Giscard d’Éstaing, Valéry. 1926-. French UDF President 1974-81.

Gloire. 1859. French. World’s first armour-plated vessel.

Golden Spurs, Battle. 1302. Courtrai, Belgium. Flemish craftsmen defeat French troops.

Goncourt, Edmond. 1822-96. French novelist. Renée Mauperin. Created Goncourt literature prize.

Gothic Architecture. 12-15C. Began with French cathedrals and spread over N Europe. Pointed arches, rib vaulting, flying buttresses. Stability achieved with balance rather than mass. Airy lightness. St. Denis 1140. Notre Dame Cathedral. Tudor.

Goujon, Jean. 1510-68. French sculptor. Fontaine des Innocents 1548/9.

Gounod, Charles. 1818-93. French composer: Faust 1859.

Grand Alliance, War of. 1689-97. Spain, Sweden, England, Holy Roman Empire, Netherlands vs French expansionism. Negotiated Peace. King William’s War. Namur. Augsburg League.

Grands Rhétoriqueurs. 15-16C. French poets. Deschamps, DeMachaut.

Gravelines, Battle. 1558. Spanish defeat French.

Gregory of Tours, St. c538-94. French bishop. Wrote History of the Franks.

Grenada. 1498 Columbus discovers. 1651 French colony. 1763 English. 1876 Crown Colony. 1958 Fed of West Indies. 1967 Self-government. 1983 US invades to prevent Marxist insurrection.

Grolier, Jean. 1479-1565. French collector of 3000 book library.

Gros, Antoine. 1771-1835. French painter of Napoleon’s military career.

Guesclin, Bertrand du. c1320-80. French military leader, 100 Years’ War. Expelled English from France.

Guimard, Hector. 1867-1942. French Art Nouveau architect, decorator. Paris Métro entrances.

Guinea. Fulani, Malinke, Soussou. 18C Moslem. 1882 French 1958 Independent.

Halifax Explosion. 1917. French arms boat explodes in harbour. 2000 casualties. Biggest man-made explosion until Hiroshima.

Hébert, Jacques. 1757-94. French revolutionary extremist. Led Sansculottes. Cult of Reason.

Helvétius, Claude-Adrien. 1715-71. French Materialist philosopher. All actions based on self-interest. De l’ésprit 1758.

Henry I. c1008-60. French king 1031-.

Henry II. 1519-59. French king 1547-. Repressed Protestants. Captured Calais 1558. Treaties of Chambord, Cateau-Cambrésis.

Henry III. 1551-89. French king 1574-. Wars of Religion, Three Henrys. Assassinated.

Heredia, Jose de. 1842-1905. Cuban/French Parnassian poet.

Hofer, Andreas. 1767-1810. Austrian. Led peasant rebellions vs French and Bavarians 1809-10.

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