Belle Epoque. 1885-1900. Time of flourishing arts and entertainment in Paris. Moulin Rouge.

Belle-Isle, Charles. 1684-1761. French marshal. Involved French in Austrian Succession War.

Belleau, Remy. 1528-77. French Pleiade Poet. Highly polished miniatures.

Bellerophon. Pegasus’ rider, destroyed the Chimera.

Belloc, Hilaire. 1870-1953. French/English writer: Bad Child’s Book of Beasts 1896. Cautionary Tales 1907.

Benchley, Robert. 1889-1945. US humorist. Benchley Beside Himself 1943.

Benedict of Nursia, St. 480-547. Italian monastic. Benedictine Rule 535.

Benedict XIV. 1675-1758. Pope 1740-. Promoted arts, learning during Enlightenment.

Benefit of Clergy. 1170-1827. Literates and clergy exempt from trial by English civil court. 1489- Once only, branding. Jonson.

Beneš, Eduard. 1884-1948. Czech Nationalist, President, 1935-8,46-. Little Entente.

Benevolences. 1473-1689. Forced ’loans’ to English monarchs.

Benin.1625 Abomey kingdom = Dahomey. 1892 France. 1895 French West Africa. 1959 Autonomous. 1960 Independent =Dahomey. 1975 =People’s Republic of Benin.

Benjamin. Youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. Led 1 of 10 Lost Tribes.

Bennett, Arnold. 1867-1931. English Staffordshire novelist. Meticulously detailed Naturalist. Clayhanger Series 1910.

Bentham, Jeremy. 1748-1832. English Utilitarian philosopher, jurist. Principles of Morals and Legislation 1789. Fragment on Government 1776.“Greatest happiness for the greatest number”.

Bentley, Richard. 1662-1742. English classical scholar. Restored texts. Editions of Horace, Terence, Aesop.

Berbers. Caucasian North African peoples, mostly Moslem. Nomadic since 12C Arab invasions. Almohads. Almoravids. Barbary.

Beresteczko, Battle. 1651. Poland defeats Ukraine Cossacks who then ally with Russia.

Berkeley, George. 1685-1753. Irish immaterialist philosopher: reality exists only in the eye of God; for man, only when perceived. Principles of Knowledge 1710.

Berlin Conference. 1884. Bismarck called 15 nations to resolve African issues. Congo granted independence. Slavery suppressed.

Berlin Decree. 1806. Napoleon announces Continental System blockading Britain.

Bermuda. 1511 Spain discovers. 1609 Shipwrecked British settle, inpiring Tempest. 1617-1834 Slavery. 1968 Autonomous British Colony. 1995 Referendum rejects independence.

Bernadotte, Folke. 1895-1948. UN mediator in Palestine, assassinated by Jewish terrorists.

Bernanos, Georges. 1888-1948. French Catholic polemic writer against materialism. Diary of a Country Priest 1937.

Bernhardt, Sarah. 1844-1923. French dramatic actress. Roles in Phèdre, La Tosca.

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