Krupp. 1587-1968. German family of arms manufacturers. Steel works 1812. Canon 1847. Used slave labour in WWII.

Krylov, Ivan. 1769-1844. Russian satirical writer. Fables 1809.

Kublai Khan. 1215-94. First Mongol Emperor. Conquered China. Established Yüan dynasty.

Kuwait. 1710 Arabs settle. 1899 British protectorate. 1961 Independent. 1963 Constitutional monarchy. 1990-91 Iraq occupation, Gulf War.

Kyrgyzstan. 8C Arabs. 10-13C Kyrgyz settle from Siberia. 1758 China. 19C Uzbek. 1876 Russia. 1926 Kyrgyz SSR. 1991 Independent. CIS.

LaBarre, Jean. 1747-66. French nobleman, beheaded for mutilating a crucifix.

Labiche, Eugène. 1815-88. French writer of plays and vaudevilles. La Clef des Champs 1838.

Labienus, Quintus. -39BC. Roman general. Defeated Parisii, 52BC.

Labour Party. 1888 Scotland. 1890 NZ. 1891 Australia. 1900 Britain. 1930 Israel. Founded by unions, Fabians for democratic change towards socialism. First UK MPs elected 1906. First UK Labour government 1924.

Labourers, Statute. 1351. Parliament’s freezing of rising wages after plague leads to Peasants Revolt.

Labrouste, Henri. 1801-75. French architect. Early use of iron. Bibliothèque Nationale 1862.

LaBruyère, Jean de. 1645-96. French satiric moralist writer. Caractères 1688.

LaFontaine, Jean de. 1621-95. French poet. Fables 1668-94.

Lance. 1927 Abolished by British army. 1939 used by Polish cavalry vs German tanks.

Lancelot. Knight of King Arthur’s Round Table. Guinevere’s lover. Galahad’s father.

Landsteiner, Karl. 1868-1943. Austrian/US. Discovered ABO blood types 1901, Rh factor 1940.

Lansbury, George. 1859-1940. British Labour MP. Women’s suffrage. Pacifist, opposed to WWI.

Laos. 14C Buddhist Lan Xang. 18C Vientiane(C)/ Luang Prabang(N)/ Champassak(S). 19C Siam. 1893 French protectorate. 1942 Japanese occupy. 1946 French. 1953 Independent...civil wars. 1975 Lao People’s Democratic Republic. 1991 New Constitution and freedoms.

Largo Caballero, Francisco. 1869-1946. Spanish socialist Prime Minister, 1936-7. Radical polemics led to Civil War.

Lateran Treaty. 1929. Established Vatican as sovereign state.

Latin Empire of Constantinople. 1204-61. Established by 4th Crusade leaders.

Latium. Area in Central Italy inhabited by Latins.

Lauderdale, John. 1616-82. Scottish statesman. Cabal Ministry. Repressive rule of Scotland.

Lawrence, Thomas (of Arabia). 1888-1935. English writer, officer. Led Arabs against Turks, 1914-18: Seven Pillars of Wisdom 1926.

Leakey, Louis. 1903-72. British anthropological archeologist. With wife Mary, discovered homo habilis and other ancient humanoid fossils.

447 more results ...