Ferrara
On the 12th of January 1598 Pope Clement VIII seized Este Duchy of Ferrara for the Papal States. The Este family had ruled Ferrara for several centuries, and their reign was characterized by a flourishing of culture, arts, and politics. However, the late 16th century...
The Thursday Murder Club
In the interval between finishing the first draft of the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, and starting the second draft, I have read The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I read his The Man Who Died Twice two or three years ago. I absolutely...
Treatise on Tolerance
On 11th January 1765 Frisia banned Voltaire’s book Treatise on Tolerance. Voltaire’s Treatise on Tolerance (originally Traité sur la tolérance), published in 1763, is a seminal work that advocates for religious tolerance and freedom of thought, reflecting the...
Crossing the Rubicon
I recently posted about the Roman Emperor Commodus, but today belongs to the most famous Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon River on the 10th of January 49 BCE is one of the most significant events in Roman history, marking a pivotal...
Income Tax
On the 9th of January 1799 the Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, introduced income tax in order to raise money for the war against Napoleon. I’ve written about tax before, a necessary burden for a just society. William Pitt the Younger was a prominent British...
Writing Inspiration
Although most of my posts are inspired by historical events of this day, as a writer I’m also interested in all things writing, especially writing inspiration. Today I can address both, since the On This Day website tells me that on the 8th of January 1981 Isabel...
Francis and Anthony Bacon
On the 7th January 1618 Francis Bacon became Lord Chancellor of England. Francis Bacon (1561-1626) and his younger brother, Anthony Bacon (1558-1601), were prominent figures in the intellectual and political landscape of late Elizabethan and early Jacobean England....
George Villiers
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...
The Dreyfus Affair
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...
Ferrara
On the 12th of January 1598 Pope Clement VIII seized Este Duchy of Ferrara for the Papal States. The Este family had ruled Ferrara for several centuries, and their reign was characterized by a flourishing of culture, arts, and politics. However, the late 16th century...
The Thursday Murder Club
In the interval between finishing the first draft of the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, and starting the second draft, I have read The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I read his The Man Who Died Twice two or three years ago. I absolutely...
Treatise on Tolerance
On 11th January 1765 Frisia banned Voltaire’s book Treatise on Tolerance. Voltaire’s Treatise on Tolerance (originally Traité sur la tolérance), published in 1763, is a seminal work that advocates for religious tolerance and freedom of thought, reflecting the...
Crossing the Rubicon
I recently posted about the Roman Emperor Commodus, but today belongs to the most famous Roman Emperor, Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon River on the 10th of January 49 BCE is one of the most significant events in Roman history, marking a pivotal...
Income Tax
On the 9th of January 1799 the Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, introduced income tax in order to raise money for the war against Napoleon. I’ve written about tax before, a necessary burden for a just society. William Pitt the Younger was a prominent British...
Writing Inspiration
Although most of my posts are inspired by historical events of this day, as a writer I’m also interested in all things writing, especially writing inspiration. Today I can address both, since the On This Day website tells me that on the 8th of January 1981 Isabel...
Francis and Anthony Bacon
On the 7th January 1618 Francis Bacon became Lord Chancellor of England. Francis Bacon (1561-1626) and his younger brother, Anthony Bacon (1558-1601), were prominent figures in the intellectual and political landscape of late Elizabethan and early Jacobean England....
George Villiers
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...
The Dreyfus Affair
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...