An executive appointed by the Italian Constituent Assembly, which met in Rome with the object of promoting Italian unity under a Republican Government, and proceeded to depose the Pope as a secular ruler. The members of the Triumvirate were Mazzini, Saffi and Armellini. Roman-Dutch Law. The fundamental law of the Orange Free State and South African Republic. It is based on the Institutes of Justinian, with the changes introduced into them in the Netherlands. Rome, League of. A league against the Turks, formed under the auspices of Adrian VI in 1523. Its members were Charles V, Henry VIII, the Archduke of Austria, the Duke of Milan, and the Republics of Venice, Florence, Genoa, Siena and Lucca. Rome, Synod of. At this Synod, held in 1059, Nicholas II issued regulations for the election of the Pope, which with slight modifications are in force at the present day. Up to this date the election had been more or less under the control of the Emperor, but by the new regulations it was vested in the Cardinals assembled in Conclave. Rome-Scot. Another name for Peter’s Pence. Romorantin, Edict of. An edict issued by de l’Hôpital, in 1560, transferring the power of judging heretics from the special court established by the Guises to the bishops. Roncaglia, Diet of. A Diet held by Frederic Barbarossa in 1158, after the surrender of Milan. Edicts were issued increasing the power of the Emperor over the Italian cities, regulating the appointment of podestàs to act jointly with the consuls, and forbidding private war between the various cities. Rônin. In old Japan, men of gentle blood who, by the commission of some crime or for some other reason had become detached from their clan, and ceased to owe allegiance to any feudal lord. Many became hired swashbucklers; others fell in the social scale, and entered into trade. The word signifies “wave men.” Roof of the World. The name given to the Pamirs, the great Central Asian plateau, the mean elevation of which is 13,000 feet above the sea-level. Root and Branch Bill. The name given to a bill introduced into Parliament in 1641, for “the utter abolition of archbishops, bishops, deans, archdeacons, prebendaries and canons.” Roturiers. Wealthy citizens in the French feudal days, who purchased land from the feudal lords. The ranks of the nobility were recruited from their descendants, as the possession of land for three generations ennobled the third holder. This was abolished, however, in the reign of Philip the Fair, from which time the roturiers remained a class apart. Round Robin.