Valkyries. Sisters of Odin, choosers of the doomed in battle.

Van Rensselaer, Stephen. 1764-1839. US politician. Key to Erie Canal.

Veblen, Thorstein. 1857-1929. US sociologist. Theory of the Leisure Class 1899-“conspicuous consumption”.

Vellore Mutiny. 1806. Indians resenting removal of caste markings kill 130 British soldiers.

Vergennes, Charles, Compte de. 1719-87. French foreign minister. Allied with American revolutionaries. Treaty of Paris 1783.

Verona Congress. 1822. Last Holy Alliance congress. Authorized French intervention in Spanish revolution. British opposed intervention in New Spain. Failure of Congress System.

Verwoerd, Hendrik. 1901-66. South African Prime Minister 1958-66. Apartheid. Left Commonwealth 1961. Assassinated.

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

Vienna, Treaty. 1725. Spain, Austria pledge to aid Stuart restoration in England. 1738 Ends War of Polish Succession. 1809 =Schönbrunn Treaty. 1864 Denmark cedes Schleswig- Holstein to Prussia. 1866 Seven Weeks War. Austria cedes Venice to Italy.

Viollet-le-Duc, Eugène. 1814-79. French Gothic Revival architect. Restored Notre-Dame 1841-54, Vincennes. Ste-Chapelle.

Visigoths. 376-711. Western Goths. Alaric sacked Rome 410. Defeated at Vouillé by Clovis 510. Settled Spain, southern France 415-711. Destroyed by Moors 711.

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.

Volstead Act. 1919-33. Enforced US Prohibition.

Waldenses. 1170-. Austere heretical Christian sect. Founded by Waldo at Lyons. Persecuted in France, Italy, England.

Walker, William. 1824-60. American filibuster. Nicaraguan president. 1856-7.

Walking Purchase. 1737. Americans cheat Indians in buying Delaware land by running instead of walking to determine land size. French-Indian Wars 1754-63.

Wallenstein, Albrecht von. 1583-1634. Bohemian HRE general in Thirty Years War.

Walpole, Robert. 1676-1745. English Whig. First Prime Minister 1721-42. Free trade and peace.

Warsaw Pact. 1955-91. USSR, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, E Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania. Treaty for the combined defence of Eastern Europe under Soviet supreme command.

Warwick, Earl of. 1428-71. “The Kingmaker”-. Helped York Edward IV, then restored Lancaster Henry VI.

Watt, James. 1736-1819. Scottish engineer, perfected steam engine, 1769. Defined horsepower. Rotating engine 1781.

Weber, Max. 1864-1920. German sociologist. Prostestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism 1930.

Webster, Daniel. 1782-1852. Noted US orator, nationalist. Founded Whigs.

Webster, Noah. 1758-1843. US lexicographer. Simplified American spelling. Speller 1783. Dictionary 1828.

39 more results ...