The Hardest Day
Sunday the 18th of August, 1940, is known as The Hardest Day of the Battle of Britain. Although Sunday the 15th of September is celebrated as Battle of Britain day, and the climax of the battle, the combined losses of allied and German aircraft on the 18th of August...
Azores
On the 17th of August, 1597, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh set sail on an expedition to the Azores. With Essex was Sir Anthony Standen, the elder brother of my 10th great-grandfather. The voyage is an episode in The Spy who Sank the Armada,...
Wagner
On the 16th of August, 1876, Richard Wagner’s Siegfried premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. It was the penultimate opera of his Ring cycle. I have written about a few composers including Mozart and Beethoven, so let’s have a look at Wagner. Richard Wagner was one...
Edith Nesbit
On the 15th of August, 1858, Edith Nesbit was born. She is most well known as the author of The Railway Children. However she was also a political activist and one of the nine founding members of the Fabian Society, a precursor of the Labour Party. Edith Nesbit,...
Battle of Yellow Ford
The Battle of Yellow Ford, fought on the 14th of August, 1598, was one of the most devastating defeats ever suffered by English forces in Ireland. Taking place near the River Blackwater in County Armagh, it marked the high point of the Irish resistance during the Nine...
Blenheim
This is really starting to get difficult. I’m searching for events for the 13th of August. Michael Servetus was arrested by John Calvin for heresy in 1553, but I’ve written about him already. In 1624 Louis XIII appointed Cardinal Richelieu as prime minister but I’ve...
Charles de La Vieuville
On the 12th of August, 1624, Charles de La Vieuville was arrested and replaced by Cardinal Richelieu as King Louis XIII’s chief advisor. Regular followers may be aware that Louis XIII is a minor character in The Suggested Assassin, the third book in the Sir Anthony...
Hadrian
On the 11th of August, 177CE, Hadrian was proclaimed Roman Emperor two days after Trajan’s death. Publius Aelius Hadrianus was born on the 24th of January, 76 CE, probably in Italica, near modern Seville in Spain. His family was wealthy and of Roman colonial stock....
Battle of Lechfeld
For much of the 10th century, the Magyar horsemen of Hungary terrified western Europe. Riding swiftly across the continent, they raided Germany, Italy, Burgundy, and even parts of France and Spain. Their armies were famous for mounted archery, speed, and sudden...
The Hardest Day
Sunday the 18th of August, 1940, is known as The Hardest Day of the Battle of Britain. Although Sunday the 15th of September is celebrated as Battle of Britain day, and the climax of the battle, the combined losses of allied and German aircraft on the 18th of August...
Azores
On the 17th of August, 1597, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex and Sir Walter Raleigh set sail on an expedition to the Azores. With Essex was Sir Anthony Standen, the elder brother of my 10th great-grandfather. The voyage is an episode in The Spy who Sank the Armada,...
Wagner
On the 16th of August, 1876, Richard Wagner’s Siegfried premiered at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus. It was the penultimate opera of his Ring cycle. I have written about a few composers including Mozart and Beethoven, so let’s have a look at Wagner. Richard Wagner was one...
Edith Nesbit
On the 15th of August, 1858, Edith Nesbit was born. She is most well known as the author of The Railway Children. However she was also a political activist and one of the nine founding members of the Fabian Society, a precursor of the Labour Party. Edith Nesbit,...
Battle of Yellow Ford
The Battle of Yellow Ford, fought on the 14th of August, 1598, was one of the most devastating defeats ever suffered by English forces in Ireland. Taking place near the River Blackwater in County Armagh, it marked the high point of the Irish resistance during the Nine...
Blenheim
This is really starting to get difficult. I’m searching for events for the 13th of August. Michael Servetus was arrested by John Calvin for heresy in 1553, but I’ve written about him already. In 1624 Louis XIII appointed Cardinal Richelieu as prime minister but I’ve...
Charles de La Vieuville
On the 12th of August, 1624, Charles de La Vieuville was arrested and replaced by Cardinal Richelieu as King Louis XIII’s chief advisor. Regular followers may be aware that Louis XIII is a minor character in The Suggested Assassin, the third book in the Sir Anthony...
Hadrian
On the 11th of August, 177CE, Hadrian was proclaimed Roman Emperor two days after Trajan’s death. Publius Aelius Hadrianus was born on the 24th of January, 76 CE, probably in Italica, near modern Seville in Spain. His family was wealthy and of Roman colonial stock....
Battle of Lechfeld
For much of the 10th century, the Magyar horsemen of Hungary terrified western Europe. Riding swiftly across the continent, they raided Germany, Italy, Burgundy, and even parts of France and Spain. Their armies were famous for mounted archery, speed, and sudden...