Ursulines. 1535. Roman Catholic order founded by Angela Merci for the education of women.

Usury. Maximum interest rates: Rome 50BC: 12%, 529: 8%. Islam 622: 0%. Christian 1311: 0%. England: 1623 8%, 1651 6%, 1713 5%, 1854 eliminated. USA, by State: 5-45%

Uzziah. -c735BC. King of Judah 791-739BC. Defeated Philistines. Died of leprosy, punishment for pride.

Vagrancy Acts. England. 1459 Authorized imprisonment. 1530 whipping. 1535 mutilation. 1597 included entertainers. 1713 branding prohibited.

Varangians. ‘Rus’. 9-10C. Norse conquerors of Russia, hence name.

Vatican Councils. 1870 Papal Infallibility. 1962 Modified liturgy. Ecumenicalism.

Velasco Agreement. 1835. Santa Anna grants Texas independence.

Venezuelan Claims. 1902-7. European countries blockade ports to press for loan repayment.

Versailles, Men of. 1871.

Vichy. Seat of Pétain’s pro-German government, 1940-44 in unoccupied southern France. Source of waters famous since Roman times.

Victorian style. 19C. Neo-Gothic architecture. London Houses of Parliament.

Vikings. Scandinavians who raided Europe 530-12C. Discovered Greenland, 982, North America, 10C. Norsemen. Varangians.

Villiers, G. 1592-1628. First Duke of Buckingham. Incompetent favourite of Charles I who dissolved parliament to prevent his impeachment, 1626 causing Civil War.

Villon, François. 1431-63+. French bohemian poet in “jargon”, secret language of Conquillades. Banished. Le Testament 1461.

Voroshilov, Kliment. 1881-1969. Soviet Head of State 1953-60.

Vorticism. 1900-20. Art movement of mechanical forms and angles. Lewis. Gaudier-Brzeska.

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

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

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

Wallis, Barnes. 1887-1979. British armament inventor.

Warren, Robert. 1905-89. US Fugitive novelist. All the King’s Men 1946.

Warsaw Uprising. 1830-1. Czartoryski attempt to oust Russians crushed. 1944. Polish underground army defeats Germans but Soviet delay allows German reinforcements to defeat Poles, destroying potential opposition to later Soviet control.

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

Weimar Republic. 1919-33. Post WWI Germany. Hyperinflation, unemployment, instability. Rise of Nazism.

Westminster Assembly. 1643-52. Convened by Long Parliament to inaugurate Presbyterianism in England and Wales. Westminster Confession of Faith.

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