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De Molay was arrested, and though confessed he later rescinded.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.

12th March

On this day in history, in 1832, Filippo Taglioni's ballet La Sylphide premiered in Paris. Taglioni choreographed the ballet as a showcase for his daughter, the famous dancer Marie Taglioni.

The ballet has two Acts and is based around the doomed love between a young farmer, James, and a sylph. James is engaged to Effie, who in turn is loved by James' brother, Gurn. Though the story ends happily for Gurn and Effie, who become engaged in Act 2, the sylph and James eventually die as a result of the witch, Madge's, machinations.

In 1836, Danish balletmaster August Bournville choreographed his own version of the ballet. Taglioni's version has since been lost and the Bournville survives as one of Bournville's greatest works.

10th March

On this day in history, in 241, the First Punic War came to an end with the Battle of the Aegates Islands. The Roman commander Catullus achieved a decisive victory over the Carthaginian fleet, and, bereft of the resources to rebuild their fleet, the Carthaginians had no choice but to surrender. A peace treaty was signed, and the First Punic War came to an end.

9th March

On this day in history, in 1629, Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov was born in Moscow, to Eudoxia Streshneva and Tsar Mikhail I.

Alexei acceded to the throne at the age of 16, and he would rule until his death in 1676. His reign is generally regarded favourably by historians, and while he is often criticized for allowing himself to be lead by his ministers, he nonetheless seemed to have a knack for surrounding himself with competent and progressive advisors.

8th March

On this day in history, in 1126, Urraca of Castille and Léon died, leaving the kingdom to her son, Alfonso 1126. Urraca was to be the last of the Jiménez dynasty, her son being of the House of Burgundy as son of Raymond of Burgundy.

1st March

On this day in history, in 1953, Joseph Stalin suffered what is thought to have been a stroke. When he didn't emerge from his room his staff were concerned, though had been told not to disturb him. Eventually, at 10pm he was discovered by Peter Lozgachev, who sent for the doctor.

Stalin died four days later. The official cause of death named as "cerebral hemorrhage", though it is suspected that he was in fact assassinated.