by David West | Jan 6, 2025 | News
On 6th December 1617 George Villiers was made Earl of Buckingham by King James I, replacing Robert Carr, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628). He was a prominent figure in the early 17th century English court, known for his close relationship with King James I, and his...
by David West | Jan 5, 2025 | News
The On This Day website tells me that on 5th January 1895 Captain Dreyfus was convicted of treason by a French military court. Encyclopedia Britannica says that the conviction was in December 1894. Never mind, I’ll write about it anyway. The Dreyfus Affair concerned...
by David West | Jan 4, 2025 | News
King Charles I’s attack on Parliament on 4th January 1642 marked a pivotal moment in English history, leading to the English Civil War. The conflict arose from escalating tensions between the monarchy and Parliament over issues of governance, taxation, and the...
by David West | Jan 3, 2025 | News
On 3rd January 1496 Leonardo da Vinci unsuccesfully tested his flying machine. Leonardo da Vinci, the quintessential Renaissance polymath, is renowned for his contributions to art, science, and engineering. Among his many visionary ideas, his fascination with flight...
by David West | Jan 2, 2025 | News
On 2nd January 1492 Muhammad XII, the last Emir of Granada, surrendered the city to Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabel I of Castile, ending both the Reconquista and centuries of Muslim rule in the Iberian peninsula The Reconquista began in 711 AD when Muslim forces,...
