Ustaše. 1929-45 Secret Croatian terrorist group seeking independence from Yugoslavia.

Usury. Maximum interest rates: Rome 50BC: 12%, 529: 8%. Islam 622: 0%. Christian 1311: 0%. England: 1623 8%, 1651 6%, 1713 5%, 1854 eliminated. USA, by State: 5-45%

Uther Pendragon. Legendary British king. Father of King Arthur.

Uthman, ibn ’Affan. -656. Third Moslem caliph. Declared official version of Koran. Assassinated.

Utopia. Imaginary ideal state. More. Bacon. Plato.

Utrecht, Treaties. 1713-14. Ended War of Spanish Succession. Austria gains Netherlands. France cedes Newfoundland, Hudson’s Bay, Nova Scotia to England. Spain cedes Gibraltar, Minorca to England.

Utrecht, Union of. 1579. United Provinces alliance created vs Spanish rule in Netherlands.

Utrillo, Maurice. 1883-1955. Montmartre painter. Sacre Coeur 1937. White Period 1908-14.

U-2 Incident. 1960. US spy plane shot down over USSR. Summit cancelled. Pilot Powers traded for Russian spy Abel 1962.

Uzbekistan. Bactria. 711 Arabs. 1220 Golden Horde brings Uzbeks. 1494 Shaybanids. 1875 Russia. 1924 USSR. 1991 Independent. CIS.

Uzziah. -c735BC. King of Judah 791-739BC. Defeated Philistines. Died of leprosy, punishment for pride.

Vagrancy Acts. England. 1459 Authorized imprisonment. 1530 whipping. 1535 mutilation. 1597 included entertainers. 1713 branding prohibited.

Vairagin. Hindu ascetic worshippers of Vishnu.

Vaisnavism. 7C BC Hindu sect. Worship Vishnu as Krishna and Rama.

Valdemar I. 1131-82. King of Denmark 1157-. Conquered Norway. Allied with Sweden, France, Holy Roman Empire.

Valdemar IV. Atterdag. 1320-75. Danish king 1340-. Re-united Denmark. Opposed Hanseatic League. Sold Estonia to Teutonic Knights.

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.

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.

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.

Van Buren, Martin. 1782-1862. US president 1837-41. Independent treasury, US neutrality. Barnburner. Called “Little Magician” for his political dexterity.

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