Sponsor |  kapka | Sep 13, 2007 6:22pm | 13th September, 1922: Following the Turkish Victory in Constantinople, crowds have taken to the streets and are attacking Greek churches and homes and destroying them . The Turkish troops have been dispatched to keep order. The spread of Typhus and the Plague are now reaching epidemic proportions but authorities are insisting they do no not wish aid in the form of medical assistance from neighboring countries.
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13th September, 1949: The communist government in Czechoslovakia has now arrested 15 roman catholic priests on charges of running a secret communications ring, the government believes the priests are planning political unrest but the priests maintain it is just a means of keeping in contact with fellow members. |
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Sponsor | | rieraci | Sep 16, 2007 3:13pm | | At precisely twelve noon on September 16, 1893 a cannon's boom unleashed the largest land rush America ever saw. Carried by all kinds of transportation - horses, wagons, trains, bicycles or on foot - an estimated 100,000 raced to claim plots of land in the northern Oklahoma Territory known as the Cherokee Strip. There had been a number of previous land rushes in the Territory, but this was the big one...The Oklahoma Land Rush eyewitnesstohistory.com/landrush.htm [eyewitnesstohistory.com/landrush.htm] |
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Sponsor | | kapka | Sep 17, 2007 3:20pm | 1796 : Washington prepares final draft of farewell address
On this day in 1796, George Washington prepares a final draft of his presidential farewell address. Two days later, the carefully crafted words appeared in Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser, published in Philadelphia, officially notifying the American public that Washington would voluntarily step down as the nation's first president. The decision was extraordinary: rarely, if ever, in the history of western civilization had a national leader voluntarily relinquished his title. The action set a model for successive U.S. administrations and future democracies.
Historians have since discovered that Washington dated the draft of the address to coincide with the nine-year anniversary of the adoption of the first draft of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Scholars agree that Alexander Hamilton, former aide to Washington during the Revolutionary War and the first U.S. secretary of the treasury, wrote much of the address. Washington was greatly influenced by his federalist cohort Hamilton throughout their professional relationship, much to the frustration of the Republican members of his government, particularly Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. It was Madison who had helped pen a farewell draft for Washington at the end of his first term, which Hamilton had initially used as a template for the final farewell address. That version was ultimately tossed aside, however, in favor of one drafted from scratch by Hamilton. He and Washington spent the summer of 1796 finalizing the speech, which was delivered for printing in September.
Many Americans had hoped or assumed that Washington would serve another term or even until his death. As Washington's second term came to a close in early 1797, he was in poor health, exhausted from years of internal squabbling amongst members of his cabinet and ready to retire to his beloved plantation in Virginia. According to biographer Ron Chernow, although Hamilton wrote much of the speech, it was faithful to Washington's style and tone. In addition to laying out his hopes for America's future, the address called for an end to partisan politics and maintained that Washington's decision not to run for a third term was in the best interests of the country. "I have...contributed towards the organization and administration of the government the best exertions of which a very fallible judgment was capable," he humbly admitted. Desiring the "shade of retirement," Washington reminded the people that his position as president was designed to be temporary. He believed it was his patriotic duty to uphold the Constitution and pass on his role as the nation's top public servant to someone else. |
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|  emjayprice | Oct 25, 2007 1:59pm | 25 October 1415, Saint Crispin's Day. The Battle of Agincourt took place in northern France during the Hundred Year's war.
The English army was commanded by Henry V, while the French were under the command of King Charles VI known then as Charles the Beloved then but Charles the Mad later on.
The size of the armies is unknown but it's believed that a force of about 6,000 English defeated a French army of 20,000 or more.
The English were able to defeat the French at Agincourt by using the longbow.
On a more romantic note Shakespeare told the story in Henry V with Henry giving this speech upon the eve of battle:
Henry V:- "This day is called the feast of Crispian: He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named, And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:' Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars. And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.' Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember with advantages What feats he did that day: then shall our names. Familiar in his mouth as household words Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember'd; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day" |
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| | patoloco | Oct 25, 2007 9:55pm | The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an invasion of the island nation of Grenada by the United States of America and several other nations in response to Prime Minister Maurice Bishop being illegally deposed and executed. On October 25, 1983, the United States, Barbados, Jamaica and members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States landed ships on Grenada, defeated Grenadian and Cuban resistance and overthrew the military government of Hudson Austin.
The invasion received a mixed reception, although it enjoyed broad public support in the United States as well as in segments of the population in Grenada. October 25 is a national holiday in Grenada, called Thanksgiving Day, to commemorate this event. Conversely, the invasion was criticized by the United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada. Approximately 100 people lost their lives. |
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Sponsor | | kapka | Nov 28, 2007 5:19pm | The following should have been posted on the 20th but I still think that it is still pertinent on this November 28th.
'Mythical Roman cave' unearthed
Italian archaeologists say they have found the long-lost underground grotto where ancient Romans believed a female wolf suckled the city's twin founders.
The cave believed to be the Lupercal was found near the ruins of Emperor Augustus' palace on the Palatine hill.
The 8m (26ft) high cave decorated with shells, mosaics and marble was found during restoration work on the palace.
According to mythology Romulus and Remus were nursed by a she-wolf after being left on the River Tiber's banks.
The twin sons of the god Mars and priestess Rhea Silvia are said to have later founded Rome on the Palatine in 753 BC.
This could reasonably be the place bearing witness to the myth of Rome - the legendary cave where the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus
Francesco Rutelli
Italian Culture Minister
The brothers ended up fighting over who should be in charge of the city, a power struggle which ended only after Romulus killed his brother.
In Roman times a popular festival called the Lupercalia was held annually on 15 February.
Young nobles called Luperci, taking their name from the place of the wolf (lupa), ran from the Lupercal around the bounds of the Palatine in what is believed to have been a purification ritual.
Cross-section of the Palatine hill showing cave
Naked, except for the skins of goats that had been sacrificed that day, they would strike women they met on the hands with strips of sacrificial goatskin to promote fertility.
'Astonishing history'
Presenting the discovery, Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli said archaeologists were "reasonably certain" that the newly unearthed cave could be the Lupercal.
A statue showing the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus
According to myth, Romulus and Remus were nursed by a she-wolf
"This could reasonably be the place bearing witness to the myth of Rome, one of the most well-known cities in the world - the legendary cave where the she-wolf suckled Romulus and Remus, saving them from death," he said.
"Italy and Rome never cease to astonish the world with continual archaeological and artistic discoveries, and it is incredible to think that we have finally found a mythical site which, by our doing so, has become a real place."
The ancient cave was found 16m (52ft) underground in a previously unexplored area during restoration work on the palace of Augustus, the first Roman emperor.
Exploration of the cavity was hampered, however, by fears that it might collapse and damage the foundations of the surrounding ruins.
Explorations were hampered by fears the cave might collapse
Enlarge Image
Archaeologists therefore used endoscopes and laser scanners to study it, ascertaining that the circular structure was 8m (26ft) high and 7.5m (24ft) in diameter.
A camera probe later sent into the cave revealed a ceiling covered in shells, mosaics and coloured marble, with a white eagle at the centre.
"You can imagine our amazement - we almost screamed," said Professor Giorgio Croci, the head of the archaeological team working on the restoration of the Palatine, told reporters.
"It is clear that Augustus... wanted his residence to be built in a place which was sacred for the city of Rome," he added.
The Palatine hill is covered in palaces and other ancient monuments, from the 8th Century BC remains of Rome's first buildings to a mediaeval fortress and Renaissance villas.
After being closed for decades due to risk of collapse, parts of the hill will re-open to the public in February after a 12m-euro ($17.7m) restoration programme.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7104330.stm [news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7104330.stm] |
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| | emjayprice | Dec 11, 2007 11:13am | On December 11th 1282 Llywelyn ap Gruffydd was killed at Cilmeri near Builth. He was defeated in battle by the combined forces of Edmund and Roger Mortimer, Hugo Le Strange and Grufudd ap Gwenwynwyn acting on the commands of Edward I of England.
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and his forces were deceived and ambushed. Llywelyn was surrounded, struck down and murdered. Llywelyn was decapitated and his head placed on a spike at the Tower of London. This brought an end to the Welsh rebellion and destroyed any possibilities of Wales becoming a free nation. |
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Sponsor | | kapka | Dec 11, 2007 4:10pm | | Interesting--thanks. |
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| | patoloco | Jan 2, 6:46pm | 2 January 1492
Ferdinand and Isabella capture the last Moorish stronghold in Spain.
On this date in 1492, The Catholic Majesties (who ruled Spain jointly, interestingly enough) were given the keys to Grenada after a nine-month siege, ending almost 800 years of Muslim rule on the Iberian peninsula. The Moors had landed in Spain in 711 and quickly conquered most of it. Almost immediately the Christians began fighting back, in the Reconquista. It took them long enough, but by the time Ferdinand married Isabella in 1469, the work was almost complete. |
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Sponsor | | imorgen | Apr 13, 11:07am | 13 April 1743: Thomas Jefferson was born in Albemarle County, Virginia.
Thomas Jeferson April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801-1809), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of republicanism in the United States. Major events during his presidency include the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806).
As a political philosopher, Jefferson was a man of the Enlightenment and knew many intellectual leaders in Britain and France. He idealized the independent yeoman farmer as exemplar of republican virtues, distrusted cities and financiers, and favored states' rights and a strictly limited federal government. Jefferson supported the separation of church and state and was the author of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1779, 1786). He was the eponym of Jeffersonian democracy and the co-founder and leader of the Democratic-Republican Party, which dominated American politics for a quarter-century. Jefferson served as the wartime Governor of Virginia (1779-1781), first United States Secretary of State (1789-1793) and second Vice President (1797-1801).
A polymath, Jefferson achieved distinction as, among other things, a horticulturist, statesman, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, author, inventor and founder of the University of Virginia. When President John F. Kennedy welcomed forty-nine Nobel Prize winners to the White House in 1962 he said, "I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House -- with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."
Thomas Jefferson and Martin Van Buren are the only two people to accomplish a so called "triple crown": serving as Secretary of State, Vice-President, and President.
(The birth and death of Thomas Jefferson are given using the Gregorian calendar. However, he was born when Britain and her colonies still used the Julian calendar, so contemporary records record his birth (and on his tombstone) as 2 April 1743. The provisions of the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750, implemented in 1752, altered the official British dating method to the Gregorian calendar with the start of the year on January 1.) |
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