Socrates
On the 15th February 399 B.C. Socrates was sentenced to death by the city of Athens. I thought I had already posted about Socrates, but I appear to mistaken. I have posted on philosophy, but Socrates did not get the attention he deserves. Socrates (469 - 399 B.C.) was...
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on 14th February 1797. By the late 18th century, Europe was engulfed in war following the French Revolution. Britain and Spain had been allies in earlier conflicts, but in 1796, Spain allied with France against Britain as part...
Galileo
On 13th February 1633, the polymath genius, Galileo Galilei, arrived in Rome to be tried by the inquisition for professing his belief that the Earth revolves around the Sun. I have posted about Galileo before, and he is a character in Fire and Earth, the second book...
Lady Jane Grey
On 12th February 1554 Lady Jane Grey was executed after only nine days as queen. Jane was born in 1537, the great-granddaughter of Henry VII through her mother, Lady Frances Brandon, who was the daughter of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII’s sister. This royal lineage placed...
Shylock
Claire and I went to see a quite brilliant performance of The Merchant of Venice last night at the Theatre Royal in Bath. Claire said it was the most moving performance she has seen of any play, anywhere, and I wholeheartedly agree. There were a few adaptations:...
Britannicus
On 11th February 55 AD Britannicus was murdered. I recently posted about the murder of Emperor Commodus, but it’s never too soon for another grisly Roman murder. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, commonly known as Britannicus, was the son of the Roman Emperor...
William Davenant
On 10th February 1635 William Davenant’s play, “The Temple of Love”, was performed at Whitehall featuring Queen Henrietta Maria. Sir William Davenant was an English poet, playwright, and theatrical figure, best known for his role in the development of English drama...
Cinque Ports
On the 9th of February 1287 a massive storm across south-east England hit the Cinque Ports and the port of New Romney was stranded a mile inland. The Cinque Ports were a medieval confederation of five key coastal towns in southeastern England, originally granted...
Mary Queen of Scots
On 8th February 1587 Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringay Castle. I have posted about Mary before, because she knighted my ancestor, Elizabethan Spy, Sir Anthony Standen. The execution itself was rather a gruesome mess. Mary was led to the Great Hall of...
Socrates
On the 15th February 399 B.C. Socrates was sentenced to death by the city of Athens. I thought I had already posted about Socrates, but I appear to mistaken. I have posted on philosophy, but Socrates did not get the attention he deserves. Socrates (469 - 399 B.C.) was...
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent
The Battle of Cape St. Vincent was fought on 14th February 1797. By the late 18th century, Europe was engulfed in war following the French Revolution. Britain and Spain had been allies in earlier conflicts, but in 1796, Spain allied with France against Britain as part...
Galileo
On 13th February 1633, the polymath genius, Galileo Galilei, arrived in Rome to be tried by the inquisition for professing his belief that the Earth revolves around the Sun. I have posted about Galileo before, and he is a character in Fire and Earth, the second book...
Lady Jane Grey
On 12th February 1554 Lady Jane Grey was executed after only nine days as queen. Jane was born in 1537, the great-granddaughter of Henry VII through her mother, Lady Frances Brandon, who was the daughter of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII’s sister. This royal lineage placed...
Shylock
Claire and I went to see a quite brilliant performance of The Merchant of Venice last night at the Theatre Royal in Bath. Claire said it was the most moving performance she has seen of any play, anywhere, and I wholeheartedly agree. There were a few adaptations:...
Britannicus
On 11th February 55 AD Britannicus was murdered. I recently posted about the murder of Emperor Commodus, but it’s never too soon for another grisly Roman murder. Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus, commonly known as Britannicus, was the son of the Roman Emperor...
William Davenant
On 10th February 1635 William Davenant’s play, “The Temple of Love”, was performed at Whitehall featuring Queen Henrietta Maria. Sir William Davenant was an English poet, playwright, and theatrical figure, best known for his role in the development of English drama...
Cinque Ports
On the 9th of February 1287 a massive storm across south-east England hit the Cinque Ports and the port of New Romney was stranded a mile inland. The Cinque Ports were a medieval confederation of five key coastal towns in southeastern England, originally granted...
Mary Queen of Scots
On 8th February 1587 Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringay Castle. I have posted about Mary before, because she knighted my ancestor, Elizabethan Spy, Sir Anthony Standen. The execution itself was rather a gruesome mess. Mary was led to the Great Hall of...