MARON
TGG
MARONITES
sented the Netherlands at the Diet of Worms, and pre- vailed on the German states to remain neutral in the contest with Spain. In the mean time religious intol- erance had led to gross outrages among his countrymen, and the bitter feeling bctAvccn the jiartics threatened ruin to the union that had been secured with so much effort. An attempt to reconcile these differences, in which he Vv'as engaged on his return, failed, and several of the Roman Catholic provinces withdrew, and placed themselves and their religion under Spanish protection. An alliance with France was now thought of, and Mar- nix exerted his influence successfully to induce the states-general to offer the crown to Francis, duke of An- jou-Alen(;on. This prince reached Antwerp on Feb. 19, 1572; but an attempt to seize Antwerp and other im- portant towns led to his expulsion from the land before he had reigned a year, and botli Orange and Marnix were suspected of connivance with the French. In con- sequence, Marnix retired from public life ; but the prog- ress of the Spaniards, under the duke of Parma, uiduced William of Orange to recall him, and he was appointed to the office of first biu-gomaster of Antwerp, in order that he might direct its defence. He entered on its du- ties Nov. 15, 1583, and a few days later the siege began. It was continued until Aug. 17, 1685, when the city hon- orably capitulated. With this event his political career was ended, and he retired to his estates, devoting him- self mainly to theological studies. In 1596, having been appointed by the states-general to translate the Bible into Dutch, he removed to Leyden, in order to avail himself of its librarj^, and of the assistance of his friends Scaliger, Lipsius, Junius, and others. He only lived, however, to complete the boolc of Genesis. He died Dec. 15, 1598. " He was." says Motley, " a man of most rare and versatile genius — scholar, theologian, diploma- tist, swordsman, orator, pamphleteer; he had genius for all things, and was eminent in all." The theological works of Van Marnix were chiefly of a polemical char- acter. The principal one. The Bee-hive, is a satire after the manner of Von Hutten, and written in the style of Eabelais. It was probably intended to promote a rec- onciliation between the liomish and the Protestant pr(,v- inces of his country. Another able contribution is his Tableau cles differences de la religion (16G9, and often). A complete edition of his works, in 8 vols., was publish- ed at Brussels, 1857-GO, under the title CEurres de Phil, de Marnix de Ste. A Idef/onde ; vol. iv contains a brief memoir, and a notice bibliographique. His life has been frequently written*; among others, Th. Juste has treated it in connection with his studies of the Nether- lands (1858). JMotley's Bise of the Dutch Repuhlic, and Hist, of the United Netherlaiuls, vol. i, chap, iii, are valua- ble aids to the study of this career. See also Prins, Leren van P. V. Marnix (1782); Dresselhu'is, F. v. Marnix (1832); Broes,F.v.J/rtrHia- (1838-40, 2 vols. 8vo); Her- zog, Peal-Pnci/klop. xx, 96 sq. ; Edgar Quinet, in the Ee- vue de.i deux Mondes, 1854. (G. 51.)
Maroii, Joannes, a noted Eastern patriarch, sup- posed to be the founder of the Maronites, -was bom at Sirum,near Antioch.in Syria, about the middle of the 7th century ; studied at Constantinople, and became monk and priest in the convent of St. jMaron. Elevated to the bishopric of Botoys in 676, according to some, by the papal legate, he brought, if we may follow Komish au- thority, all the Christians of Lebanon within the com- munion of the Church of Kome; was then made patri- arch of Antioch, and confirmed by pope Honorius ; and dieil in 707. See, however, Makonites.
Maronites, a community or sect of Christians, numbering some 150,000, in Syria, particularly in the northern part of Mount Lebanon, and said to be of very ancient origin.
I. History. — Considerable controversy has arisen as to the real origin of this most peculiar Christian people; the most probable account represents them as descend- ants of a remnant of the Monothelites (q. v.), who, flee- ing from the repressive measures of the emperor Anas-