Mary Queen of Scots
On 1st February 1587 Queen Elizabeth I signed the death warrant for her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. Mary, a figure steeped in tragedy and intrigue, was born in December 1542 and became queen when she was just six days old. Her tumultuous life was marked by political...
Treaty of Lyon
The Treaty of Lyon, signed on 31st January 1504, was a significant diplomatic agreement between the Kingdom of France and the Kingdom of Spain. This treaty arose from the complex political landscape of early 16th-century Europe, marked by territorial disputes,...
Civil War
The 30th January stands out for me due to two events related to the English Civil War. On this date in 1647 King Charles I was sold by the Scottish Presbyterians to the English Parliament for around £100,000. That is probably around £15 to 20 million in today’s money....
Romeo and Juliet
On This Day tells me that on 29th January 1595 William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was first performed. It was published in early 1597. Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays. It is a tragic love story that explores themes of love, fate,...
Edward VI
On the 28th of January 1547 Edward succeeded his father, Henry VIII, as King Edward VI. It’s another way of saying that Henry VIII died on 28th January 1547. King Edward VI of England, born on October 12, 1537, was the son of Henry’s third wife Jane Seymour. His...
Giordano Bruno
The On This Day website spoils me with choice for 27th January. King Charles I was found guilty and sentenced to beheading in 1649. King James VI had a Scottish schoolmaster Dr John Fian burned for witchcraft in 1591, and the Vatican opened a blasphemy and theological...
America and the Bald Eagle
On This Day tells me that on the 26th of January 1784 Benjamin Franklin expressed his unhappiness over the choice of the eagle as the symbol of America. Benjamin Franklin expressed his dissatisfaction with the bald eagle as America's national emblem primarily because...
Edward III
King Edward III of England was crowned on 25th January 1327, following a tumultuous period marked by political instability and the deposition of his father, King Edward II. Born on 13th November 1312, Edward was the son of Edward II and Isabella of France. His early...
William of Orange
On the 24th of January 1568 the Duke of Alva declared William I of Orange an outlaw. William is a character in The Spy who Sank the Armada, the first book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. My account of my ancestor’s life (he was the elder brother of my tenth...
Mary Queen of Scots
On 1st February 1587 Queen Elizabeth I signed the death warrant for her cousin Mary Queen of Scots. Mary, a figure steeped in tragedy and intrigue, was born in December 1542 and became queen when she was just six days old. Her tumultuous life was marked by political...
Treaty of Lyon
The Treaty of Lyon, signed on 31st January 1504, was a significant diplomatic agreement between the Kingdom of France and the Kingdom of Spain. This treaty arose from the complex political landscape of early 16th-century Europe, marked by territorial disputes,...
Civil War
The 30th January stands out for me due to two events related to the English Civil War. On this date in 1647 King Charles I was sold by the Scottish Presbyterians to the English Parliament for around £100,000. That is probably around £15 to 20 million in today’s money....
Romeo and Juliet
On This Day tells me that on 29th January 1595 William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was first performed. It was published in early 1597. Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays. It is a tragic love story that explores themes of love, fate,...
Edward VI
On the 28th of January 1547 Edward succeeded his father, Henry VIII, as King Edward VI. It’s another way of saying that Henry VIII died on 28th January 1547. King Edward VI of England, born on October 12, 1537, was the son of Henry’s third wife Jane Seymour. His...
Giordano Bruno
The On This Day website spoils me with choice for 27th January. King Charles I was found guilty and sentenced to beheading in 1649. King James VI had a Scottish schoolmaster Dr John Fian burned for witchcraft in 1591, and the Vatican opened a blasphemy and theological...
America and the Bald Eagle
On This Day tells me that on the 26th of January 1784 Benjamin Franklin expressed his unhappiness over the choice of the eagle as the symbol of America. Benjamin Franklin expressed his dissatisfaction with the bald eagle as America's national emblem primarily because...
Edward III
King Edward III of England was crowned on 25th January 1327, following a tumultuous period marked by political instability and the deposition of his father, King Edward II. Born on 13th November 1312, Edward was the son of Edward II and Isabella of France. His early...
William of Orange
On the 24th of January 1568 the Duke of Alva declared William I of Orange an outlaw. William is a character in The Spy who Sank the Armada, the first book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures. My account of my ancestor’s life (he was the elder brother of my tenth...