The sarissa was a long pike used by the infantry of Phillip II (King of Macedonia 359 – 336BC).
Continue reading “Weaponry of the Army of Phillip II of Macedon – the Sarissa”
26 July
Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great became emperor on this day when acclaimed emperor by his troops. Whilst he was campaigning against the Picts in Britain with his father. Continue reading “Constantine I Declared Emperor by his troops”
26 July
United States Attorney General Charles Joseph Bonaparte issues an order to immediately staff the Office of the Chief Examiner (later renamed the Federal Bureau of Investigation).
Continue reading “1908 – The ‘birth’of what would become the FBI”
24-26 July
The Battle of the Samichon River was fought during the final days of the Korean War between United Nations (UN) forces—primarily Australian and American—and the Chinese communist People’s Volunteer Army. Continue reading “1953 – Battle of the Samichon River”
23 July
The Rayleigh bath chair murder occurred in Rayleigh, Essex, England in 1943 when Archibald Brown, aged 47 was blown apart by an explosion. Continue reading “1943 – The Rayleigh bath chair murder”
22 July
The Judicial Procedures Reform Bill of 1937 or “court-packing plan” was a legislative initiative proposed by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt to add more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. Roosevelt’s purpose was to obtain favourable rulings regarding New Deal legislation that the court had ruled unconstitutional. Continue reading “1937 – FDR’s court-packing plan”
22 July
Paris–Rouen, Le Petit Journal Horseless Carriages Contest, was a pioneering city-to-city motoring competition held on this day in 1894 which is sometimes described as the world’s first competitive motor race. Continue reading “1894 – The Paris-Rouen motor race”
22 July
The Old Swiss Confederacy decisively defeat the army of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor on this day in 1499 and establish a de facto independence of Switzerland from the Holy Roman Empire. Continue reading “1499 – Battle of Dornach”
19 July
Fromelles was the first major battle fought by Australians on the Western front. Fromelles saw British and Australian troops attack the German lines in a prelude to the battle of the Somme. Continue reading “1916 The Battle of Fromelles begins”
19 July
During the second Scottish war of Independence, the Scottish forces of Douglas suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of Edward III the king of England. Continue reading “1333 The Battle of Halidon Hill”
A pottery dump discovered about 12 kilometres from Naples has shown that the Romans had and used non-stick cookware. Continue reading “Roman Non-stick Cookware actually existed”
18 July
On this day a fire that engulfed Rome for the next 6 days and destroyed many buildings was ignited. Some sources blame the emperor of the time, Nero, for starting the blaze. Continue reading “AD 64 The Great Fire of Rome”
When the British Empire ruled much of the world, many artifacts and artworks, including reliefs and statues from the Parthenon in Athens known as the Elgin Marbles, were taken to Britain. These have been a point of contention for sometime and are amongst the most controversial items held by the British Museum with the Greeks having requested their return. Continue reading “Elgin Marbles controversy”
13 July
It is believed that on this day in the year 100BC Julius Caesar was born. Continue reading “100BC Julius Caesar born”
