Ahurza Mazda. Zoroastrian spirit of good.

Aiken, Conrad. 1889-1973. US poet, short story writer. Silent Snow, Secret Snow 1934.

Aircraft Transport and Travel Ltd. 1916. World’s first airline, Britain.

Airy, George Biddell. 1801-92. English astronomer: Greenwich Observatory.

Aix-la-Chapelle, Congress. 1818. Restored King of France. Congress System.

Aix-la-Chapelle, Treaty. 1668. Ended War of Devolution between France, Spain. 1748. Ended War of Austrian Succession. Hapsburgs weakened, Prussian power recognized.

Aizen Myo-o. 6-armed Japanese Buddhist diety.

Alarcón, Pedro de. 1833-91. Spanish novelist: El sombrero de tres picos, 1874.

Alarcos, Battle. 1195. Moslems defeat Christians in Spain, go on to conquer Castile.

Alaska. 1741 Bering explores. 1799 Russian America. 1867 US buys for $7.2M. 1959 State.

Alba. 843 Kingdom of Picts and Scots, north of Clyde. 1034 +Strathclyde +Cumbria +Lothian.

Alba Longa. Italian birthplace of Romulus and Remus. Oldest Latin city (1152BC).

Alban, St. -c303. First British martyr.

Albania. Balkans. 3-5C Visigoth, Huns invade. 6-7C Bulgars, Serbs, Slavs invade.12-15C Bulgar, Norman, Angevin, Serb, Venice contest.15C Ottoman. 1912 Independent republic. 1928 Monarchy (Zog). 1939 Italy occupies. 1945 Communist (Hoxha). 1961 Left Warsaw Pact. 1991 Democratic Constitution.

Alberoni, Giulio. 1664-1752. Acting Prime Minister, directed Spanish revival 1716-19.

Albert of Brandenburg. 1490-1568. First Duke of Prussia, 1525. Ended Teutonic Knights’ rule.

Alberti, Leon. 1404-72. Italian Renaissance Man. Artist, poet, geographer, mathematician.

Albertus Magnus, St. c1200-80. Swabian Dominican philosopher influenced Aquinas: independent observation of nature. Alchemist.

Albigenses. (Cathars). Southern French ascetic Neo-Manichean heretic Christian sect. Eliminated by 13th Crusade, 1208-1229 and Inquisition.

Albornoz, Gil de. 1310-67. Restored papal authority, ending Babylonian Captivity.

Albuquerque, Afonso de. 1453-1515. Portuguese conquistador. Expanded empire.

Alcaçovas, Treaty. 1479. Portugal renounces claim to Castile.

Alchemy. Magic art of Egyptian origin attempting to transmute metals, esp lead to gold. Based on belief that all metals are a pure base metal + impurities which the philosopher’s stone can remove.

Alcibiades. c450-404BC. Athenian egoist general, Peloponnesian War. Murdered.

Alcock, John. 1892-1919. First non-stop transatlantic flight, 1919, with Brown.

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