The Vietnam war ended 38 years ago with the fall of Saigon. As late as March 1975 the CIA estimated that the South Vietnamese forces could hold on till at least 1976. Yet when a military collapse begins it snowballs into something much larger. The last days of South Vietnam saw a desperate evacuation American …
Today in History – April 30, 1975 – Fall of Saigon and end of the Vietnam War Read More »
As a sea of Orange descended on Amsterdam, the Kingdom of the Netherlands got its first King since 1890 – King Willem-Alexander upon the abdication of Queen Beatrix. After the death of Willem III in 1890, the Dutch have had 3 queens in a row – Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix – all of whom abdicated in old …
As the last decade of the 11th century commenced, the Byzantine Empire appeared to be on its last legs. The defeat at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 is generally tagged as the root cause of the rapid collapse. Yet Manzikert could have been just another military defeat, but for the aftermath. A decade of …
Today in History – April 29, 1091 – Battle of Levounion Read More »
Yes…another execution. Outside of history geeks and Danes few people have heard of Johann Friedrich Struensee. Yet this German doctor effectively ruled Denmark for a few years and caused a spectacular royal scandal to boot. The scandal also received movie attention last year. The son of a Pietist theologian, the young Struensee received a University education where he was …
Today in History – April 28, 1772 – the Execution of Johann Friedrich Struensee Read More »
With World War II drawing to its inexorable end and the defeat of Germany imminent Benito Mussolini decided to make a beeline for neutral Switzerland accompanied by his mistress Clara Petacci. He did not make it. Captured by the partisans Mussolini and his party were summarily executed. The conventional version of the story says Petacci …
Today in History – April 28, 1945 – The execution of Benito Mussolini Read More »
With the encouragement of Pope Sixtus IV (better known in posterity for the Sistine chapel), the Pazzi and Salviati families attempt to assassinate the de facto ruler of Florence Lorenzo de’ Medici later known as Il Magnifico and his brother Guiliano in church during high mass. Guiliano was stabbed 19 times and bled to death on …
Today in History – April 26, 1478 – The Pazzi Conspiracy Read More »
Today is Gudi Padwa, the first day of the month of Chaitra. It also marks the beginning of a new year (1934) under the Indian National Calendar otherwise known as the Saka Era. In a country as diverse as India there were and still are many calendars observed regionally in addition to the Gregorian calendar. Yet …
A coin with a historical figure depicted on it is one of the attractions coin collecting offers history buffs. It is also a reason why so many collectors commence their collections with Roman imperial coins. Roman coins from the 3rd century onwards are easily available for fairly low prices and collecting by Emperors is a …
Function versus Propaganda – the evolution of Indian coinage Read More »