Bellaud. 1532-88. Provencale truculent poet who inspired Marat, Rabelais and Petrarch.

Bellay, Joachim du. 1522-60. French poet. Defence of French Language 1549 was Pléiade manifesto.

Belle Epoque. 1885-1900. Time of flourishing arts and entertainment in Paris. Moulin Rouge.

Belle-Isle, Charles. 1684-1761. French marshal. Involved French in Austrian Succession War.

Belleau, Remy. 1528-77. French Pleiade Poet. Highly polished miniatures.

Bellerophon. Pegasus’ rider, destroyed the Chimera.

Bellier, Catherine. (One-Eyed Kate). Amply rewarded for bestowing her favours on 16 yr. old Louis XIV.

Bellini, Giovanni. c1429-1516. Venetian Renaissance painter. New sensuous realism of form and color. Adoration of the Magi. St. Francis 1480.

Bellini, Vincenzo. 1801-35. Italian Romantic opera composer. Norma 1831.

Belloc, Hilaire. 1870-1953. French/English writer: Bad Child’s Book of Beasts 1896. Cautionary Tales 1907.

Bellona. Roman goddess of war. Mars’ sister.

Bellow, Saul. 1915-2005. Canadian/US psychological novelist: Herzog 1964. Humboldt’s Gift 1975.

Belsen. 1933-45. Nazi concentration camp. Commandant Kramer executed.

Ben Bella, Ahmed. 1918-. Algerian Socialist revolutionary. President 1962-5. House arrest 1965-79.

Ben Gurion, David. 1886-1973. Polish/Israeli Labour pol. First Prime Minister of Israel, 1948~63. “Architect of Israel”.

Benavente y Martinez, Jacinto. 1866-1954. Spanish dramatist: Bonds of Interest 1907.

Benchley, Robert. 1889-1945. US humorist. Benchley Beside Himself 1943.

Benedict of Nursia, St. 480-547. Italian monastic. Benedictine Rule 535.

Benedict XIII. c1328-1423. Antipope 1394-1417. Great Schism.

Benedict XIV. 1675-1758. Pope 1740-. Promoted arts, learning during Enlightenment.

Benedictines. 529-. RC monastic order. Spread Christianity. Preserved Latin culture.

Benefit of Clergy. 1170-1827. Literates and clergy exempt from trial by English civil court. 1489- Once only, branding. Jonson.

Benelux. 1948-93. Economic union of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg. EU.

Beneš, Eduard. 1884-1948. Czech Nationalist, President, 1935-8,46-. Little Entente.

Benét, Stephen. 1898-1943. US poet, writer. Devil and Daniel Webster 1937. John Brown’s Body 1928.

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