Edward the Confessor Crowned King of England
On this day in 1043, Edward the Confessor became King of England. His reign was among the last of Anglo-Saxon kings, with his successor Harold Godwinson, defeated by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
For more, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_the_Confessor
Book:
Edward the Confessor, by Bennett D. Charron
Russia: Alexander II Becomes Tsar
On this day in 1855, Alexander II Nikolaevich, became the Tzar of Russia. Alexander II was born in Moscow on the 29th April 1818 and died (assassinated) in Saint Petersburg on the 13th March 1881. His reign was ended in a series of bomb blasts that assassinated the Tsar, an assassination that followed a number of failed attempts in previous years.
For more, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_II_of_Russia
England: Edward VI was Crowned
On this day in 1547, King Edward VI was officially crowned King of England and Ireland at the age of 9. Tragically Edward’s reign lasted only 6.5 years, ending with his death on the 6th July 1553 (it had begun on the 28th January 1547 following the death of Henry VIII).
For more on Edward VI, visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_VI_of_England
England: Charles I Beheaded
On this day in 1649, Charles I (19 November 1600 – 30 January 1649) was executed by being beheaded in England. His reign had begun on the 27th March 1625.
For more on Charles I visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I_of_England
England: Ritual Execution of Oliver Cromwell
On this day in 1661, Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, was ritually executed two years after his death and on the same day as the king he deposed.
For more on Oliver Cromwell visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell
Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus (Caligula) Assassinated
On this day in 41 AD, Roman Emperor Caligua was assassinated after almost 4 years as emperor (37 AD to 41 AD). The assassination conspiracy involved members of the Praetorian Guard and the Roman Senate. He was succeeded by Claudius as emperor.
Caligula was born on the 31st August 12 AD. His reign as emperor is remembered for the final two years of his rule, years that were marked with great cruelty.
For a treatment on the life of Caligula, download the book ‘The Lives of the Twelve Caesars,’ by Seutonius. This book contains a chapter on Caligula.
For a copy of the book visit:
http://www.archive.org/details/livesofthetwelve035040mbp
France: Execution of Louis XVI
Louis XVI began his reign on the 10th May 1774 as King of France and Navarre, before becoming King of the French on the 1st October 1791. His reign ended on the 21st September 1792 and he was executed (beheaded) by guillotine on this day in 1793 at the Place de la Revolution.
Louis XVI supported the Americans in the War of Independence, prior to the French Revolution which ended the monarchy in France and therefore his reign.
Scotland: Abdication of Edward Balliol from the Scottish Throne
The reign of Edward Balliol as Scottish monarch was assisted through the backing of Edward III of England, when he gained the crown in September 1332 through what was essentially a coup with English complicity. The reign was interrupted after just three months by forces loyal to the true King of Scotland (David II) at the end of 1332 and he retreated to England.
In 1333, through the Battle of Halidon Hill, Balliol was restored to the throne. He was dethroned again in 1334 and gained it once again in 1335. However, he essentially lost the throne for all time in 1336. More battles would follow, but he had little true support in Scotland.
On this day in 1356, Balliol surrendered all claims to the Scottish throne to Edward III in exchange for an English pension.
George VI Crowned King of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth
Though reigning as king since the 11th December 1936, King George VI was not officially crowned until this day in 1937. His reign lasted until his death on the 6 February 1952, when he was succeeded by the current queen, Elizabeth II.
George VI was crowned King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth. He became king following his brother’s (Edward VIII) abdication in 1936.
Scotland: David I Becomes King
On this day in 1124, upon the death of his brother Alexander I, David (Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim) made himself king of Scotland with the full backing of Henry I of England. He had been Prince of the Cumbrians (1113-1124) before becoming King of Scotland (1124-1153). Cumbria was in effect a separate kingdom to that of Scotland (known as Alba) to the north and became merged with it upon the ascension of David to King of Scotland.
His reign was one of warfare and expansion, with the first 10 years of his reign involving a struggle for power with his nephew (the son of Alexander I) Máel Coluim mac Alaxandair. With the death of Henry I of England, he came into conflict with King Stephen and expanding the Scottish Kingdom into northern England.
David I is seen as a ‘reformer’ in the Scottish Church, setting out to reorganise the church. The map in this post shows the boundaries of the various dioceses he put in place. He is also seen as a reformer of Scotland as a whole, bringing civility to a barbaric country.
David I was born between 1083 and 1085, and died on the 24th May 1153. He is buried in Dunfermline Abbey. He was succeeded by Malcolm IV.
King Henry VIII: Begins His Reign in England
Henry VIII was born Henry Tudor, to Henry VII (King of England) and Elizabeth of York on the 28th June 1491. His reign began on this day in 1509 and continued until his death on the 28th January 1547. He succeeded his father, Henry VII as King of England, Lord of Ireland and claimant to the throne of France. his reign lasted over 37 years and was perhaps one of the greatest (certainly one of the most powerful) kings in English history – not that this necessarily made him a great man.
Henry VIII is well known for his six wives and what became of them. He is also known for the part he played in the English Reformation. His split with the Roman Catholic Church saw the advance of Protestantism and the Reformation in England, though he remained theologically ‘Roman Catholic.’
For more on Henry VIII and the Tudor Dynasty, visit:
http://www.tudorhistory.org/
History for Today 