History Schmistory: May 5. Kublai Elected Khan
Monday, May 5, 2025
1260. Grandson of the infamous Genghis Khan, Kublai was also a man of military skill. He conquered China and established the Mongol dynasty, unifying the nation for the first time since the T’ang regime. Though a nomadic warrior, he became an emperor in the Chinese tradition and earned the respect of the Chinese as well as the Mongols. Marco Polo claims to have met him in 1274.
History Schmistory: May 4. Napoleon Begins Palindrome
Sunday, May 4, 2025
1814: Napoleon begins his exile on Elba, setting off one of the most powerful palindromes known to man: Able was I, ere I saw Elba.
History Schmistory: May 3. Niccolo Machiavelli born.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
1469. Writer of The Prince, the political treatise that posited that the ends justify the means. Very unpopular guy in pre-school.
History Schmistory: May 2. DaVinci Dies.
Friday, May 2, 2025
1519. Leonardo DaVinci dies at Close Luce, Amboise, France. His painting The Mona Lisa is among his possessions. Since he died in France, the painting eventually makes its way to a small museum in Paris, where it is never heard from again….
History Schmistory: April 30. Richard captures Edward V
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Richard, Duke of Gloucester takes poor 12 year old Edward V to the Tower of London before he has the chance to be crowned King of England. Edward and his brother are never heard from again, and become the source of many legends. How bad do things get in the Tower of London? Check it out:
Ludicrous Latin: Anulos qui animum ostendunt omnes gestemus!
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Let’s all wear mood rings!
History Schmistory: April 29. Joan Jets!
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
1429: The Siege of Orleans is lifted thanks partly to Joan of Arc. She was all “Dudes, lift the seige!” and they were all “Yo, Joan, we don’t wanna lift the seige,” and she was all, “if you don’t, I’m gonna get mad,” so they were all “Man, you got us, Joan, we’ll lift the seige…”
History Schmistory: April 28. Roman Emperor born as Rome is about to die…
Monday, April 28, 2025
A.D. 359, the future Roman emperor Gratian was born. He, um, had a rough life. Gratian was the son of Emperor Valentinian I. When Valentinian died, Gratian ruled in the west and his uncle Valens ruled in the east. Gratian had been fighting the Alamanni while Valens was dealing with the Goths at Adrianople. Gratian was scheduled to come to Valens’ assistance, but arrived too late to prevent the disaster. The disaster at Adrianople is one of the major turning points in the fortunes of Imperial Rome and a possible date for Rome’s fall.
History Schmistory: April 27. First Man to Sail Around the World Dead, Dies.
Sunday, April 27, 2025
1521: Ferdinand Magellan who got credit as the first man to circumnavigate the globe, even though he spent much of the voyage dead, was killed. After a journey beset by rebellion, treacherous weather and disease, the Concepción, the Victoria and the Trinidad finally reached the Philippines. There, where the crew recovered from their trials in a tropical paradise, Magellan became caught up in the fervor of conversion. He attempted to overcome a huge force of natives resistant to Christianity with a mere handful of men, and was killed in battle.
