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.

Vespasian. 9-79. Roman Emperor, 69-. Began Colosseum 72. Fiscal reform, stability.

Vestal Virgins. Chaste Roman guardians of Temple to Vesta, goddess of the hearth.

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

Victor-Emmanuel II. 1820-78. First king of united Italy, 1861-. Peace of Milan, 1848. Cavour.

Victor Emmanuel III. 1869-1947. Last Italian king 1900~46. Supported Mussolini. Abdicated.

Vienna, Siege of. 1683. Poles aid Austrians in repelling Turks.

Vigeland, Gustav. 1869-1943. Norwegian sculptor depicting man’s struggle for life. Frogner Parken.

Vigny, Alfred de. 1797-1863. French Romantic writer. Shakespeare adaptations. Cinq-Mars 1826.

Vilar, Esther. 1935-. German anti-feminist writer. Manipulated Man.

Virchow, Rudolf. 1821-1902. German pathologist, anthropologist. Applied microscope to medical research. Cellular pathology 1858.

Virgil. 70-19BC Roman epic poet. Aeneid 30-19BC. Bucolics. Georgics 36BC.

Viriathus. -c139BC. Lusitanian herdsman. Led successful revolt vs Rome c147-139BC.

Vitruvius. 1C BC. Roman architect, writer. De architectura 27BC.

Vizier. 14-20C. Ottoman top minister of state.

Vo Nguyen Giap. 1912-. Viet Minh commander 1946-54, 1966-75. Minister of Defence 1954-. Tet Offensive. Defeated Japanese 1942-5, French 1946-54, US 66-76.

Volkssturm. 1944. German home defence force.

V-1, V-2. 1944. WWII German missiles vs Britain, Belgium. V=Vergeltung(Revenge). 8,000 V-1s. 1300 V-2s. Basis for future space research.

Voodoo. Carribean religious cult of ritual and magic. Synthesis of African rites and French Roman Catholicism.

Vuillard, Édouard. 1868-1940. French Nabis Intimist artist. Interiors. Woman Sweeping 1892.

Vulcan. Roman god of destruction, fire, weapons. = Hephaestos.

Vyshinsky, Andrei. 1883-1954. Russian statesman, prosecutor for Purge trials.

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