"'Pray tell me, sir,' said I, 'all this--what is't?/Who are these people? On our left I find/Numberless tonsured heads; was each a priest?'" (VII. ll. 37-39)
Its origins lie in Greece and Rome--slaves were often marked with this shaved skullcap. Christianity is a slave religion (in theology and in origins), so this was adopted by the Church. Catholic Encyclopedia entry.
Furies. The Furies threaten to release Medusa on Virgil and Dante. In Greek mythology they were avenging goddesses who sought revenge for the crimes of mortals. They served Persephone, Queen of the Underworld and wife to Hades. They were Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone.
Saladin. This Muslim is among the Virtuous Pagans in Limbo. He was the first of the Ayyubid dynasty and ruled over Egypt and Syria. Saladin lived from 1138 to 1193. He began his career in the service of the Sultan of Syria, who was fanatically devoted to the jihad against the Christians. He was considered the finest Muslim warrior of his time. Signed a treaty in 1192 with Richard I of England.+ (p. 101)
Attila. c. 406-453 BC. King of the Huns, a tribe of nomads from Mongolia. The Huns demanded a large sum from the Eastern Roman Empire, and when the empire did not pay Attila launched an invasion. Belgrade and Sofia were among the cities they captured and destroyed. When peace was finally brokered the new payment was three times the original. Attila murdered his co-ruler (his brother Bleda) in 445. He led an army across the Rhine and claimed Honoria (sister of the Western Roman Emperor) his bride (she had asked him to help her escape a marriage she did not want). He was defeated at Chalons-sur-Marne in 451, but continued to destroy much of Italy. Died on the night he was married to a German, Idilco. Within 50 years of his death the Huns faded from the world scene and were no longer a concern to most nations.+ (pp. 16-17)
Etruscan-Roman Wars. c. 509-308 BC. Tarquin dynasty of Rome. In 509 a coup overthrew Tarquinius Superbus. In 503 the Etruscans (in an attempt to regain Rome) helped him try to return to power. Three major battles in which the Etruscan king, Chiusi, besieged the city. Then Tarquinius allied himself with the Sabines, some Latins, and the Greeks of Cumae to defeat Chiusi's army. He was finally defeated and forced to go to Cumae, where he died not long after.* (pp. 156-157)
Robert Guiscard. Fought the Greeks and Saracens in 1266.
Treachery at Ceperan. Charles of Anjou was allowed through by the Apulian barons.
That's all for the moment, more to come.
Where you see an asterisk (*), the information is from this source:
Kohn, George C. (("article title same as mine above")). Dictionary of Wars. New York: Anchor Press, 1986.
Where you see a plus (+), it's from:
Rowland-Entwistle, Theodore and Jean Cooke. (("article title same as mine above")). Great Rulers of History: A Biographical Dictionary. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1995.