Origen. c185-254. Alexandrian. Sought to justify Christianity in terms of Greek philosophy. On First Principles.

Orion. Greek mythical hunter.

Oriskany, Battle. 1777. British ambush Americans.

Orléanists. 1830-48. French supporters of Louis-Philippe vs republicans and Bonapartists.

Orléans. 1344-. Branch of French Valois and Bourbons.

Orléans, Charles, duc d’. 1394-1465. Fought with Armagnacs vs Burgundians. Captured at Agincourt 1415. Ransomed 1440. Last courtly poet of France.

Orléans, Gaston, duc d’. 1608-60. French prince vs Richelieu. Exiled 1632-2. Led Fronde.

Orléans, Louis, duc d’. 1372-1407. Began Armagnac/Burgundy conflict. Assassinated by supporters of John the Fearless.

Orléans, Louis Philippe, duc d’. 1747-93. Became Citizen Égalité 1892. Joined Third Estate. Father of King Louis-Philippe.

Orléans, Philippe II, duc d’. 1674-1723. French soldier Wars of Grand Alliance, Spanish Succession. Regent for Louis XV.

Orléans, Siege. 1428-9. 8 month English siege ended by Joan of Arc. Turning point of 100 Years War.

Orlov, Grigory, Count. 1734-83. Russian lover of Catherine II; led coup vs Peter III. Advocated liberating Christians from Ottoman rule.

Ormonde, Duke of. 1610-88. Irish Stuart supporter during Civil War.

Orozco, José. 1883-1949. Mexican mural painter.

Orpheus. Mythical Greek poet. Tamed animals with lyre. Music charmed underworld gods in bid to free wife.

Orphic Mysteries. 547BC-. Ascetic Greek cult.

Orsini. 12C-. Influential Roman family. Popes Celestine III, Nicholas III, Benedict XIII.

Orsini Affair. 1858. Unsuccessful plot on Napoleon III led to his interest in Italian unity.

Ortega y Gasset, José. 1883-1955. Spanish philosopher: Terra de Nuestra Tiempo 1923. Revolt of the Masses 1929.

Orthodox Church, Eastern. 1054-. Autonomous Christian churches of Middle East, Eastern Europe, Russia using Byzantine rite. East-West Schism.

Orwell, George. 1903-50. English satirical novelist and social critic: Animal Farm 1945, 1984 1948.

Osama bin Laden. 1957-. Wahabi Saudi Arabian construction magnate turned terrorist. World Trade Center. Taliban. al-Qaeda.

Osborne, John. 1929-94. ‘Angry’ English playwright. Entertainer 1951. Look Back in Anger 1956.

Oscar I. 1799-1859. King of Norway and Sweden 1844-. Liberal reforms.

Osceola. c1804-38. Seminole leader. Arrested at truce talks.

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