Ordeal, Trial by. -1219. English common form of trial. eg: fire, battle, dunking.

Oregon Question. 1818-46. Britain vs US on Canadian border. Treaty established 49°N 1846.

Oregon Trail. 1840-70. 2,000 mile route from Missouri to Oregon.

Orestes. Electra’s brother. Killed mother and her lover to avenge death of his father, Agamemnon.

Orestes. -476. Roman general. Deposed Nepos for his son, Romulus Augustulus.

Orff, Carl. 1895-1982. Modern German composer. Straightforward. Carmina Burana 1936.

Orgetorix. -60BC. Helvetian chief vs Caesar.

Orient Express. 1883-1977. Paris-Istanbul train.

Oriental Canon Law. 880. Ecclesiastical laws of Eastern Christian churches.

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

Oriskany, Battle. 1777. British ambush Americans.

Orlando, Vittorio. 1860-1952. Italian Prime Minister 1917-19. Versailles negotiator.

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.

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