Very Old Money

Antoine Lavoisier named oxygen.  He discovered that oxygen when combined with hydrogen (which he also named) produced water.  He demonstrated oxygen’s role in rusting metal and in respiration.  He proved the law of conservation of mass i.e. even though matter changed its state in a chemical reaction its mass remains unchanged.  He discovered that air …

Today in History – May 8, 1794 – Antoine Lavoisier is sent to the National Razor Read More »

During World War I, Germany did an impressive job turning sympathy into hostility.  At the start of the war the Royal Navy blockaded German ports.  The blockade was also extended to neutral ports like those in the Netherlands, under the logical argument that they were being used to import materiel that kept the German war …

Today in History – May 7, 1915 – Sinking of the Lusitania Read More »

It was an event that shocked Europe.  The armies of a Christian Catholic Emperor (containing protestants) sacked the Eternal City sending the Pope fleeing for his life to the security of the Castel Sant’Angelo before he surrendered the following month.  Pope Clement VII had allied with France in an effort to liberate the Papal States from …

Today in History – May 6, 1527 – Sack of Rome Read More »

Napoleon I had his Spanish ulcer.  His nephew Napoleon III‘s ulcer was Mexican.  In 1861 President Benito Juarez‘s suspension of interest payments ticked off Mexio’s European creditors France, Spain and the United Kingdom.  The three powers sent their navies to threaten Mexico.  However Spain and the United Kingdom soon realized that Napoleon III meant to …

Today in History – May 5, 1862 – Battle of Puebla commemorated today as Cinco de Mayo Read More »

The Kingdom of Mysore under Hyder Ali and then his son Tipu Sultan had been a repeated burr in the saddle for British attempts to conquer South India.  The first two wars against Hyder Ali had ended in a draw.  In 1792 the British won a resounding victory over Tipu Sultan in the Third Anglo-Mysore …

Today in History – May 4, 1799 – Fall of Seringapatam and death of Tipu Sultan Read More »

This was the battle that should have ended the War of the Roses.  In 1461 Edward IV of the House of York had successfully seized the throne.  Henry VI was captured and the Lancastrian Prince of Wales Edward of Westminster and his mother Queen Margaret of Anjou fled to France.  England settled into a calm after the first …

Today in History – May 4, 1471 – Battle of Tewkesbury Read More »

This was a constitution that survived for only a year, but was 100 years in the making.  It was the first codified constitution in Europe and the second in the world after the American constitution. In 1652, the disastrous reign of Jan II Casimir Vasa saw the first use of a constitutional innovation whose growth …

Today in History – May 3, 1791 – Adoption of the Polish Constitution of May 3 Read More »

Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen aka The Red Baron is better known as the rival of Snoopy from Peanuts.  von Richtofen was possibly the top Ace pilot of World War I with over 80 air combat victories. The Red Baron was killed in combat on April 21, 1918 possibly by a bullet fired from the …

Today in History – May 2, 1892 – Birth of Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen aka The Red Baron Read More »

Spain in 1808 was a volcano waiting to erupt.  In 1807 Spain and France had signed the Treaty of Fontainebleu (an alternative date for the start of the War) to partition Portugal and French armies entered Spain to invade Portugal.  Resentment against the Prime Minister (and alleged lover of the Queen) Manuel de Godoy was …

Today in History – May 2, 1808 – The Dos de Mayo Uprising and outbreak of the Peninsular War Read More »

It was an ancient example of term limits.  After 20 years on the throne, the emperor Diocletian and his very reluctant colleague Maximian abdicated in favor of their designated heirs. The third century was a tumultuous time for the Roman Empire.  Between the death of Septimius Severus in 211 AD and the rise of Diocletian, …

Today in History – May 1, 305 – the abdication of Diocletian and Maximian Read More »