Bathory, Elizabeth. -1614. Hungarian Countess. Bathed in blood of 600 young girls to rejuvenate.

Bede, St. (The Venerable). 673-735. English historian: De Temporum Ratione 725.Ecclesiastical History 731.

Beghards. 13C. Catholic men’s charitable communities. Condemned 1311.

Béguines. 12C- Belgian Catholic women’s charitables communities. Condemned 1311. Still exist.

Bel. Babylonian god. Lord of the Air. = Enlil.

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

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

Benin.1625 Abomey kingdom = Dahomey. 1892 France. 1895 French West Africa. 1959 Autonomous. 1960 Independent =Dahomey. 1975 =People’s Republic of Benin.

Berbers. Caucasian North African peoples, mostly Moslem. Nomadic since 12C Arab invasions. Almohads. Almoravids. Barbary.

Bernoulli, Jacob. 1654-1705. Swiss mathematician. Probability. B Numbers.

Bernstein, Eduard. 1850-1932. German anti-militant Socialist. Founded Fabians.

Bessarabia. Disputed Black Sea region between Romania and Russia. 14C Moldavia. 15/16C Ottoman. 1812 Russia. 1918 Romania. 1940 MSSR. 1941 Romania. 1944 USSR. 1991 Moldova.

Bevin, Ernest. 1881-1951. British labour leader, statesman. TUC. Initiated Colombo Plan.

Biedermeier. 1815-35. German bourgeois kitsch style of sentimental art and utilitarian furniture. Circular pedestal table.

Biruni, al-. 973-1048. Arab scholar. Chronology of Ancient Nations.

Blaue Reiter (Blue Rider). 1911-14. Organization of Abstract Expressionist artists. Kandinsky. Klee.

Blow, John. 1649-1708. Westminster organist. First English opera, Venus and Adonis 1685.

Boabdil (Mohammed XI). -1538. Last Moorish King of Spain, 1482-92.

Bogart, Humphrey. 1899-1957. US film star. Maltese Falcon 1941. Casablanca 1942.

Boleyn, Anne. 1507-36. 2nd Queen of Henry VIII, mother of Elizabeth I. Beheaded.

Bonaparte, Louis. 1778-1846. King of Holland 1806-10. Forced to abdicate after opposing Continental System. Napoleon’s brother.

Booth, Charles. 1840-1916. English social reformer. 17 volume Life and Labour of the People in London 1891-1903.

Booth, John Wilkes. 1838-65. US actor. Shot Lincoln, 1865.

Borden, Robert. 1854-1937. Canadian Cons Prime Minister 1911-20. Union Gov’t. Imperial War Cabinet. Women suffrage.

Borges, Jorge Luis. 1899-1986. Argentinian writer. Labyrinths.

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