Leningrad, Siege. 1941-44. By Germans. Unsuccessful. 1M died.

Leningrad Affair. 1948. Purge of Zhdanov associates by Stalin.

Lenoir, Alexandre. 1761-1839. Archeologist. Founder of the Museum of French Monuments.

Leo III, St. -816. Pope 795-. Crowned Charlemagne recreating Western Roman Empire.

Leo IX, St. 1002-54. Pope 1049-. Excommunicated Cerularius, causing East-West Schism.

Leo VI. 866-912. Byzantine Emperor. Compiled Basilica legal code.

Leo XIII. 1810-1903. Pope 1878-. Rerum Novarum 1891: right to private property. Ended opposition to scientific progress. Longest papal rule.

León. 910-1230. Spanish kingdom. Ruled Galicia, Asturias; Portugal to 1143. 1230 +Castile.

Leonardo da Vinci. 1452-1519. Florentine painter, writer, sculptor, scientist. Prototypical Renaissance Man. Sfumato. Laws of Flight. Adoration of Magi 1479. Last Supper 1495. Mona Lisa 1503. Parachute 1480.

Leoncavello, Ruggero. 1857-1919. Italian opera composer. I Pagliacci 1892.

Leonidas. King of Sparta. Killed resisting Persians at Thermopylae, 480BC.

Leopold I. 1790-1865. First King of Belgians 1831-. Maintained neutrality.

Leopold II. 1747-92. Holy Roman Emperor 1790-. “Enlightened despot”. Liberal reforms. Declaration of Pillnitz for absolutism.

Leopold II. 1835-1909. King of Belgians 1865-. Ruled Congo ruthlessly.

Leopold III. 1901-83. King of Belgians 1934-51. German prisoner 1940-5. Abdicated.

Leovigild. Last Visigoth King of Spain 572-86.

Lepanto, Battle. 1571. Major Christian naval victory vs Turks, saving Cyprus.

Lesage, Alain. 1668-1747. French picaresque novelist. Gil Blas 1715-35.

Lese Majesty. Crime against state or its ruler. Treason.

Lesotho. Basutoland. c1800 Basotho kingdom. 1868 British. 1871 Cape Colony. 1884 British colony. 1966 Independent kingdom of Lesotho.

Lesseps, Ferdinand. 1805-94. French engineer. Suez Canal 1869. Corinth Canal. Designed and began Panama Canal 1881-89.

Lessing, Doris. 1919-. Iran./Rhodesian/British novelist. The Children of Violence 1964.

Lessing, Gotthold. 1729-81. German Movement dramatist. Laokoon 1765. Minna von Barnheim 1767. Nathan the Wise 1779.

Lethe. Greek mythical river of forgetfulness in Hades.

Leucippus. -440BC. Greek philosopher. Atomism. “Nothing occurs at random”.

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