The Fenian raids of the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish Republican organization who were based in the United States, on British army forts, customs posts and other targets in Canada, were fought to bring pressure on Britain to withdraw from Ireland.
23 May
An Italian Dominican friar, preacher and de facto ruler of Florence, Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake in Florence on this day in 1498.
21 April
The Battle of Mutina was fought on this day in 43 BC between the forces of Mark Antony and the forces of Octavian. Continue reading “43 BC – Battle of Mutina”
One of the great mysteries of the ancient world that many have tried to solve is exactly which path Hannibal used when crossing the Alps to attack Italy in the second Punic war. Continue reading “Scientists confirm Hannibal’s route over the Alps”
4 April
William Henry Harrison (9 February 1773 – 4 April 1841) was the ninth President of the United States (1841), an American military officer and politician, and the last President born as a British subject. He was also the first president to die in office. Continue reading “1841 – William Henry Harrison dies of pneumonia”
15 March 44 BC – On this day, which was known as the Ides of March to the Romans Julius Caesar was assassinated. Continue reading “The Ides of March 44 BC – Caesar Assassinated”
20 January
A violent crackdown in Baku on 19-20 January, 1990, pursuant to a state of emergency during the dissolution of the Soviet Union became known as Black January. Continue reading “1990 – The Red Army crackdown on civil protests in Baku, Azerbaijan”
7 January
The first entity to use the Italian tricolour was the Cisalpine Republic in 1797, which supplanted Milan after Napoleon’s victorious army crossed Italy in 1796. Continue reading “1797 – The modern Italian flag is first used”