9th July

On this day in history, in 1540, Henry VIII has his marriage to his fourth wife Anne of Cleves annulled.

Henry's first two wives, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, had failed to produce the much coveted male heir. Although each had produced a daughter, later Mary I and Elizabeth I, the King was desperate for a male heir to ensure the succession and the Tudor dynasty. His third wife, Jane Seymour, had given birth to a son (Edward I) but she had died soon after from complications with childbirth. On advice from his counsellors, primarily Thomas Cromwell, the King married Anne of Cleves. It was hoped that a Protestant marriage would consolidate the English reformation, and that Anne would produce another son to ensure the succession should anything happen to Edward. On arrival at court, Henry instantly disliked Anne, referring to her privately as a "Flanders mare".

The marriage was dissolved amicably, on the grounds of non-consummation (testified by Anne herself) and of Anne's precontract to marry the Duke of Lorraine. After the annulment Henry and Anne maintained good relations, and Anne was present to welcome Mary and Elizabeth into London in 1533, and at Mary I's coronation at Westminster.

14th May

On this day in history, in 1926, British Comedian John Eric Bartholomew, better known as Eric Morecambe, was born in Morecambe, Lancashire.

Morecambe is most remembered for his double act with Ernie Wise (Ernest Wiseman). The two met in 1939 when Morecambe was just 13, and while it was several years before they started working together, it was to be a long and successful partnership, culminating in the hugely popular Morecambe and Wise Show.

Eric Morecambe died in 1984, though in 1999 was voted the funniest person of the 20th century in a British internet poll. In the same year, though probably not for the same reason, a statue of Morecambe in one of his iconic Long John Silver poses was unveiled in Morecambe's home town.

18th March

On this day in history, in 1314, Jacques de Molay, the last Grand Master of the order of the Knights Templar is burned at the stake in Paris.

The Templars were originally founded as a military Christian order, whose main purpose was to protect pilgrims journeying to the Holy Land, while their non-military brothers developed a financial structure (akin to a crude version of a modern banking system). While the order was originally successful, their exclusive nature and gradually amassed wealth earned the mistrust of religious and secular leaders. Tales of bizarre initiation ceremonies and pseudo-pagan rites began to spread. Eventually the French king, Philip IV, issued a decree ostracizing the order, and Pope Clement V excommunicated the order (under pressure from Philip). Many Templars were arrested and tortured until they gave false confessions that collaborated with the popular stories.

De Molay was arrested, and though confessed he later rescinded. He and several others were taken to the Ile aux Juifs (now the Ile St Louis) in Paris to be burnt at the stake as relapsed heretics. According to legend, De Molay called out that both Pope Clement and Philip would soon meet him before God. The Pope died within the month, and Philip died in a hunting accident before the end of the year.

17th March

- St Patrick's Day -

Wishing a happy St Pat's to the Irish, the Irish descendants in the 'New World' and wannabe Irish around the world.

Gártha!

16th March

On this day in history, in 37AD, the young Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus became Emperor of Rome on the death of his uncle, Tiberius.

Gaius' father and grandfather were successful and popular Roman generals. His father received the agnomen 'Germanicus' in posthumous honour of his grandfather's military successes in Germania. Gaius himself accompanied his father on military campaigns, where he earned the nickname "Caligula" ("little boots") on account of his child-size legionnaire's outfit.

While Caligula's reign began successfully, he fell ill after two years in power. It was expected that he would die. The sources for his reign treat the illness as a turning point. Caligula recovered, but afterwards began a 'reign of terror' for which he is chiefly remembered. The many stories (making his favourite horse a senator, ordering his troops to pick up shells on the seashore) have lead historians to the conclusion that Caligula suffered from some form of mental illness, though a precise diagnosis is difficult to determine.

{Image: A bust of Caligula discovered in Thrace}

15th March

On this day in history, in 44BC, the Roman Imperator Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in the Senate by a crowd of senators.

The date, known as the Ides of March, was one of monthly feast days the Romans referred to as "ides". These dates were usually the 13th of each month, or the 15th in March, May, July and October. The Ides of March were associated with the god, Mars, and the day was set aside for festivities including a military parade.

Aside from Caesar's death, March 15th is also the date when the Tsar Nicholas II abdicated as Tsar of all the Russias in 1917.

14th March

On this day in history, in 1440, the Prussian Confederation was formed.

The Confederation consisted of 53 gentry and clergy and 19 Prussian cities (leading cities being Danzig, Elbing and Thorn), and its formation was the first step in opposing the monastic state of the Teutonic Knights. The Teutonic Order was originally formed to protect pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land; the State came into being in the 13th century during the Northern Crusades. After a troubled period, the Confederation rose in 1454, eventually defeating the Order after a thirteen years war.