AD 69 – January 15 On this Day
Continue reading “AD 69 Otho becomes Emperor”
AD 81 September 13 – On this day Titus Flavius Caesar Vespasianus Augustus died of fever.
Titus was the eldest son of Vespasian, who famously took the principate for himself at the end of the year of four emperors, and elder brother to the infamous Domitian. Titus fought with his father to suppress the Jewish rebellion of AD 66 where he distinguished himself as a successful and capable general. Continue reading “AD 81 – The Death of the Roman emperor Titus”
On This Day – 23 January 1870
Colonel Eugene Baker ordered his troops to attack a camp of sleeping Blackfeet Indians along the Marias River.
Continue reading “1870 – The Marias Massacre of Blackfeet Indians”
On This Day – 17 December
The Ancient Romans celebrated the beginning of the Saturnalia with a festival in honour of Saturnus, the god of seed and sowing.
On This Day – 16 December 1944
The Germans launched their last major offensive of World War II, known to most as the Battle of the Bulge the Germans originally called it Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein (operation watch on the Rhine). This battle which lasted until the 25th of January 1944 became the bloodiest battle of World War II for the Americans, The Department of the Army recording US losses at more than 108,000.
On This Day – 7 December 43BC
Cicero was one of the greatest orators of Rome, and lived through some of the most turbulent events at the end of the Republic. He was born on the 3rd of January in 103 BC in Arpinum, to a well-off equestrian family.
Continue reading “43 BC – Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated”
On This Day – 22 November 1968
The Beatles, also known as the White Album, is the ninth studio album by English rock group the Beatles, released on this day in 1968. A double album, its plain white sleeve has no graphics or text other than the band’s name embossed, and was intended as a direct contrast to the vivid cover artwork of the band’s earlier Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Continue reading “1968 – The Beatles release ‘The Beatles’ (known as The White Album)”
On This Day – 14 November 1941
The HMS Ark Royal was sunk
Commissioned in November 1938, the HMS Ark Royal was sunk less than three years later on 14 November 1941 by the German U-81. The HMS Ark Royal was an innovative Royal Navy aircraft carrier serving during WWII, the first on which the flight deck and hangers were an integral part of the hull.
On This Day – 10 November 1202
The siege of Zara began. This was the first major action of the fourth crusade and the first attack against a Catholic city by Catholic crusaders. The attack was forbidden by Pope Innocent III who threatened the crusaders with excommunication.
26-30 August
The Battle of Tannenberg saw the German forces under the command of Paul von Hindenburg inflict one of the most complete defeats in military history on the Russian second army.
13 August
Octavian celebrates the first of three consecutive triumphs at Rome, this one celebrated his victory over Illyricum. The war against Illyricum actually took place several years earlier.
Continue reading “29 BC – Octavian celebrates a triumph over Illyricum”
9 August
Trajan, who is even today regarded by many as the optimus princeps (the best of emperors), died after a lengthy illness that started while he was travelling back to Rome early 117. He died in Selinus, Cilicia, leaving the succession in doubt. Continue reading “AD 117 – The Death of the Roman Emperor Trajan”
5 August
In the largest prison breakout of World War II, more than 1,100 Japanese prisoners of war tried to escape from the POW camp near Cowra, in New South Wales, Australia. Continue reading “1944 – Largest prisoner breakout of WWII, Cowra NSW”
5 August
The First Allies shot of the first world war was fired from the Port Phillip batteries. The German ship SS Pfalz was trying to flee Port Phillip after it had been informed of the outbreak of war.
Continue reading “1914 – First Allied shot of WWI fired in Victoria Australia.”
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