Le Verrier, Urbain. 1811-77. French astronomer: predicted existence of Neptune by calculation, 1845.

Lepanto, Battle. 1571. Major Christian naval victory vs Turks, saving Cyprus.

Lepidus, Marcus. -13BC. Roman triumvir with Antony, Octavian 43-36BC. Failed revolt vs Octavian, 36BC.

Lepidus, Marcus. -c77BC. Roman consul. Opposed Sulla’s reforms, 78. Defeated by Pompey in Etruria.

Lerner, Alan. 1918-86. Lyricist. My Fair Lady. Camelot.

Lese Majesty. Crime against state or its ruler. Treason.

Lesotho. Basutoland. c1800 Basotho kingdom. 1868 British. 1871 Cape Colony. 1884 British colony. 1966 Independent kingdom of Lesotho.

Lethe. Greek mythical river of forgetfulness in Hades.

Lettres de Cachet. 16C-1789. French royal warrants for arrest. Often political. Bastille.

Levant. Region of E Mediterranean from Greece to Egypt.

Levellers. 1645-50. English Civil War republican democratic party. Sought religious, political equality and end to monarchy.

Leviathan. Evil sea monster of Jewish mythology.

Lévi-Strauss, Claude. 1908-. Belgian/French ethnologist. Theory of Symbolic Structures: Mythologiques 1964-8.

Lévy-Bruhl, Lucien. 1857-1939. French philosopher. Primitive Mentality 1923.

Lewes, Battle. 1264. English barons capture Henry III and Prince Edward, force concessions.

Lewis, C.S. 1898-1963. English fantasy writer, Christian apologist. Chronicles of Narnia 1950-6.

Lewis, Sinclair. 1885-1951. US writer of small town life: Babbit 1922. Elmer Gantry 1927.

Lewis, Wyndham. 1882-1957. English satirical writer, artist. Founded Vorticism. Apes of God 1930.

Lex Talionis. Old Testament Law- An eye for an eye...

Lexington and Concord, Battle. 1775. First American Revolution battle. British march on Concord supply depot. Established guerilla warfare as colonist strategy. 273 British, 95 Americans killed. Paul Revere.

Leyte Gulf, Battle. Philippine Sea Battle.

Lhato Nyan-tsen. First king of Tibet.

Li Po. 701-62. Chinese free spirited, playful, fantasy poet. Drowned, drunk, reaching for moon’s reflection.

Li Tzu-ch’eng. 1605-45. Chinese rebel. Overthrew Ming dynasty 1644. Defeated by Manchu.

Li Yüan. 566-635. First Tang Emperor of China 618-27. Led revolt 617, aided by Turks.

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