MaryAnn Bernal's Blog, page 588

History Trivia

December 6, 1060 Béla I of Hungary was crowned king of Hungary. In 1240 Mongol invasion of Rus: Kiev under Danylo of Halych and Voivode Dmytro fell to the Mongols under Batu Khan. In 1421 Henry VI was born. Henry VI was a mere child when he came to the throne on the death of his father Henry V. His weakness as a ruler and his occasional displays of mental instability exacerbated the Wars of the Roses.

History Trivia

December 5, 63 BC Cicero read the last of his Catiline Orations. In 663 the Fourth Council of Toledo took place. In 771 Charlemagne became the sole King of the Franks after the death of his brother Carloman. In 1082 Ramon Berenguer II, Count of Barcelona was assassinated. In 1360 The French Franc was created. In 1408 Emir Edigu of Golden Horde reached Moscow. In 1484 Pope Innocent VIII issued the Summis desiderantes, a papal bull that deputized Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger as inquisitors to root out alleged witchcraft in Germany and lead to one of the most oppressive witch hunts in European history. In 1536 The 'Pilgrimage of Grace' against Henry VIII's Reformation was persuaded to disband by the duke of Norfolk.

1443, Pope Julius II was born. One of the most powerful rulers of the Renaissance, Julius was more concerned with political matters than theological ones, working hard to restore and preserve the Papal States and leading military efforts to hold off the encroaching forces of France. When defecting cardinals threatened another schism, he called the Fifth Lateran Council, and overturned another military coup with the help of Swiss troops.

Though he was enormously successful in keeping Italy together politically and militarily, Julius is perhaps best known as a patron of the arts, and is particularly remembered for his patronage of Michelangelo, who completed the Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel barely a year before the pope's death.

History Trivia

December 4, 306 Martyrdom of Saint Barbara. 771 Austrasian King Carloman died, leaving his brother Charlemagne King of the now complete Frankish Kingdom.1093 Anselm of Canterbury was consecrated as Archbishop. In 1110 First Crusade: The Crusaders sack Sidon. 1154 Nicholas Breakspear was elected Pope Hadrian IV, the only Englishman to become pope. 1259 Kings Louis IX of France and Henry III of England agree to the Treaty of Paris, in which Henry renounces his claims to French-controlled territory on continental Europe (including Normandy) in exchange for Louis withdrawing his support for English rebels.1563 The final session of the Council of Trent was held (it opened on December 13, 1545).

History Trivia

December 3, 741 St. Zachary began his reign as Catholic Pope succeeding Gregory III. In 1347 Pope Clemens VI declared the Roman tribunal Coke di Rienzo as heretics. 1368 Charles VI of France was born. Known as "Mad" and as "Well-Beloved," Charles had a long reign during which he remained primarily a figurehead because of his occasional fits of madness. In 1557 1st Covenant of Scottish protestants formed. In 1586 Sir Thomas Herriot introduced potatoes to England, from Colombia.

History Trivia

December 2,537 Pope Saint Silverius died. When Silverius refused to restore Anthimus as Patriarch of Constantinople, Empress Theodora ordered him deposed. He was banished and died on the island of Palmaria, murdered or starved to death. and in 1409 The University of Leipzig was founded by Frederick I, Elector of Saxony and his brother William II, Margrave of Meissen, and originally comprised four faculties. Since its inception the university has enjoyed over 600 years of uninterrupted teaching and research.

History Trivia

December 1 193 AD, Pertinax became emperor. Also, the Festival of Juno occurred on this day. In 800 Charlemagne was called to the Vatican to judge the accusations against Pope Leo III whose enemies stated he was unfit to hold the sacred office. In 1135 Henry I of England died. Henry, the youngest son of William the Conqueror, was an able king who strengthened the monarch's executive position and ruled Normandy, as well. In 1170 Becket returned to Canterbury. After establishing an uneasy reconciliation with Henry II, the Archbishop returned to his See, ending a six-year-long self-imposed exile and in 1420 Henry V of England entered Paris.

History Trivia

November 30, Saint Andrew, one of the Twelve Disciples of Christ was martyred on an X-shaped cross during the reign of Vespasian. The day is celebrated as St. Andrew's feast day. In 1016 Cnut, king of Denmark, claimed the throne of all England after Edmund 'Ironside', king of England, died. In 1406 Gregory XII became Pope. Gregory was the last of the Roman line of popes during the Western Schism. In 1700 at the Battle of Narva, a Swedish army of 8,500 men under Charles XII defeated a much larger Russian army at Narva and in 1718 Swedish king Charles XII died during a siege of the fortress Fredriksten in Norway.

History Trivia

November 29, 800 Charlemagne arrived at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Pope Leo III. In 939 Edmund was crowned as king of England as his half-brother Aethelstan died. 1268 Clement IV died. Upon the death of Clement, no new pope was elected for almost three years. In 1314 Philip IV of France died. In 1394 the Korean King Yi Song-gye, founder of the Joseon-Dynasty, moved the capital from Kaesŏng to Hanyang, today known as Seoul.

November 28

November 28, 1291 Edward I's wife, Eleanor of Castile, diee. 1095 – On the last day of the Council of Clermont, Pope Urban II appointed Bishop Adhemar of Le Puy and Count Raymond IV of Toulouse to lead the First Crusade to the Holy Land. In 1443 Skanderbeg and his forces liberate Kruja in Middle Albania and raise the Albanian flag.

History Trivia

November 29, 800 Charlemagne arrived at Rome to investigate the alleged crimes of Pope Leo III. In 939 Edmund was crowned as king of England as his half-brother Aethelstan died. 1268: Clement IV died. Upon the death of Clement, no new pope was elected for almost three years. In 1314 Philip IV of France died. 1394 the Korean king Yi Song-gye, founder of the Joseon-Dynasty, moved the capital from Kaesŏng to Hanyang, today known as Seoul.