Valentinus was the most important Christian theologian before Origen. He sought to combine the results of Greek philosophy with the doctrines of the Gospel, and treated the manifestation of Jesus as the keystone in the structure of thought which Greek science had reared. He may be regarded as superior to Philo in many respects and as having surpassed Origen in delicacy of perception and vigor of style, although he was far behind him in the extent of his learning. He came to Rome from Egypt about 138 A. D., and died about 160.
Valet′ta, an important fortress and beautiful city, capital of the island of Malta. The city was founded by John Parisot de la Valette, who so gallantly defended the island of Malta against the Turkish fleet in 1565. Alone and unsupported by any of the Christian powers, La Valette held the island under circumstances of great difficulty and distress; and at the end of four months the Turks were compelled to withdraw, after suffering a loss of several thousand men. The city contains many relics of the occupation by the Knights of Malta. Population 60,000. See Malta.
Valhalla (văl-hăl′lȧ), in Scandinavian mythology, the "hall of the slain"—the abode of Odin in Asgard, the palace of Immortality, inhabited by the souls of heroes slain in battle. In the old Norse or Viking era, the Eddas relate, Odin and his chiefs dwelt in a sort of Olympus (Asgard)—the Norse Pantheon—which had two mansions, Gladsheim for the gods and Vingolf for the goddesses. There also was Walhalla, wherein Odin placed one half of the heroes slain in battle, the other half being received by Freja, the wife of Odin, who presided over smiling nature, sending sunshine, rain and harvest. The roof of Valhalla was resplendent with gold; spears, shields and armor adorned its walls. Out of this abode rode forth Valkyrs (or choosers of the slain) on invisible horses, to the battles of men on earth, and with their spears pointed out the heroes who should fall, whom they caught as they fell and bore to Valhalla in their arms. Troops of these invisible horsemen issued daily to engage in combat and return at night to be entertained with the never-ending hospitality of Odin. See the Norse prose Edda. Figuratively, Valhalla (or Walhalla) has come to mean a hall or temple adorned with statues and memorials of a nation's great ones, especially its soldier heroes.
Val′jean′, Jean, the hero of Les Miserables, one of the best known and loved of the romances of Victor Hugo, is a former galley-slave whose life becomes changed through the goodness and kindness of a bishop. The bishop entertains Valjean, who escapes with the precious candlesticks of his host! Valjean is captured and brought back; but the bishop declares he has given him the candlesticks, and makes him a convert. Hereafter, Jean Valjean becomes the guardian of a beautiful girl, Cosette, to whom he devotes his life. The story of Jean Valjean is that love begets love and works miracles. "His whole heart melted in gratitude, and he loved more and more."
Valladolid (väl′yȧ-thṓ-lḗth′), a famous city of Spain, at one time capital of the whole country and still capital of the province of Valladolid, stands on the left bank of the Pisuerga, 150 miles northwest of Madrid by railway. It is 2,000 feet above the level of the sea, and has a healthful climate, the air being pure and genial and the sky generally cloudless. As Valladolid was the residence of the court prior to its removal to Madrid in the 16th century, it contains many large and decayed dwellings, although many new mansions have been erected and the streets have been paved, enlarged and multiplied. There are a noted university, founded in 1346, a palace and an unfinished cathedral. Here Ferdinand and Isabella were married and here Columbus died. The city communicates with the Atlantic Ocean by the Douro and with various portions of Spain by canal and railway. Population 68,789.
Valladolid, a town of Mexico, in the state of Yucatan, 90 miles southeast of Merida, stands in the midst of a highly cultivated tract of country. It is the best-constructed and healthiest town in Yucatan, and is the seat of cotton manufactures. Population 14,000.
Vallejo (vȧl-yā′hṓ) Cal., a city in Solano County, at the mouth of Napa Creek, which empties into the northeast part of San Pablo Bay. Vallejo is connected by steamship lines with San Francisco (30 miles to the southwest); it is also reached by the Southern Pacific Railroad, as is South Vallejo. Adjacent to both is the Mare Island Navy-Yard (U. S.), which gives employment to about 2,000 men. There is also a quicksilver mine in the vicinity, while the region is a fertile one for farming and fruit-growing. Besides its lumber yards, planing-mills and fish-packing establishments, it has flour-mills, brick-yards, a tannery, beer-bottling works, a cement-works and carbonated water factories. It has a Sailor's Club house, a Home for Orphans, a Carnegie Library and the St. Vincent's Convent and school. Founded in 1851, the city was designed at one time as the capital of the state and here for a couple of years (1851-3) were held the annual session of the state legislature. Population 11,340.
Valley Forge, Pa., a small village on the Schuylkill River, Chester County, 24 miles west of Philadelphia. The American army of about 11,000 encamped there on December 17, 1777, after the battles of Brandy-
