BLAYE-ET-STE LUCE

blaye-et-ste luce, a town of south-western france, capital of an arrondissement in the department of gironde, on the right bank of the gironde (here over 2 m. wide), 35 m. n. of bordeaux by rail. pop. (1906) of the town, 3423; of the commune, 4890. the town has a citadel built by vauban on a rock beside the river, and embracing in its enceinte ruins of an old gothic chateau. the latter contains the tomb of caribert, king of toulouse, and son of clotaire ii. blaye is also defended by the fort pate on an island in the river and the fort medoc on its left bank, both of the 17th century. the town is the seat of a sub-prefect, and has tribunals of first instance and of commerce and a communal college. it has a small river-port, and carries on trade in wine, brandy, grain, fruit and timber. the industries include the building of small vessels, distilling, flour-milling, and the manufacture of oil and candles. fine red wine is produced in the district. in ancient times blaye (_blavia_) was a port of the santones. tradition states that the hero roland was buried in its basilica, which was on the site of the citadel. it was early an important stronghold which played an important part in the wars against the english and the religious wars. the duchess of berry was imprisoned in its fortress in 1832-1833. blaze (a.-s. _blaese_, a torch), a fire or bright flame; more nearly akin to the ger. _blass_, pale or shining white, is the use of the word for the white mark on the face of a horse or cow, and the american use for a mark made on a tree by cutting off a piece of the bark. the word "to blaze," in the sense of to noise abroad, comes from the a.-s. _blaesan_, to blow, cf. the ger. _blasen_; in sense, if not in origin, it is confused with "blazon" in heraldry.