Legendre, Adrien. 1752-1833. French mathematician. Irrationality of pi, 1794. Elliptical integrals, 1786.

Legion. Roman army unit of 4-6,000 men.

Legion of Honour. French national order instituted by Napoleon, 1802. Five ranks: Grands Croix, Grands Officiers, Commandeurs, Officiers, Chevaliers.

Legislative Assembly. 1791-2. 1849-51. French national parliament...National Convention.

Legitimists. 19C French Royalist supporters of Bourbon Chambord vs Orleanists, Bonapartists.

Leibniz, Gottfried. 1646-1716. German philosopher, mathematician. Invented differential and integral calculus1675, binary arithmetic 1703. Multiplication machine 1671.

Leicester, Robert Dudley, Earl of. 1532-88. Favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.

Leipzig, Battle. 1813. Napoleon loses Germany and Poland. 500,000 troops involved.

Leipzig Debate. 1519. Luther vs Eck. Both claim victory.

Leisler’s Rebellon. 1689-91. NY vs Catholic officials.

Lemaître, Georges. 1894-1966. Belgian cosmologist. Big Bang theory of creation 1927.

Lenin, Vladimir Illyich. 1870-1924. Russian Bolshevik revolutionary. Dictator 1917-. Created authoritarian, elite, disciplined organization.

Leningrad, Siege. 1941-44. By Germans. Unsuccessful. 1M died.

Leningrad Affair. 1948. Purge of Zhdanov associates by Stalin.

Leninism. Applied Dialectical Materialism. World Proletariat Revolution. Dictatorship of the Proletariat, then transition to Communism. Authoritarian conspiratorial elite conscious of imperative of history. “Freedom in discussion-unity in action”.

Leo Africanus. 1485-1554. Arab/Christian traveler. Descriptions of Africa 1550.

Leo VI. 866-912. Byzantine Emperor. Compiled Basilica legal code.

Leo X. 1475-1521. Pope 1513-. Excommunicated Luther. Depleted treasury.

Leo XIII. 1810-1903. Pope 1878-. Rerum Novarum 1891: right to private property. Ended opposition to scientific progress. Longest papal rule.

Leonardo da Vinci. 1452-1519. Florentine painter, writer, sculptor, scientist. Prototypical Renaissance Man. Sfumato. Laws of Flight. Adoration of Magi 1479. Last Supper 1495. Mona Lisa 1503. Parachute 1480.

Leonidas. King of Sparta. Killed resisting Persians at Thermopylae, 480BC.

Leopold and Loeb. 1924. Wealthy, intellectual partners ‘perfect’ murder of Bobby Franks leads to life imprisonment. Darrow plea avoids execution.

Leopold I. 1790-1865. First King of Belgians 1831-. Maintained neutrality.

Leopold II. 1747-92. Holy Roman Emperor 1790-. “Enlightened despot”. Liberal reforms. Declaration of Pillnitz for absolutism.

Leopold II. 1835-1909. King of Belgians 1865-. Ruled Congo ruthlessly.

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