Voting Rights Act. 1965. US eliminates tests that disqualified black voters.

Vries, Hugo de. 1848-1935. Dutch botanist. Heredity and mutation. Mutation Theory 1910.

Vuillard, Édouard. 1868-1940. French Nabis Intimist artist. Interiors. Woman Sweeping 1892.

Vulcan. Roman god of destruction, fire, weapons. = Hephaestos.

Vulgate. 405. Official Latin translation of Bible by St Jerome. First printed 1455.

Vyshinsky, Andrei. 1883-1954. Russian statesman, prosecutor for Purge trials.

Wade-Davis Bill. 1864. Strict terms for US Reconstruction vetoed by Lincoln.

Wafd. 1918-52. Egyptian nationalist party. Dissolved by Revolution.

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.

Wagram, Battle. 1809. Napoleon defeats Austrian Archduke Charles. Znaim. Schönbrunn Treaty.

Wahabi. 18-19C. Militant Moslem Arab Puritan sect. Fought Porte 1813-15. Invaded Kuwait 1919,27,28; repulsed with British help. 2001 World Trade Center. Taliban.

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

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

Wakefield, Battle. 1460. War of Roses. 1643 English Civil War.

Wakley. Founded Lancet (British medical journal), 1823.

Waksman, Selman. 1888-1973. Ukraine/US Streptomycin 1943.

Walachia. 1290 Vlachs settle. 1417 Ottoman suzerainty. 1774 Russia. 1859 +Moldavia =Romania.

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

Waldheim, Kurt. 1918-. Austrian. UN Secretary General 1972-82. Austrian president 1986-92. German officer WWII.

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.

Walesa, Lech. 1943-. Polish Solidarity leader instrumental in forcing decline of Communist rule. President 1990-96.

Walker, George. 1618-90. Hero of siege of Londonderry, 1688.

Walker, William. 1824-60. American filibuster. Nicaraguan president. 1856-7.

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