Tolkien
On the 21st of September, 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was published. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, known widely as J.R.R. Tolkien, was an eminent English writer, philologist, and academic, celebrated for his timeless contributions to the world of literature. Born...
Peter Mandelson
The chancellor of the University of Oxford is elected by a vote of graduates, as is the University Poet. In 2015 my college’s senior tutor in English urged us to vote for Wole Soyinka as the next University Poet. I read a selection of poems by the candidates, who...
Battle of Alma
On the 20th of September, 1854, British and French forces defeated the Russians at the Battle of Alma. This was a pivotal engagement during the Crimean War, which saw an alliance of British, French, and Ottoman Empire forces pitted against the Russian Empire. This...
Battle of Poitiers
On the 19th of September, 1356, an English army under the command of Edward the Black Prince defeated the French army at the Battle of Poitiers. The roots of the Battle of Poitiers lie in the complex dynastic disputes that fuelled the Hundred Years' War. Edward III of...
Harald Hardrada
On the 18th of September, 1066, Harald Hardrada landed with Tostig Godwinson at the mouth of the River Humber and began his invasion of England. Harald Hardrada, King of Norway from 1046 until his death in 1066, played a pivotal role in the dramatic events of that...
Thomas Selfridge
On the 17th of September, 1908, Thomas Selfridge died when the Wright Flyer, in which he was a passenger, flown by Orville Wright crashed. Thomas Selfridge became the first person to be killed in a powered aeroplane crash. I have written about my own aviation...
Owain Glydŵr
On the 16th of September, 1400, Owain Glydŵr was declared Prince of Wales by his followers. I have posted about a later Prince of Wales, Henry Frederick, who gets a mention in my work in progress, The Favourite Murder, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen...
Gilles de Rais
On the 15th of September, 1440, Gilles de Rais was taken into custody. He is one of the earliest known seriel killers. I posted recently about Jack the Ripper, it appears that he was rather restrained in comparison with Gilles de Rais. Gilles de Rais, also known as...
The Flight of the Earls
On the 14th of September, 1607, Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone and Rory O’Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell departed Rathmunnel in Ireland for mainland Europe, along with nearly 100 family members, retainers, and followers. Ireland in the late 16th and early 17th centuries...
Tolkien
On the 21st of September, 1937, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was published. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, known widely as J.R.R. Tolkien, was an eminent English writer, philologist, and academic, celebrated for his timeless contributions to the world of literature. Born...
Peter Mandelson
The chancellor of the University of Oxford is elected by a vote of graduates, as is the University Poet. In 2015 my college’s senior tutor in English urged us to vote for Wole Soyinka as the next University Poet. I read a selection of poems by the candidates, who...
Battle of Alma
On the 20th of September, 1854, British and French forces defeated the Russians at the Battle of Alma. This was a pivotal engagement during the Crimean War, which saw an alliance of British, French, and Ottoman Empire forces pitted against the Russian Empire. This...
Battle of Poitiers
On the 19th of September, 1356, an English army under the command of Edward the Black Prince defeated the French army at the Battle of Poitiers. The roots of the Battle of Poitiers lie in the complex dynastic disputes that fuelled the Hundred Years' War. Edward III of...
Harald Hardrada
On the 18th of September, 1066, Harald Hardrada landed with Tostig Godwinson at the mouth of the River Humber and began his invasion of England. Harald Hardrada, King of Norway from 1046 until his death in 1066, played a pivotal role in the dramatic events of that...
Thomas Selfridge
On the 17th of September, 1908, Thomas Selfridge died when the Wright Flyer, in which he was a passenger, flown by Orville Wright crashed. Thomas Selfridge became the first person to be killed in a powered aeroplane crash. I have written about my own aviation...
Owain Glydŵr
On the 16th of September, 1400, Owain Glydŵr was declared Prince of Wales by his followers. I have posted about a later Prince of Wales, Henry Frederick, who gets a mention in my work in progress, The Favourite Murder, the fifth book in the Sir Anthony Standen...
Gilles de Rais
On the 15th of September, 1440, Gilles de Rais was taken into custody. He is one of the earliest known seriel killers. I posted recently about Jack the Ripper, it appears that he was rather restrained in comparison with Gilles de Rais. Gilles de Rais, also known as...
The Flight of the Earls
On the 14th of September, 1607, Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone and Rory O’Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell departed Rathmunnel in Ireland for mainland Europe, along with nearly 100 family members, retainers, and followers. Ireland in the late 16th and early 17th centuries...