Valentine, St. c270. 2 Christians martyred by Claudius II. Modern celebration derives from Roman Lupercalia fertility festival.

Valentinian III. 419-55. Roman Emperor 425-. Lost Africa to Vandals, Gaul to Huns.

Valéry, Paul. 1871-1945. French poet. La Jeune Parque 1917.

Valhalla. Scandinavian banquet hall for slain warriors. Odin.

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

Valla, Lorenzo. 1407-57. Italian Humanist scholar. Exposed Donation of Constantine, 1440.

Vallee, Rudy. 1901-86. US. First pop music star.

Valley Forge. 1777-8. Training camp of Washington’s Continental Army.

Valmy. Last French navy sailing ship.

Valmy, Battle. 1792. French revolutionaries defeat Austria-Prussia invasion.

Valois. 1328-1589. Second Capetian French dynasty. Tudor.

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

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

Vivaldi, Antonio. 1678-1741. Venetian violinist, Baroque composer. Standard concerto pattern; more than 500 concertos. Four Seasons 1725.

Wang Ching-wei. 1883-1944. Chiang Kai-shek rival. Governor of Japanese China 1938-44.

Washington Conference. 1921-2. Naval arms limitation treaty. Four Power Pacific Treaty: US, Japan, Britain, France.

Wendover, Roger of. English historian. Flores Historiarum 1235 recorded Godiva’s ride.

Whiskey Rebellion. 1794. Pennsylvania settlers vs excise tax. Cavalry suppressed without violence.

Whitefield, George. 1714-70. English evangelist, founder of Calvinistic Methodist Church. Stimulated 18C religious revival.

Winkelried, Arnold von. -1386. Swiss hero of Sempach. Sacrificed himself to create a breach in the cavalry of Duke Leopold.

Woodstock. 1969. US Rock festival attended by 300,000.

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.