Magritte, René. 1898-1967. Belgian Surrealist painter. Ceci n’est pas un pipe 1948. Castle of the Pyrenees 1962.

Mahdi. Shi’ite messiah who will appear at end of the world. Several claimants have appeared.

Maia. Greek Pleiade. Mother of Hermes by Zeus.

Mailer, Norman. 1923-2007. US writer. Naked and the Dead 1948. Executioner’s Song 1979. Harlot’s Ghost 1991.

Maimonides, Moses of Cordova. 1135-1204. Jewish philosopher. Mishneh Torah 1168. Guide for the Perplexed 1180.

Maintenon, Françoise de. 1635-1719. Mistress, then secret wife of Louis XIV. Founded St-Cyr.

Malamud, Bernard. 1914-86. US author. Jewish themes. Fixer 1966. Natural 1952.

Malan, Daniel. 1874-1959. South African Prime Minister 1948-54. Established Apartheid.

Malawi. c13C Chewa. 19C Yao, Ngoni. 1859 Explored by Livingstone. 1893 British protectorate. 1907 =Nyasaland. 1953 +Northern Rhodesia. 1964 Independent =Malawi. Zambia. Banda.

Man in the Iron Mask. Anonymous Bastille prisoner 1698-1703.

Mandaeanism. Persian Gnostic sect revering John the Baptist. Fertility worship.

Mandela, Nelson. 1918-. South African anti-Apartheid ANC leader. Jailed 1962-90. President 94-99.

Mansfield, Katherine. 1888-1923. NZ/English short story writer.

Manzoni, Alessandro. 1785-1873. Italian Romatic writer. The Betrothed 1825-7.

Maori. Polynesian people of New Zealand. Migrated before 800 AD (1150 by their legend).

Marathon, Battle. 490BC. Athenians defeat Persian invaders.

Marcel, Étienne. 1316-58. French draper who led unsuccessful Paris revolt vs Dauphin Charles V, 1355-8, while John II captured by English. Assassinated.

Marcellus, Marcus. c268-208BC. Roman consul. Conquered Syracuse 212BC. “The Sword of Rome”.

March on Washington. 1963. 200,000 in civil rights march led by King-“I have a dream”.

Margaret. Maid of Norway. 1283-90. Queen of Scotland 1286-. Betrothed to son of Edward I. Death led to England claiming Scotland, Civil War 1290-1314. Robert the Bruce.

Maria Theresa. 1717-80. Hapsburg Empress of Austria-Hungary 1740-. War of Austrian Succession.

Marie Antoinette. 1755-93. Daughter of Emperor Francis I and Maria Theresa, Queen Consort to Louis XVI. Guillotined for seeking US aid vs French Revolution. -“Let them eat cake”.

Marie de Medici. 1573-1642. Queen consort to Henry IV, mother of Louis XIII. Regent 1610-14. Built Luxembourg Palace. Opposed Richelieu. Banished 1630. Died penniless.

Marie Thérèse. 1638-83. Queen Consort to Louis XIV. Daughter of Philip IV. Unpaid dowry caused War of Devolution.

Marmousets. Advisers to French Charles V and VI.

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