Wager of Battle. Trial by Combat. 8C-1817. Norse custom in England. Accused challenges accuser to combat-acquitted if he refuses.

Wagner, Richard. 1813-83. German Romantic opera composer/librettist. Leitmotif. Unified drama and music in long and complex operas. Tannhäuser 1845. Lohengrin 1850. Nibelung Ring 1853-76. Tristan and Isolde 1857-9. Parsifal 1882.

Wairau Affray. 1843. Maori kill 22 English Settlers in New Zealand. Maori Wars.

Waìtangi, Treaty. 1840. Britain annexes New Zealand from Maori.

Waldenses. 1170-. Austere heretical Christian sect. Founded by Waldo at Lyons. Persecuted in France, Italy, England.

Wales. Celts. 55BC Rome. 7C +England. 8C Divided. 9C Re-united. 11C Norman. 1284 English suzerainty. 1536 Union with England.

Wales, Statute. 1284. England annexes Wales.

Walking Purchase. 1737. Americans cheat Indians in buying Delaware land by running instead of walking to determine land size. French-Indian Wars 1754-63.

Wallace, George. 1919-98. Alabama segregationist governor, presidential candidate. Shot 1972.

Wallenberg, Raoul. 1912-47?. Swedish diplomat. Saved thousands of Jews in WWII Budapest. Jailed by Soviets. Holocaust.

Walpole, Robert. 1676-1745. English Whig. First Prime Minister 1721-42. Free trade and peace.

Walsh, Thomas. 1859-1933. US senator. Exposed Teapot Dome.

Wandiwash, Battle. 1760. British defeat French at Madras. French leave India.

Wang Wei. 699-759. Chinese poet, landscape painter.

Warhol, Andy. 1925-87. US Pop artist. Campbell’s Soup Cans 200 1962. Marilyn 1967.

Warsaw. 1596 Polish capital. 1655 Sweden destroys. 1795 Prussia. 1807 Napoleon creates Duchy. 1813 Russia. 1815 Kingdom of Poland. 1939-45 Germany occupies.

Warsaw Pact. 1955-91. USSR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, E Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania. Treaty for the combined defence of Eastern Europe under Soviet supreme command.

Washington, George. 1732-99. American Revolution commander, First US President.

Watergate. 1972-4. US political scandal over burglary of Democratic headquarters. Cover up led to Nixon’s resignation.

Waterloo, Battle. 1815. Final defeat of Napoleon by Wellington and Blücher.

Waters, Muddy. 1915-83. US Rhythm and Blues singer. Inspired Rolling Stones.

Watling Street. Roman road from London to NW England. Part still in use.

Watteau, Antoine. 1684-1721. French painter known for color and naturalism. Embarcation for Cythera 1717.

Weber, Max. 1864-1920. German sociologist. Prostestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism 1930.

Wedmore, Treaty. 878. Alfred the Great, Danes divide England.

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