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A drawing from an early edition of "12 Years a Slave". (Wikimedia Commons) On this day in 1853, Solomon Northup - a Black, free-born American from New York - regained his freedom after 12 years of illegal enslavement. Having worked as a violinist and farmer in the Northern states (where slavery was illegal), Northup travelled…
Mussolini surrounded by armed guards in the 1920s, prior to embracing his infamous quasi-military outfit. (Wikimedia Commons) On this day in 1925, Italian Fascist Benito Mussolini abruptly announced his transition from democratically-elected Prime Minister to cartoonish dictator. For his first years in power - after coming to prominence with his March on Rome in 1922…
Caesar, by Clara Grosch, 1892. On this day in 45 BCE, the Julian Calendar came into effect in the Roman Empire by order of Julius Caesar. Previously, the Empire had relied on the Roman calendar: a system that accounted for 355 days and sometimes had a 23 day "intercalary" month inserted around March, based on…
The battle, by Paja Jovanović. (Handelsblatt.com) By 9 CE, the Roman Empire was booming. Rome's first Emperor Augustus had consolidated his power and strengthened the legal framework of the government whilst expanding the empire in all directions.The so-called pax romana (Roman Peace) was in full effect: nobody really wanted to mess with Rome's Legions of…
A German machine-gunner moves towards the front lines during the winter of 1944. (GFP) On this day in 1944, remnants of the German army attacked the advancing Allies in the final German offensive of WWII. Codenamed Operation Nordwind by the OKH (High Command of the German Army), the operation was inspired largely by Hitler's misguided…
Rasputin (middle) with two Russian officers in the early 20th century. (Wikimedia Commons) On this day in 1916, Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin was murdered by enemies of Tsar Nicholas II, ruler of the Russian Empire. Rasputin - spiritual advisor to the Tsar and his family - was hated by many in the royal court for…
Caribbean slaves harvest sugar under the watchful eye of British slave-masters in 1823. (William Clark) On this day in 1831, over 60,000 slaves in Jamaica revolted against their colonial masters. As the abolitionist movement gained momentum in London, slaves in British Jamaica - producers of sugar, cotton and coffee - began discussing strikes and peaceful…
A "Boche" and "Tommy" share a cigarette at a POW camp during the later years of the war. "Fraternisation" like this was generally discouraged by higher command after the 1914 Christmas Truce. (Reddit) On Christmas Eve of 1914, nearly 100,000 soldiers on both sides laid down their arms in a series of informal ceasefires along…
London in 1919. (Flickr) On this day in 1919, the British parliament signed into law the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919. The Act lifted all restrictions on women taking part in "public functions" such as voting, serving in public office and on juries, and working as lawyers. Additionally, the Act required that women no longer…
Continue reading ➞ 12/23 – The Sex Disqualification Act of 1919
The Battle of Gaugamela. (Wikimedia Commons) Most people know that Alexander the Great - King of Macedon, legendary military leader - was a wildly successful general who conquered huge swaths of Eurasia and the Mediterranean and kicked off the Hellenistic Age, a renaissance of Greek culture. Through a series of impressive military victories, Alexander and…
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