Quiberon Bay, Battle. 1759. British defeat French navy preventing French invasion of Scotland.

Rabelais, François. c1483-1553. French satirical writer and humanist. Pantagruel 1532.Gargantua 1534.

Racine, Jean. 1639-99. Classical French tragedy playwright. Molière’s rival. Andromaque 1667. Britannicus 1669. Phèdre 1677.

Ramus, Petrus. 1515-72. French humanist, logician. Reforms of Aristotelian logic.

Ravachol, François. 1859-92. French anarchist. Guillotined.

Ravel, Maurice. 1875-1937. French Impressionist composer. Adopted new forms such as jazz and atonality. Boléro 1928.

Reason, Cult of. 1793-5. French Revolution atheist anti-Catholic movement.

Régnier, Mathurin. 1573-1613. French satirical poet.

Religion, Wars of. 1562-1598. Eight French wars between Catholics and Protestants. Ended by Edict of Nantes. Sully. Mornay. Three Henrys War.

Renan, Ernest. 1823-92. French writer: Future of Science, Origins of Christianity. Life of Jesus 1863.

Renart, le Roman de. Group of French adventure romances written in the 12-13C.

Renoir, Pierre A. 1841-1919. French Impressionist painter. Moulin de la Galette 1876. Bathers.

Republic French. 1792-1804 First. 1848-52 Second. Napoleon III. 1870-1940 Third. 1946-58. Fourth. 23 governments in 12 years. 1958-. Fifth. DeGaulle.

Restoration. 1660. English Monarchy reinstated following Protectorate. 1791 French Revolutionary Wars.

Retz, Cardinal de. 1613-79. French politician, writer, Fronde leader.

Retz, Gilles de. 1404-40. French Marshal. Joan of Arc companion. Tortured, killed 140 children. Model for Bluebeard.

Reunion Is. 1513 Portugal discovers. 1638 French claim. 1665 French settle. 1810 British. 1814 French. 1947 French Overseas Department.

Revolutionary Tribunal. 1793-5. French Terror court.

Reynaud, Paul. 1878-1966. French Prime Minister, imprisoned by Vichy French.

Rhine, Confederation of. 1806-13. Bavaria and German states with constitution in French model.

Ribaut, Jean. 1520-65. French explorer to North America.

Richelieu, Cardinal. 1585-1642. French politician 1624-. Built power of Louis XIII.

Rights of Man, Declaration. 1789. Preamble to 1791 French constitution. Guaranteed representation, equality before law, property, freedom of religion, press, speech.

Rimbaud, Arthur. 1854-91. French Symbolist poet: Illuminations. Anticipated Freud’s ideas.

Roberval, Gilles de. 1602-75. French physicist: balance 1670. Geometry of curves.

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