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%

Uthman, ibn ’Affan. -656. Third Moslem caliph. Declared official version of Koran. Assassinated.

Utraquists. 15C. Moderate Bohemian Hussite sect; most re-absorbed by Roman Catholic Church 1620. Moravian Church.

Val-de-Grace. Paris. 1645-1667. Built by Anne of Austria to thank God for birth of Louis XIV after 23 childless years of marriage. Mansart.

Valdemar I. 1131-82. King of Denmark 1157-. Conquered Norway. Allied with Sweden, France, Holy Roman Empire.

Valens. 328-78. East Roman Emperor 364-. Killed at Adrianople.

Valentine, St. c270. 2 Christians martyred by Claudius II. Modern celebration derives from Roman Lupercalia fertility festival.

Valentinian III. 419-55. Roman Emperor 425-. Lost Africa to Vandals, Gaul to Huns.

Valla, Lorenzo. 1407-57. Italian Humanist scholar. Exposed Donation of Constantine, 1440.

Vandals. Germans fleeing Huns, invaded Gaul, Spain 409 and Africa 429-534. Sacked Rome 455. Arians, persecuted other Christians. Routed by Byzantines 533.

Varna, Battles. 1444 Ottoman Turks defeat Hungarians, expand to Balkans. 1828 Russians defeat Turks.

Varro, Marcus. 116-27BC. Prolific Roman scholar, satirist. 600 books. “Know thyself”.

Vasari, Giorgio. 1511-74. Italian Mannerist painter, architect, writer. Coined term Renaissance. Painters Lives 1550. Uffizi Palace architect.

VE Day. May 7, 1945. Folowed German surrender signed May 7 in Reims.

Vedanta. Philosophy of Hinduism from 6C BC Upanishads. Developed by Sankara 7C and Ramanuja 11C.

Vehmgericht. 14-15C. German tribunals.

Velázquez, Diego. 1599-1660. Spanish Naturalist court painter. Old Woman Frying Eggs 1618. Coronation of the Virgin 1641. Philip IV 1644. Surrender of Breda. Borrachos. Venus and Mirror 1655.

Velikovsky, Immanuel. 1895-1979. Russian/US writer of controversial scientific theories. Worlds in Collision 1950.

Velleda. German druidess, prophet under Vespasian.

Venus. Roman goddess of love and beauty. =Aphrodite.

Verdun. 1916. Battle in which French repulsed the Germans. 750,000 casualties.

Veronica, St. Legendary woman who gave kerchief to Christ at Calvary.

Versailles, Palace. 1661-74. Built by Le Vau and Mansart on site of 1623 hunting lodge. Gardens by Le Nôtre.

Versailles, Treaty. 1783. Recognized US Independence. 1871. Bismarck wins Franco-Prussian war. 1919. Ended WWI. Founded League of Nations. Germans to cede territory and pay reparations of £6.6/$32B. Only 1/8 paid when cancelled in 1932. US did not ratify.

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