Rupert Matthews's Blog, page 19
July 12, 2016
On this day in history 13 July 2006 Death of Red Buttons, comedian
On this day in history
13 July 2006
Death of Red Buttons, comedian
Red Buttons (born Aaron Chwatt; February 5, 1919 – July 13, 2006) was an American comedian and actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sayonara (1957).
In 1939, Buttons started working for Minsky's Burlesque; in 1941, José Ferrer chose Buttons to appear in a Broadway show The Admiral Had a Wife. The show was a farce set in Pearl Harbor, and it was due to open on December 8, 1941. It never did, as it was deemed inappropriate after the Japanese attack. In later years, Buttons would joke that the Japanese only attacked Pearl Harbor to keep him off Broadway.
In September 1942, Buttons made his Broadway debut in Vickie with Ferrer and Uta Hagen. Later that year, he appeared in the Minsky's show Wine, Women and Song; this was the last classic Burlesque show in New York City history, as the Mayor La Guardia administration closed it down. Buttons was on stage when the show was raided.
Drafted into the United States Army Air Forces, Buttons in 1943 appeared in the Army Air Forces' Broadway show Winged Victory, along with several future stars, including Mario Lanza, John Forsythe, Karl Malden and Lee J. Cobb. A year later he appeared in Darryl F. Zanuck's movie version of Winged Victory, directed by George Cukor. Buttons also entertained troops in the European Theater in the same unit as Mickey Rooney.
After the war, Buttons continued to do Broadway shows. He also performed at Broadway movie houses with the Big Bands. In 1952, Buttons received his own variety series on television, "The Red Buttons Show," which ran for three years, and achieved high levels of success. In 1953, he recorded and had a two-sided hit with Strange Things Are Happening/The Ho Ho Song, with both sides/songs essentially being the same.
His role in Sayonara was a dramatic departure from his previous work. In that film, co-starring with Marlon Brando, he played Joe Kelly, an American airman stationed in Kobe, Japan during the Korean War, who marries Katsumi, a Japanese woman (played by Miyoshi Umeki), but is barred from taking her back to the United States. His moving portrayal of Kelly's calm resolve not to abandon the relationship, and the touching reassurance of Katsumi, impressed audiences and critics alike; both he and Umeki won supporting actor and actress Academy Awards for the film.
After his Oscar-winning role, Buttons performed in numerous feature films, including the Africa adventure Hatari! with John Wayne, the adventure Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) (where he received top billing), the war epic The Longest Day, the biopic Harlow, the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure, the dance-marathon drama They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, the family comedy Pete's Dragon, the disaster film When Time Ran Out with Paul Newman and the age-reversal comedy 18 Again! with George Burns.
In 1966, Buttons again starred in his own TV series, a spy spoof called The Double Life of Henry Phyfe, which ran for one season. Buttons also made many memorable guest television appearances on programs including The Eleventh Hour, Little House on the Prairie, It's Garry Shandling's Show, ER and Roseanne. His last regular role was as a homeless man on CBS' Knots Landing.
He became a nationally recognizable comedian, and his "Never Got A Dinner" routine was a standard of The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast for many years. He was number 71 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.
Buttons received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television, his star being located at 1651 Vine Street.
13 July 2006
Death of Red Buttons, comedian
Red Buttons (born Aaron Chwatt; February 5, 1919 – July 13, 2006) was an American comedian and actor. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sayonara (1957).
In 1939, Buttons started working for Minsky's Burlesque; in 1941, José Ferrer chose Buttons to appear in a Broadway show The Admiral Had a Wife. The show was a farce set in Pearl Harbor, and it was due to open on December 8, 1941. It never did, as it was deemed inappropriate after the Japanese attack. In later years, Buttons would joke that the Japanese only attacked Pearl Harbor to keep him off Broadway.
In September 1942, Buttons made his Broadway debut in Vickie with Ferrer and Uta Hagen. Later that year, he appeared in the Minsky's show Wine, Women and Song; this was the last classic Burlesque show in New York City history, as the Mayor La Guardia administration closed it down. Buttons was on stage when the show was raided.
Drafted into the United States Army Air Forces, Buttons in 1943 appeared in the Army Air Forces' Broadway show Winged Victory, along with several future stars, including Mario Lanza, John Forsythe, Karl Malden and Lee J. Cobb. A year later he appeared in Darryl F. Zanuck's movie version of Winged Victory, directed by George Cukor. Buttons also entertained troops in the European Theater in the same unit as Mickey Rooney.
After the war, Buttons continued to do Broadway shows. He also performed at Broadway movie houses with the Big Bands. In 1952, Buttons received his own variety series on television, "The Red Buttons Show," which ran for three years, and achieved high levels of success. In 1953, he recorded and had a two-sided hit with Strange Things Are Happening/The Ho Ho Song, with both sides/songs essentially being the same.
His role in Sayonara was a dramatic departure from his previous work. In that film, co-starring with Marlon Brando, he played Joe Kelly, an American airman stationed in Kobe, Japan during the Korean War, who marries Katsumi, a Japanese woman (played by Miyoshi Umeki), but is barred from taking her back to the United States. His moving portrayal of Kelly's calm resolve not to abandon the relationship, and the touching reassurance of Katsumi, impressed audiences and critics alike; both he and Umeki won supporting actor and actress Academy Awards for the film.
After his Oscar-winning role, Buttons performed in numerous feature films, including the Africa adventure Hatari! with John Wayne, the adventure Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) (where he received top billing), the war epic The Longest Day, the biopic Harlow, the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure, the dance-marathon drama They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, the family comedy Pete's Dragon, the disaster film When Time Ran Out with Paul Newman and the age-reversal comedy 18 Again! with George Burns.
In 1966, Buttons again starred in his own TV series, a spy spoof called The Double Life of Henry Phyfe, which ran for one season. Buttons also made many memorable guest television appearances on programs including The Eleventh Hour, Little House on the Prairie, It's Garry Shandling's Show, ER and Roseanne. His last regular role was as a homeless man on CBS' Knots Landing.
He became a nationally recognizable comedian, and his "Never Got A Dinner" routine was a standard of The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast for many years. He was number 71 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.
Buttons received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for television, his star being located at 1651 Vine Street.
July 11, 2016
12 July 1730 Birth of Josiah Wedgwood, potter
On this day in history
12 July 1730
Birth of Josiah Wedgwood, potter
Josiah Wedgwood (12 July 1730 – 3 January 1795) was an English potter who founded the Wedgwood company. He is credited with the industrialisation of the manufacture of pottery; "...it was by intensifying the division of labour that Wedgwood brought about the reduction of cost which enabled his pottery to find markets in all parts of Britain, and also of Europe and America." The renewed classical enthusiasms of the late 1760s and early 1770s was of major importance to his sales promotion. His goods were always considerably more expensive than those of his fellow potters. Every new invention that Wedgwood produced - green glaze, creamware, black basalt and jasper - was quickly copied. Having once achieved perfection in production, he achieved perfection in sales and distribution.
A prominent abolitionist, Wedgwood is remembered too for his "Am I Not a Man And a Brother?" anti-slavery medallion. He was a member of the Darwin–Wedgwood family, and he was the grandfather of Charles and Emma Darwin.
Wedgwood belonged to the fourth generation of a family of potters whose traditional occupation continued through another five generations. Wedgwood's company is still a famous name in pottery today, and "Wedgwood China" is sometimes used as a term for his Jasperware, the coloured stoneware with applied relief decoration (usually white), still common throughout the world.
Wedgwood is credited as the inventor of modern marketing, specifically direct mail, money back guarantees, travelling salesmen, carrying pattern boxes for display, self-service, free delivery, buy one get one free, and illustrated catalogues. Wedgwood is also noted as an early adopter/founder of managerial accounting principals in Anthony Hopwood's "Archaeology of Accounting Systems."
For the further comfort of his foreign buyers he employed French-, German-, Italian- and Dutch-speaking clerks and answered their letters in their native tongue.
12 July 1730
Birth of Josiah Wedgwood, potter
Josiah Wedgwood (12 July 1730 – 3 January 1795) was an English potter who founded the Wedgwood company. He is credited with the industrialisation of the manufacture of pottery; "...it was by intensifying the division of labour that Wedgwood brought about the reduction of cost which enabled his pottery to find markets in all parts of Britain, and also of Europe and America." The renewed classical enthusiasms of the late 1760s and early 1770s was of major importance to his sales promotion. His goods were always considerably more expensive than those of his fellow potters. Every new invention that Wedgwood produced - green glaze, creamware, black basalt and jasper - was quickly copied. Having once achieved perfection in production, he achieved perfection in sales and distribution.
A prominent abolitionist, Wedgwood is remembered too for his "Am I Not a Man And a Brother?" anti-slavery medallion. He was a member of the Darwin–Wedgwood family, and he was the grandfather of Charles and Emma Darwin.
Wedgwood belonged to the fourth generation of a family of potters whose traditional occupation continued through another five generations. Wedgwood's company is still a famous name in pottery today, and "Wedgwood China" is sometimes used as a term for his Jasperware, the coloured stoneware with applied relief decoration (usually white), still common throughout the world.
Wedgwood is credited as the inventor of modern marketing, specifically direct mail, money back guarantees, travelling salesmen, carrying pattern boxes for display, self-service, free delivery, buy one get one free, and illustrated catalogues. Wedgwood is also noted as an early adopter/founder of managerial accounting principals in Anthony Hopwood's "Archaeology of Accounting Systems."
For the further comfort of his foreign buyers he employed French-, German-, Italian- and Dutch-speaking clerks and answered their letters in their native tongue.
On this day in history 11 July 1848
On this day in history
11 July 1848
Waterloo Station, London, is opened.
The London and South Western Railway (L&SWR) opened the station on 11 July 1848 as 'Waterloo Bridge Station' (from the nearby Waterloo Bridge over the Thames) when its main line was extended from Nine Elms. The station, designed by William Tite, was raised above marshy ground on a series of arches. The unfulfilled intention was for a through station with services to the City of London. In 1886, it officially became "Waterloo Station", reflecting long-standing common usage, even in some L&SWR timetables.
The station grew rapidly, but haphazardly. By 1899 Waterloo had 16 platform roads but only 10 platform numbers due to platforms in different sections of the station or on different levels sometimes duplicating the number of a platform elsewhere. A little-used railway line even crossed the main concourse on the level and passed through an archway in the station building to connect to the South Eastern Railway's smaller station, now Waterloo East, whose tracks lie almost perpendicular to those of Waterloo. Passengers were, not surprisingly, confused by the layout and by the two adjacent stations called 'Waterloo'.
By the late 1890s the L&SWR accepted that main-line access to the City was impossible. In 1898, the company opened the Waterloo & City line, a 'tube' underground railway that ran directly between Waterloo and the City built with the technology pioneered by the C&SLR 8 years earlier. This gave the company the direct commuter service it had long desired (albeit with the need to change from surface to underground lines at Waterloo). With Waterloo now destined to remain a terminus station, and with the old station becoming a source of increasingly bad will and publicity amongst the travelling public, the L&SWR decided on total rebuilding. The station, more or less as we know it today, opened in 1922.
Photo - The Waterloo Clock. Famously the clock has now “workings” being driven by a system of rods and gears from a master elsewhere.
11 July 1848
Waterloo Station, London, is opened.
The London and South Western Railway (L&SWR) opened the station on 11 July 1848 as 'Waterloo Bridge Station' (from the nearby Waterloo Bridge over the Thames) when its main line was extended from Nine Elms. The station, designed by William Tite, was raised above marshy ground on a series of arches. The unfulfilled intention was for a through station with services to the City of London. In 1886, it officially became "Waterloo Station", reflecting long-standing common usage, even in some L&SWR timetables.
The station grew rapidly, but haphazardly. By 1899 Waterloo had 16 platform roads but only 10 platform numbers due to platforms in different sections of the station or on different levels sometimes duplicating the number of a platform elsewhere. A little-used railway line even crossed the main concourse on the level and passed through an archway in the station building to connect to the South Eastern Railway's smaller station, now Waterloo East, whose tracks lie almost perpendicular to those of Waterloo. Passengers were, not surprisingly, confused by the layout and by the two adjacent stations called 'Waterloo'.
By the late 1890s the L&SWR accepted that main-line access to the City was impossible. In 1898, the company opened the Waterloo & City line, a 'tube' underground railway that ran directly between Waterloo and the City built with the technology pioneered by the C&SLR 8 years earlier. This gave the company the direct commuter service it had long desired (albeit with the need to change from surface to underground lines at Waterloo). With Waterloo now destined to remain a terminus station, and with the old station becoming a source of increasingly bad will and publicity amongst the travelling public, the L&SWR decided on total rebuilding. The station, more or less as we know it today, opened in 1922.
Photo - The Waterloo Clock. Famously the clock has now “workings” being driven by a system of rods and gears from a master elsewhere.
March 27, 2015
The birthplace of Robin Hood
The birthplace of Robin Hood
In 1637 John Harrison visited Loxley while compiling his history of Sheffield. He records that a local man pointed out to him a few stones lying in a field a little outside the village. These, Harrison was told, were the ruins of the cottage where Robin Hood had been born. No doubt Harrison was telling the truth, but there is no way of knowing if the local man was passing on a genuine tradition dating back to the middle ages or pulling Harrison’s leg. By this date the Locksley birthplace of Robin Hood had become famous so the local inhabitants may have simply invented the fact that the outlaw had been born in the ruined cottage for the benefit of visitors. [image error] Loxley
[image error]Ancient water troughs in the Yorkshire village of Loxley catch natural spring water. Robin Hood is said to have been born in a cottage, now demolished, near this spring.
In 1637 John Harrison visited Loxley while compiling his history of Sheffield. He records that a local man pointed out to him a few stones lying in a field a little outside the village. These, Harrison was told, were the ruins of the cottage where Robin Hood had been born. No doubt Harrison was telling the truth, but there is no way of knowing if the local man was passing on a genuine tradition dating back to the middle ages or pulling Harrison’s leg. By this date the Locksley birthplace of Robin Hood had become famous so the local inhabitants may have simply invented the fact that the outlaw had been born in the ruined cottage for the benefit of visitors. [image error] Loxley
[image error]Ancient water troughs in the Yorkshire village of Loxley catch natural spring water. Robin Hood is said to have been born in a cottage, now demolished, near this spring.
March 17, 2015
Nicky Morgan MP and “The Civil War in Loughborough” New Book Released Today
Loughborough MP, Nicky Morgan, has written a children's activity non-fiction book about Loughborough during the Civil War, published today. It is time to explore the past with this fantastically fun “cut out and play” title packed with amazing facts, fun activities, cut-out characters to colour in, puzzles and more interesting information than you can shake a stick at. With a bold and accessible look, this title allows younger readers to discover why holding a match at night was a really bad idea, how spending a penny could get you thrown in prison and what to do if you met a man named Praise God Barebone. Fun, informative and educational, this is how to get children interested in history.
About the AuthorRt Hon Nicola Morgan MP is Member of Parliament for Loughborough and was fascinated to learn that her constituency played such a significant role in the English Civil War - with a battle being fought almost on her own doorstepNote to Editor : Author Nicky Morgan is available for interview through Editorial Director Rupert Matthews on 07721 455944.
Attached photos show:1) The Book cover2) Author Mrs Nicky Morgan MP3) Artworks from the bookNB Other photos are available on request
About the BookTitle: The Civil War in LoughboroughAuthor Rt Hon Nicola Morgan MPISBN 978-1-910440-28-5Publisher Bretwalda BooksPrice £4.99
March 13, 2015
NEW EBOOK - The Discerning Mercenary's Guide to the 100 Years War
NEW EBOOK - The Discerning Mercenary's Guide to the 100 Years War
The Past, as they say, is Another Country. Now there is a guide book to Britain and France as they were during The Hundred Years War of 1337-1453. Technically that is 116 years, but that’s history for you.
Written by Dr Lee Rotherham this book tells the modern reader everything they would need to know when visiting this war torn period of our past some 600 years ago.
Written as if it were a guide book to be used by a visiting medieval tourist, and illustrated, this book is the essential guidebook to The Hundred Years War.
You will learn the difference between Armagnac and Burgundy (the people not the drinks), get to decide if Joan of Arc is God’s lieutenant on Earth (the French view) or a crazed cross-dresser (the English view), view the glories of Rheims, meet the last Prince of the Welsh, have a chat with the first man to speak modern English and learn the best way to avoid the plague like, err, the plague.
So this handbook is part survival guide, part tome to assist in cultural acclimatisation, part aide-memoire to help manage expectations in what remains a pretty vicious period of our past.
About the Author
Dr Lee Rotherham is author of the previous titles in this series “The Discerning Barbarian’s Guide to Roman Britain” and ““The Discerning Gentleman’s Guidebook to Britain’s American Colonies - 1770s Edition”.
Lee is an historian, political consultant, and writer with a distant background in mediaeval French and Occitan. His interest in the Hundred Years’ War was first piqued during breaks from teaching English in France, spent driving around the castles and battlefields of the Loire in an absurdly green Renault 6.
A part-time soldier, his military incursions have since led him to reconnoitring Iraq’s archaeological sites in a helicopter, pondering over ancient forts in the Afghan desert, and stomping through undergrowth in the retirement town of Scipio Africanus. When not worrying about the national debt or researching arcana about the activities of the European Union (of which there are, sadly, many), he spends his free time wondering where to store a troublingly large photo collection.
Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1 An Introduction for Mediaeval Tourists
Chapter 2 Planning Your Visit
Chapter 3 Information for Business Visitors
Chapter 4 The War Itself
Chapter 5 Meet and Greet
Chapter 6 Where to Visit
Chapter 7 1453 and All that
Acknowledgments
Further Study
About the Author
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Discerning-Me...
The Past, as they say, is Another Country. Now there is a guide book to Britain and France as they were during The Hundred Years War of 1337-1453. Technically that is 116 years, but that’s history for you.
Written by Dr Lee Rotherham this book tells the modern reader everything they would need to know when visiting this war torn period of our past some 600 years ago.
Written as if it were a guide book to be used by a visiting medieval tourist, and illustrated, this book is the essential guidebook to The Hundred Years War.
You will learn the difference between Armagnac and Burgundy (the people not the drinks), get to decide if Joan of Arc is God’s lieutenant on Earth (the French view) or a crazed cross-dresser (the English view), view the glories of Rheims, meet the last Prince of the Welsh, have a chat with the first man to speak modern English and learn the best way to avoid the plague like, err, the plague.
So this handbook is part survival guide, part tome to assist in cultural acclimatisation, part aide-memoire to help manage expectations in what remains a pretty vicious period of our past.
About the Author
Dr Lee Rotherham is author of the previous titles in this series “The Discerning Barbarian’s Guide to Roman Britain” and ““The Discerning Gentleman’s Guidebook to Britain’s American Colonies - 1770s Edition”.
Lee is an historian, political consultant, and writer with a distant background in mediaeval French and Occitan. His interest in the Hundred Years’ War was first piqued during breaks from teaching English in France, spent driving around the castles and battlefields of the Loire in an absurdly green Renault 6.
A part-time soldier, his military incursions have since led him to reconnoitring Iraq’s archaeological sites in a helicopter, pondering over ancient forts in the Afghan desert, and stomping through undergrowth in the retirement town of Scipio Africanus. When not worrying about the national debt or researching arcana about the activities of the European Union (of which there are, sadly, many), he spends his free time wondering where to store a troublingly large photo collection.
Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1 An Introduction for Mediaeval Tourists
Chapter 2 Planning Your Visit
Chapter 3 Information for Business Visitors
Chapter 4 The War Itself
Chapter 5 Meet and Greet
Chapter 6 Where to Visit
Chapter 7 1453 and All that
Acknowledgments
Further Study
About the Author
Get your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Discerning-Me...
Chinese Signal Gun
Chinese Signal Gun
[image error]
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[image error]
<!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:128; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:fixed; mso-font-signature:1 134676480 16 0 131072 0;} @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1073743103 0 0 415 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"ＭＳ 明朝"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language:EN-US; mso-fareast-language:JA;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt;} @page WordSection1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} </style> --> <div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 184.5pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #8db3e2; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 102;">A Chinese signal gun made in the 18th century. The bronze weapon has a pair of lugs to fix it to the wooden stock in which it was originally held. Bronze was favoured for gun barrels at this date as methods of casting iron were prone to create tiny flaws that might cause the barrel to burst when fired. The dragon writhing along the barrel has four claws on each foot, marking this as part of the arsenal of a nobleman. Imperial forces would have been decorated with the five toed dragon of the Emperor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br /><br />from "Rifles" by Rupert Matthews<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rifles-Illust..." target="_blank">Get your copy HERE</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tu4_l6eMbNM..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tu4_l6eMbNM..." height="320" width="263" /></a></div>http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rifles-Illust... src="http://feedproxy.google.com//feeds.fe..." height="1" width="1" alt=""/>
March 4, 2015
Short-lived peace with France - 1803
Short-lived peace with France - 1803
Bonaparte worked over the next few months not only to consolidate his own power within the new military government, but also to achieve peace. In 1801 France signed the Treaty of Luneville with Austria and her allies, then the following year came the Treaty of Amiens with Britain and her allies. Europe was at peace. It was not to last. When British Prime Minister Henry Addington announced the terms of the Treaty of Amiens there was outrage among the merchants and gentry. Key trading posts, such as Malta in the Mediterranean and Pondicherry in India, were to be handed back to France and Britain was getting little in return. In January 1802 France annexed the Cisalpine Republic, a large area of northern Italy. Although this was not a breach of the Treaty of Amiens it was a clearly aggressive move that confirmed to anti-Treaty forces in Britain that Napoleon was up to no good. The view was strengthened by the French invasion of Switzerland to impose pro-French officials on the locals. The Russian Tsar Alexander I was equally alarmed by the activities of French agents in the Baltic and northern Germany. They seemed to be working toward fomenting liberal revolutions and were promising that the French army would march to the aid of the uprisings. In February 1803 Napoleon summoned the British ambassador to France, Lord Whitworth to a meeting. Napoleon raged at Whitworth about the failure of Britain to comply with the terms of the treaty, especially the handing over of Malta, and angrily refused to listen to any excuses or to hear anything about French actions. Whitworth left convinced that Napoleon was looking for an excuse to declare war against Britain while keeping at peace with the rest of Europe. If war did come, and when news of the Whitworth interview became public nearly everyone thought it would come, then a key naval battleground was bound to be the Indian Ocean. Napoleon knew this as well as anyone, which was why he sent for two seasoned campaigners: Admiral Charles-Alexandre Linois and General Charles Decean to give them a powerful military force and some top-secret orders.
from The Battle of Pulu Aor
Get your ebook copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Pulu-B...
Bonaparte worked over the next few months not only to consolidate his own power within the new military government, but also to achieve peace. In 1801 France signed the Treaty of Luneville with Austria and her allies, then the following year came the Treaty of Amiens with Britain and her allies. Europe was at peace. It was not to last. When British Prime Minister Henry Addington announced the terms of the Treaty of Amiens there was outrage among the merchants and gentry. Key trading posts, such as Malta in the Mediterranean and Pondicherry in India, were to be handed back to France and Britain was getting little in return. In January 1802 France annexed the Cisalpine Republic, a large area of northern Italy. Although this was not a breach of the Treaty of Amiens it was a clearly aggressive move that confirmed to anti-Treaty forces in Britain that Napoleon was up to no good. The view was strengthened by the French invasion of Switzerland to impose pro-French officials on the locals. The Russian Tsar Alexander I was equally alarmed by the activities of French agents in the Baltic and northern Germany. They seemed to be working toward fomenting liberal revolutions and were promising that the French army would march to the aid of the uprisings. In February 1803 Napoleon summoned the British ambassador to France, Lord Whitworth to a meeting. Napoleon raged at Whitworth about the failure of Britain to comply with the terms of the treaty, especially the handing over of Malta, and angrily refused to listen to any excuses or to hear anything about French actions. Whitworth left convinced that Napoleon was looking for an excuse to declare war against Britain while keeping at peace with the rest of Europe. If war did come, and when news of the Whitworth interview became public nearly everyone thought it would come, then a key naval battleground was bound to be the Indian Ocean. Napoleon knew this as well as anyone, which was why he sent for two seasoned campaigners: Admiral Charles-Alexandre Linois and General Charles Decean to give them a powerful military force and some top-secret orders.
from The Battle of Pulu Aor
Get your ebook copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Battle-Pulu-B...
February 24, 2015
1245 - The Pope writes to the Monols - an exercise in wishful thinking
1245 - The Pope writes to the Monols - an exercise in wishful thinking
Cum non solum was a letter written by Pope Innocent IV to the Mongols on March 13, 1245.
Since not only men but also irrational animals and even the very elements of the world machine have been connected by a certain unity of natural affinity on the model of the heavenly spirits, whose hosts God the creator of the universe has established in the unending stability of a peaceful order, we are strongly compelled – not without cause – to be astonished that you, as we have heard, having invaded so many regions of the Christians as well as those of other peoples, laid waste to these with a terrible devastation; and that up to this time you, not ceasing to send pillaging bands in your continuous anger into further regions, with the restraint of natural reason broken and making no exception for age or sex, you have raged against all indifferently with the sword of your anger.We therefore, desiring to live together by the example of the Pacific King in the unity of peace under the fear of God, warn, request, and advise your unity intently: desist completely from further attacks of this kind and especially from the persecution of Christians, and through the satisfaction of a fitting penance placate the anger of Divine Majesty which on account of so many and such great offenses you most certainly have provoked through these incitements. You ought not accordingly take up the audacity of ravaging further, because, as the sword of your power rages against others, the all-powerful Lord has so far permitted diverse nations to be laid low before you; but He in our age frequently passes over chastening the proud until the right time, so that if they neglect to become humble of their own accord, He may not hesitate to punish their wickedness in time and may exact more serious retribution in the future.And behold, a chosen son Brother I. and his colleagues the bearers of letters, men conspicuous in religion, distinguished by honesty, and gifted with knowledge of the Holy Scripture, we have led to you concerning this matter. I ask you to receive these men generously and treat honorably as you would us by trusting them in those things they will say to you from us and holding fruitful conversation with them about the things mentioned above and especially those matters pertaining to peace. Tell us fully through these brothers what has moved you to the extermination of other peoples and what further you intend; and look after these in their coming and going through a secure conduct and other necessary things, so that they may return safe to our presence. from "The Popes - Every Question Answered" by Rupert MatthewsGet your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Popes-Every-Q...
Cum non solum was a letter written by Pope Innocent IV to the Mongols on March 13, 1245.
Since not only men but also irrational animals and even the very elements of the world machine have been connected by a certain unity of natural affinity on the model of the heavenly spirits, whose hosts God the creator of the universe has established in the unending stability of a peaceful order, we are strongly compelled – not without cause – to be astonished that you, as we have heard, having invaded so many regions of the Christians as well as those of other peoples, laid waste to these with a terrible devastation; and that up to this time you, not ceasing to send pillaging bands in your continuous anger into further regions, with the restraint of natural reason broken and making no exception for age or sex, you have raged against all indifferently with the sword of your anger.We therefore, desiring to live together by the example of the Pacific King in the unity of peace under the fear of God, warn, request, and advise your unity intently: desist completely from further attacks of this kind and especially from the persecution of Christians, and through the satisfaction of a fitting penance placate the anger of Divine Majesty which on account of so many and such great offenses you most certainly have provoked through these incitements. You ought not accordingly take up the audacity of ravaging further, because, as the sword of your power rages against others, the all-powerful Lord has so far permitted diverse nations to be laid low before you; but He in our age frequently passes over chastening the proud until the right time, so that if they neglect to become humble of their own accord, He may not hesitate to punish their wickedness in time and may exact more serious retribution in the future.And behold, a chosen son Brother I. and his colleagues the bearers of letters, men conspicuous in religion, distinguished by honesty, and gifted with knowledge of the Holy Scripture, we have led to you concerning this matter. I ask you to receive these men generously and treat honorably as you would us by trusting them in those things they will say to you from us and holding fruitful conversation with them about the things mentioned above and especially those matters pertaining to peace. Tell us fully through these brothers what has moved you to the extermination of other peoples and what further you intend; and look after these in their coming and going through a secure conduct and other necessary things, so that they may return safe to our presence. from "The Popes - Every Question Answered" by Rupert MatthewsGet your copy HERE
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Popes-Every-Q...
February 21, 2015
Video - Book Launch - The Battle of Lewes
Video - Book Launch - The Battle of Lewes
