Varangian Guard. 977-15C. Byzantine infantry recruited from Scandinavia and later England.

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

Veche. 10C-1510. Russian democratic city council abolished by Mongols.

Venice. Venetia. 452 Founded. 697 Republic. Doge. 13-15C Venetian Empire. 1797 Austria. 1866 Italy.

Verdun, Treaty of. 843. Split Carolingian Empire.

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

Vietnam. Annam. 209BC Nam Vet kingdom. 111BC China. 2C Funan, 939 Independent. Khmer, Cham, Mongol invasions repelled. 1407 Ming. 1867 France (S). 1883 Tonkin, Annam French protectorates(N). 1940 Japanese occupy. 1945 Independent. 1946-54 French Indochina War. 1954 Communist Democratic Republic (N). 1955 Republic (S). 1962 Vietnam War. 1976 Socialist Republic of Vietnam 1987 Economic liberalization. 1995 US recognition.

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

Westminster, Statute of. 1275,85,90. First reference to Great Council of England as Parliament. Reformed civil and criminal law. Legal protection for poor. 1931. British affirmation of autonomous dominion of British Empire countries. Established British Commonwealth.

William I. (Wilhelm) 1797-1888. Hohenzollern King of Prussia 1861-. German Empire. 1871-. Supportedf Bismarck vs Austria and France.

World War I. 1914-18. Allies-France, British Empire, Russia, Italy, US(1917-) vs Central Powers-Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire. Caused by Nationalist movements, Balkan instability, trade rivalry, alliances. 30M casualties. First tanks, chemical, planes, submarines. Ended Russian, Ottoman, Austria-Hungarian Empires.

Xanadu. (To-lun). 1256. Mongol Kublai Khan’s summer capital.

Yarmuk River, Battle. 636. Arabs defeat Byzantines, dominate Syria.

Yemen. ~10CBC Minaean, Saba’, Qataban, Himyarite Kingdoms. 1C Jews settle. 4C Christians settle. 525 Abyssinia. 575 Persia. 7C Moslem. 9C ’Alid Zaydi dynasty. 1173 Ayyubid. c1229 Rasulid. 1517 Ottoman. 1962 Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen). 1990 Merged with c100BC Himyarite. 1229 Rasulis. 1635 Zaydi. 1735 Divided South: 1802 British protection. 1839 British East India Company. 1937 Aden British Protectorate. 1963 Federation of South Arabia. 1967 People’s Republic of Yemen. 1735 North: 1872 Ottoman. 1920 Tribal. 1962 Yemen Arab Republic 1990 merged=Yemen.

Ypsilanti, Alexander. 1792-1828. Greek. Led unsuccessful revolt vs Ottomans 1821.

Yüan. 1279-1368. Chinese Mongol dynasty founded by Kublai Khan. Grand Canal. Postal system. Marco Polo.

Zadar. Dalmatia. 9C BC Liburnian colony. 1C BC Rome...Byzantine. 1409 Venice. 1797 Austria. 1808 France, «Illyrian Kingdom. 1813 Austria. 1918 Italy. 1944 Yugoslavia.

Zenta, Battle. 1697. Austria defeats Turks, becomes greatest power in Europe.

Zimbabwe. 11C Shona. 15C Karanga Empire. 16C Portugal explores. 1890 British South Africa Co. 1911 Southern Rhodesia. 1953 +Nyasaland. 1964 =Rhodesia. 1965 Declared indepence, international sanctions. 1979 Independent. =Zimbabwe. ZAPU. ZANU. Mugabe.

Ziyadids. 819-1018. Moslem dynasty in south Arabia.

Zululand. c1800 Mtetwa Empire. 1843 British. 1897 Natal. Boer War.