnings that Valdemar
I. rendered fealty to the emperor Frederick Barbarossa at
Dole in 1162; and when, on the accession of Canute V. in
1182, an imperial ambassador arrived at Roskilde to receive
the homage of the new king, Absalon resolutely withstood
him. ``Return to the emperor,'' cried he, ``and tell him that
the king of Denmark will in no wise show him obedience or
do him homage.'' As the archpastor of Denmark Absalon also
rendered his country inestimable services, building churches
and monasteries, introducing the religious orders, founding
schools and doing his utmost to promote civilization and
enlightenment. It was he who held the first Danish Synod at
Lund in 1167. In 1178 he became archbishop of Lund, but very
unwillingly, only the threat of excommunication from the
holy see finally inducing him to accept the pallium. Absalon
died on the 21st of March 1201, at the family monastery of
Soro, which he himself had richly embellished and endowed.
Absalon remains one of the most striking and picturesque
figures of the Middle Ages, and was equally great as
churchman, statesman and warrior. That he enjoyed warfare
there can be no doubt; and his splendid physique and early
training had well fitted him for martial exercises. He
was the best rider in the army and the best swimmer in the
fleet. Yet he was not like the ordinary fighting bishops
of the Middle Ages, whose sole concession to their sacred
calling was to avoid the ``shedding of blood'' by using a mace
in battle instead of a sword. Absalon never neglected his
ecclesiastical duties, and even his wars were of the nature of
Crusades. Moreover, all his martial energy notwithstanding,
his personality must have been singularly winning; for it is
said of him that he left behind not a single enemy, all his
opponents having long since been converted by him into friends.
See Saxo, Gesta Danorum, ed. Holder (Strassburg, 1886), books
xvi.; Steinstrup, Danmark's Riges Historic. Oldtiden og den (eldre
Middelalder, pp. 570-735 (Copenhagen, 1897-1905). (R. N. B.)
ABSCESS (from Lat. abscedere, to separate), in pathology,
a collection of pus among the tissues of the body, the result
of bacterial inflammation. Without the presence of septic
organisms abscess does not occur. At any rate, every acute
abscess contains septic germs, and these may have reached the
inflamed area by direct infection, or may have been carried
thither by the blood-stream. Previous to the formation of
abscess something has occurred to lower the vitality of the
affected tissue--- some gross injury, perchance, or it may be
that the power of resistance against bacillary invasion was
lowered by reason of constitutional weakness. As the result,
then, of lowered vitality, a certain area becomes congested and
effusion takes place into the tissues. This effusion coagulates
and a hard, brawny mass is formed which softens towards the
centre. If nothing is done the softened area increases in
size, the skin over it becomes thinned, loses its vitality
(mortifies) and a small ``slough'' is formed. When the slough
gives way the pus escapes and, tension being relieved, pain
ceases. A local necrosis or death of tissue takes place at
that part of the inflammatory swelling farthest from the healthy
circulation. When the attack of septic inflammation is very
acute, death of the tissue occurs en masse, as in the
core of a boil or carbuncle. Sometimes, however, no such
mass of dead tissue is to be observed, and all that escapes
when the skin is lanced or gives way is the creamy pus. In
the latter case the tissue has broken down in a molecular
form. After the escape of the core or slough along with a
certain amount of pus, a space, the abscess-cavily', is left,
