Privy Council. English monarch’s principal advisers. Little power since 17C.

Prud’hommes, Councils. Medieval French trade tribunals revived by Napoleon.

Republic, Council of the. 1917. Russian provisional government. Eliminated by Bolsheviks.

Sanhedrin. -70. Jerusalem council of Jewish elders.

Simony. Trading in church offices, sacred objects. Banned by Council of Chalcedon 451, and in England since Edward VI.

Supreme Privy Council. 1726-30. Effectively ruled Russia after Peter the Great’s death without heir.

Templars. 1119-1312. Founded by Baldwin II and 9 knights in the Holy Land to protect pilgrims. Created International banking system, 9,000 commanderies, and owned 1/4 of Paris when dissolved by Philip IV, 1307; and Edward II, 1308. Council of Vienne.

Trent, Council of. 1545-63. Compiled Missal used by Roman Catholic Church until 1969. Prohibited sale of indulgences. Signals counter-reformation. Luther.

Vatican Councils. 1870 Papal Infallibility. 1962 Modified liturgy. Ecumenicalism.

Veche. 10C-1510. Russian democratic city council abolished by Mongols.

Vienne, Council. 1311. Abolished Templars.

Westminster, Statute of. 1275,85,90. First reference to Great Council of England as Parliament. Reformed civil and criminal law. Legal protection for poor. 1931. British affirmation of autonomous dominion of British Empire countries. Established British Commonwealth.

Witan. Anglo-Saxon king’s council.

World Council of Churches. 1948. Amsterdam.