=Amantea=, or =Amantia=. City and seaport in Naples; sustained a siege against the French in 1806. It is believed that this city is the ancient _Nepetum_. =Amazons.= Female warriors. Tribes, either real or imaginary, belonging to Africa and Asia, among which the custom prevailed for the females to go to war; preparing themselves for that purpose by destroying the right breast, in order to use the bow with greater ease. According to Greek tradition, an Amazon tribe invaded Africa, and was repulsed by Theseus, who afterwards married their queen. Hence all female warriors have been called Amazons. =Amberg.= A town in Bavaria, where the French were defeated by the Austrians in 1796. =Ambit.= The compass or circuit of any work or place, as of a fortification or encampment, etc. =Ambition.= In a military sense, signifies a desire of greater posts or honors. Every person in the army or navy ought to have a spirit of emulation to arrive at the very summit of the profession by his personal merit. =Amblef.= Ancient residence of the kings of France on the river of the same name, in Germany. Here Charles Martel defeated Chilperic II. and Rangenfroi, mayor of the Neustrians, 716. =Ambulances.= Are flying hospitals, so organized that they can follow an army in all its movements, and are intended to succor the wounded as soon as possible; a two- or four-wheeled vehicle for conveying the wounded from the field; called also an ambulance-cart. =Ambuscade.= A snare set for an enemy either to surprise him when marching without precaution, or to draw him on by different stratagems to attack him with a superior force. =Ambush.= A place of concealment where an enemy may be surprised by a sudden attack. =Ame.= A French term, similar in its import to the word _chamber_, as applied to cannon, etc. =Amende Honorable= (_Fr._). In the old armies, of France, signified an apology for some injury done to another, or satisfaction given for an offense committed against the rules of honor or military etiquette, and was also applied to an infamous kind of punishment inflicted upon traitors, parricides, or sacrilegious persons, in the following manner: The offender being delivered into the hands of the hangman, his shirt stripped off, a rope put about his neck, and a taper in his hand; then he was led into the court, where he begged pardon of God, the court, and his country. Sometimes the punishment ended there; but sometimes it was only a prelude to death, or banishment to the galleys. It prevails yet in some parts of Europe. =Amenebourg.= A place in Hanover which was captured from the English by the French in 1762. =Amentatæ.= A sort of lance used by the Romans, which had a leathern strap attached to the centre of it. =Amentum.= A leathern strap used by the Romans, Greeks, and Galicians, to throw lances. It was fastened around the second and third fingers, a knot was tied on it, which at the throwing of the lance loosened itself.