Scott Allsop's Blog, page 16

20th March 1815: Napoleon Bonaparte begins his Hundred Days as ruler of France following his escape from Elba

Napoleon sought to consolidate his rule by promising reforms and peace in Europe, but the powers of the Seventh Coalition including Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia declared him an outlaw and he was defeated at the Battle of ...

19th March 1882: First stone laid for the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

The first stone of Barcelona’s iconic Sagrada Familia basilica was ...

18th March 1921: Kronstadt Rebellion ends following a final assault by Bolshevik forces

On 7 March 1921, the Red Army launched an attack on Kronstadt across the frozen Gulf of Finland. The battle lasted for nearly two weeks, with heavy casualties on both ...

17th March 1861: Proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy under the rule of Victor Emmanuel II

The Italian parliament convened in Turin to proclaim the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy under Victor Emmanuel II, previously King of Sardinia, who was declared the first King of ...

15th March 1848: Hungarian Revolution of 1848 begins in Pest, marking the start of a nationwide movement against Habsburg rule

Inspired by revolutionary movements in France and other parts of Europe, Hungarian reformers sought a constitutional government. However, by August 1849 the Hungarian forces were overwhelmed and the revolution was ...

13th March 624: Battle of Badr sees the first major engagement between the early Muslim community of Medina and the Quraysh tribe of Mecca

The Quraysh, despite their numerical superiority, were unprepared for the determined resistance they encountered, leading to to around 70 men, including key Quraysh leaders, being killed while many others were captured. The surviving Quraysh retreated to Mecca, marking a decisive victory for Muhammad and his ...

12th March 1938: Nazi German troops cross the border to annex Austria in an event known as the Anschluss

German forces entered Austria without resistance and incorporated Austria into Germany, after which a referendum was held that showed overwhelming support for the ...

10th March 1762: The execution of Jean Calas prompts debates on religious intolerance and judicial injustice in France

Jean Calas was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by breaking on the wheel, but the case had been marred by inconsistencies and a lack of conclusive evidence that prompted Voltaire to argue Calas had been a victim of religious prejudice and a flawed judicial ...

8th March 1736: Nader Shah formally crowned as the ruler of Iran, marking the start of the Afsharid dynasty

Nader's coronation ended Safavid rule and established the Afsharid dynasty that dramatically expanded Persia’s borders, but at the expense of heavy taxation that funded the military ...

6th March 1933: Eleanor Roosevelt holds her first press conference as First Lady of the United States

Roosevelt's press conference was exclusively for women reporters. It was the first time a president’s wife had held a press briefing, marking a significant departure from previous ...