Two great Americans died today, 76 years apart. The first was Sitting Bull, spiritual leader of the Lakota whose victory over Custer's 7th Cavalry has passed into legend. He spent some years in prison and travelled with Bill Cody's Wild West Show, spoofing the Indian Wars. By the year of his death (1890) however he had joined the Ghost Shirt movement dedicated to the restoration of the Plains Indians' way of life. He was shot and killed in a skirmish with troops sent to suppress the cult.
The other was Walt Disney.
In other news ...
The body of Napoleon Bonaparte was reburied in Les Invalides in Paris today in 1840. He had died in 1821 on St Helena, poisoned either by the British or the wallpaper, whichever version you choose to believe and it took nearly twenty years for the body to be transferred.
You would think the French could have built a more fitting tomb for their greatest son (yes, I know, he wasn't exactly French, but you can't have everything). The tomb is a huge, ugly slab of marble - yeuch!
And finally ...
A very happy birthday to Penny Collins, daughter and granddaughter in a squillion - three years old today and getting more gorgeous with every minute.
Showing posts with label Napoleon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Napoleon. Show all posts
Saturday, 15 December 2012
Friday, 7 December 2012
7th December
'A date which will live on in infamy' as F D Roosevelt called this day in 1941. Without warning, the Japanese Pacific fleet attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. There was no formal declaration of war before 200 aircraft were destroyed and 2400 men killed. The whole story was brilliantly told in the film Tora! Tora! Tora! and crappily told in Pearl Harbor.
In other news ...
Marshal Michel Ney, 'the bravest of the brave' was executed by firing squad today in 1815. He had been sent to arrest Napoleon who had escaped from Elba and was back on French soil. He promised to bring 'la bete noire' back to Paris in a cage. In the event, he rejoined his old master and told the newly-restored Bourbon dynasty (they of biscuits) where to stick it. Miffed, they had him shot.
In other news ...
Marshal Michel Ney, 'the bravest of the brave' was executed by firing squad today in 1815. He had been sent to arrest Napoleon who had escaped from Elba and was back on French soil. He promised to bring 'la bete noire' back to Paris in a cage. In the event, he rejoined his old master and told the newly-restored Bourbon dynasty (they of biscuits) where to stick it. Miffed, they had him shot.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
26th September
Dan'l Boone, the famous American frontiersman, died today in 1820. He was buried with his favourite span'l.
In other news...
The Holy Alliance was formed today in 1815 between the powers that had defeated Napoleon. Russia, Austria and Prussia all put pen to paper and agreed to come to each other's aid even if it meant putting down democratic risings. Britain, who had done more than anybody else to beat the French, refused, our man at the Congress of Vienna, Lord Castlereagh, calling the whole thing a 'piece of sublime mysticism and nonsense'.
What would he made of the EU?
In other news...
The Holy Alliance was formed today in 1815 between the powers that had defeated Napoleon. Russia, Austria and Prussia all put pen to paper and agreed to come to each other's aid even if it meant putting down democratic risings. Britain, who had done more than anybody else to beat the French, refused, our man at the Congress of Vienna, Lord Castlereagh, calling the whole thing a 'piece of sublime mysticism and nonsense'.
What would he made of the EU?
Saturday, 25 August 2012
25th August
Today in 1919 the first scheduled flight took place between London and Paris. A souffleuse (female whistler) was employed to entertain the (presumably terrified) passengers. It was very noticeable that everyone wanted to fly from Paris to London and not vice versa.
In other news ..
'Is Paris burning?' Hitler asked today in 1940 as the Wehrmacht took the French capital. This was an 'in' joke really. Napoleon, a century and a half earlier, said 'If I made one mistake in my life it was not to bomb Berlin.'
In other news ..
'Is Paris burning?' Hitler asked today in 1940 as the Wehrmacht took the French capital. This was an 'in' joke really. Napoleon, a century and a half earlier, said 'If I made one mistake in my life it was not to bomb Berlin.'
Thursday, 23 August 2012
23rd August
Napoleon wrote to his adopted son Eugene de Beauharnais today in 1810, saying 'My principle is: France before everything.'
Well, everything except grabbing everybody else's country, selling his own troops down the river, Creole women and, as the great Sellar and Yeatman put it in 1066 And All That, 'standing like that.'
In other news ...
Alaric and his Visigoths destroyed Rome today in 410, ending seven centuries of culture and civilization. Actually, that's not quite true. There was a great deal of culture and civilization outside the Roman Empire and in terms of their cruelty and rapacious greed for territory, the Romans were the Nazis of the ancient world.
Well, everything except grabbing everybody else's country, selling his own troops down the river, Creole women and, as the great Sellar and Yeatman put it in 1066 And All That, 'standing like that.'
In other news ...
Alaric and his Visigoths destroyed Rome today in 410, ending seven centuries of culture and civilization. Actually, that's not quite true. There was a great deal of culture and civilization outside the Roman Empire and in terms of their cruelty and rapacious greed for territory, the Romans were the Nazis of the ancient world.
Monday, 6 August 2012
6th August
The Holy Roman Emperor Francis II abdicated today in 1806. That was because Napoleon told him that he wasn't Holy, nor Roman, nor much of an Emperor. So he threw his toys out of his pram and went home.
In other news ...
'Old Sparky' came to life today in 1890, the first time the contraption was used for an execution. The 'sitter' was the murderer William Kemmler and the place was New York. Under certain conditions, the new 'humane' method could take up to eleven minutes to bring about the death of the convicted felon.
In other news ...
'Old Sparky' came to life today in 1890, the first time the contraption was used for an execution. The 'sitter' was the murderer William Kemmler and the place was New York. Under certain conditions, the new 'humane' method could take up to eleven minutes to bring about the death of the convicted felon.
Saturday, 21 July 2012
21st July
The Eagle landed today in 1969 when America became the first country to put its astronauts on the moon. Conspiracy theorists of course claim that the filmed landing took place in a Paramount Films lot and that the moon rock later brought back is actually made of green cheese. As cosmonaut Neil Armstrong said at the time, 'That's one small step for a man, hundred of backward steps for conspiratorkind.'
In other news ...
Not only was he the most brilliant general of the modern world, but he had some great one-liners too. Today in 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Mamelukes at the Battle of the Pyramids. He would have another sixteen years of victories like that. And on the day he said, 'Think of it, soldiers; from the summit of these pyramids, forty centuries look down on you.'
Oh, wow!
In other news ...
Not only was he the most brilliant general of the modern world, but he had some great one-liners too. Today in 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte defeated the Mamelukes at the Battle of the Pyramids. He would have another sixteen years of victories like that. And on the day he said, 'Think of it, soldiers; from the summit of these pyramids, forty centuries look down on you.'
Oh, wow!
Saturday, 23 June 2012
23rd June
'Ne ce soir, Josephine,' Napoleon is reputed to have said, which is a shame because Josephine de Beauharnais was a bit of a cracker. as a child of the West Indies, she was the subject of one of Elvis's best known films, Kid Creole, though I have to say I always thought he was a little miscast. Anyhoo, born today in 1763, she was dazzling, vivacious, funny and intelligent, as opposed to Napoleon's second wife, the terribly boring Marie-Louise. What possessed Napoleon to jilt Josephine for Marie-Louise? Josephine didn't provide him with an heir; Marie-Louise did.
Go, as our American cousins say for some ungrammatical reason, figure.
In other news ...
The British won a classic victory today over Suraj-od-Dowlah, the Namib of Bengal. Robert Clive (he of India) was a very strange man, haunted by rumours of cowardice. According to the incomparable Sellar and Yeatman of 1066 and All That fame, he was a typist in the East India Company. Actually of course he was a brilliant general who just happened to have a City and Guilds in keyboard skills.
Check out his victory at Plassey on this day in 1757.
Go, as our American cousins say for some ungrammatical reason, figure.
In other news ...
The British won a classic victory today over Suraj-od-Dowlah, the Namib of Bengal. Robert Clive (he of India) was a very strange man, haunted by rumours of cowardice. According to the incomparable Sellar and Yeatman of 1066 and All That fame, he was a typist in the East India Company. Actually of course he was a brilliant general who just happened to have a City and Guilds in keyboard skills.
Check out his victory at Plassey on this day in 1757.
Monday, 18 June 2012
18th June
It was a 'near-run thing' today in 1815 when Napoleon Bonaparte, arguably the greatest general in history, was defeated by a combined force of British and Prussian troops under Wellington and Blucher respectively. If you're British, you'll claim the British won it; if you're German, you'll claim it was down to the Prussians. If you're French you'll whine and whinge and promise to do better in the two world wars.
Ah ...
In other news ...
And on the subject of France in world wars, General Charles de Gaulle urged on his fellow countrymen today to fight on under German occupation in 1940. Gung-Ho! you might cry, except that de Gaulle said this over the radio from London, which, while not exactly a safe haven Blitz-wise, was certainly not under the Nazi jackboot.
Ah ...
In other news ...
And on the subject of France in world wars, General Charles de Gaulle urged on his fellow countrymen today to fight on under German occupation in 1940. Gung-Ho! you might cry, except that de Gaulle said this over the radio from London, which, while not exactly a safe haven Blitz-wise, was certainly not under the Nazi jackboot.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
14th June
Legend has it that after his victory at Marengo today in 1800, Napoleon asked his chef to cook something to commemorate the victory. It has come to be known as Chicken Marengo and ranks alongside other great culinary victories as
In other news ...
Actor and President Ronald Reagan became Sir Ronald today in 1989 when he was dubbed by Her Majesty. Other America recipients include George Dub You Bush and James Earl Jones. Count Basie doesn't count.
- Haddock Grammicus (Alexander the Great
- Escargots Alesia (Julius Caesar)
- Eggs Agincourt (Henry V
- Mushrooms Cape St Vincent (Nelson)
- Onions Chickamanga (Ulysses Grant)
- Bananas Mersch Matruh (Erwin Rommel)
In other news ...
Actor and President Ronald Reagan became Sir Ronald today in 1989 when he was dubbed by Her Majesty. Other America recipients include George Dub You Bush and James Earl Jones. Count Basie doesn't count.
Monday, 21 May 2012
21st May
The 'perfect' murder was committed today in 1924 when Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold killed 14 year old Bobby Franks just for the hell of it. Fascinated by the Nietzschean concept of superman, Leopold and Loeb believed they were just that, except that one of them dropped his glasses at the crime scene (ah - always the one little mistake!). The case gave lawyer Clarence Darrow his finest hour and put the cause of antisemitism in the USA back fifty years.
In other news ...
Poor old Henry VI died today in 1471. Since he was under arrest in the Tower of London and his opponent, Edward IV, was king, it is likely the sad old bloke was murdered on the king's orders. Henry was a poet and saintly to the point of imbecility. He was the son of Henry V, the victor of Agincourt and all-round tough nut. Isn't it funny how often the great general's kids fall short of expectations? For example, Napoleon's son, the Emperor of Rome, caught a chill reviewing some troops and died.
Talk about chips and old blocks.
In other news ...
Poor old Henry VI died today in 1471. Since he was under arrest in the Tower of London and his opponent, Edward IV, was king, it is likely the sad old bloke was murdered on the king's orders. Henry was a poet and saintly to the point of imbecility. He was the son of Henry V, the victor of Agincourt and all-round tough nut. Isn't it funny how often the great general's kids fall short of expectations? For example, Napoleon's son, the Emperor of Rome, caught a chill reviewing some troops and died.
Talk about chips and old blocks.
Saturday, 5 May 2012
5th May
As live television goes, it was pretty spectacular. On this day in 1980 a terrorist gang was holding hostages in London's Iranian Embassy and started shooting hostages one by one. As we all watched agog, black-clad SAS commandos abseiled in through the upper storey windows with tear-gas and guns and killed four of the rive terrorists, releasing all 19 of the hostages inside.
Fantastic!
In other news ...
Napoleon Bonaparte died today in 1821 on the rocky, volcanic island of St Helena. Rumours that he was bored to death by Hudson Lowe, the island's governor and effectively Bonaparte's gaoler are exaggerated. There was talk of murder by poisoning, especially in 1840 when his body was exhumed and shipped to Paris to its current resting place in Les Invalides. He probably already had stomach cancer or at least serious ulcers by the time of his final defeat at Waterloo, but it may also be that he died from arsenic poisoning as a result of breathing in the pigmentation from his bedroom wallpaper. He had once written to the Prince Regent asking to be allowed to retire to Cheltenham which he'd heard was rather nice. On balance, he was better off on St Helena - if he was bored there, what would he have found to do in Cheltenham?
PS - Napoleon's penis, black and one inch long, was offered for sale in a London auction house recently. There were no takers.
Fantastic!
In other news ...
Napoleon Bonaparte died today in 1821 on the rocky, volcanic island of St Helena. Rumours that he was bored to death by Hudson Lowe, the island's governor and effectively Bonaparte's gaoler are exaggerated. There was talk of murder by poisoning, especially in 1840 when his body was exhumed and shipped to Paris to its current resting place in Les Invalides. He probably already had stomach cancer or at least serious ulcers by the time of his final defeat at Waterloo, but it may also be that he died from arsenic poisoning as a result of breathing in the pigmentation from his bedroom wallpaper. He had once written to the Prince Regent asking to be allowed to retire to Cheltenham which he'd heard was rather nice. On balance, he was better off on St Helena - if he was bored there, what would he have found to do in Cheltenham?
PS - Napoleon's penis, black and one inch long, was offered for sale in a London auction house recently. There were no takers.
Friday, 6 April 2012
6th April
Richard the Lionheart died today in 1199 as a result of an infected arrow wound to the neck while besieging a castle at Chaluz in France. He is one of those historical characters who has been hi-jacked by the mythmakers, usually turning up at the end of Robin Hood films in time to realize that his nasty brother John has already been well and truly trounced by Robin himself.
The real Richard was only in the country for six months of his ten year reign, was probably homosexual and definitely psychopathic - like most of the Plantagenets.
In other news ...
Today in 1814 Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to abdicate after a whirlwind military career which saw him as master of most of Europe. He was to be sent to Elba which was a big mistake as it was only a stone's throw from his old stomping ground (France) and he was allowed to retain a largish bodyguard (10,000 men). Surprise, surprise, he escaped and started the whole mayhem all over again.
You can't keep a good dictator down.
The real Richard was only in the country for six months of his ten year reign, was probably homosexual and definitely psychopathic - like most of the Plantagenets.
In other news ...
Today in 1814 Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to abdicate after a whirlwind military career which saw him as master of most of Europe. He was to be sent to Elba which was a big mistake as it was only a stone's throw from his old stomping ground (France) and he was allowed to retain a largish bodyguard (10,000 men). Surprise, surprise, he escaped and started the whole mayhem all over again.
You can't keep a good dictator down.
Monday, 2 April 2012
2nd April
You know how things get misreported in history? There was a classic today in 1802 when Horatio Nelson, he of the column, turned a blind eye to orders and sank the Danish fleet in Copenhagen harbour. His ship, the Elephant, was under heavy fire and he received an order from the commander in chief, Sir Hyde Parker (brother of Sir Regent's Parker) to pull out. Most people will tell you that Nelson put his telescope to his glass eye and said, 'I see no ships,' which is pretty ludicrous bearing in mind he was shooting at them. He didn't even say, 'I see no signal,' because somebody asked him if he saw the signal from Parker's ship (done by flags) and he replied, 'Damn me if I do.' Now that sounds more like Hor and very much in keeping with the Duke of Wellington's coming out confession of fourteen years later - 'Napoleon has humbugged me, by God.'
And yes, follower, I know that Nelson didn't have a glass eye, despite whole museum exhibits devoted to them!
In other news ...
The first Italian parliament met on this day in 1860 in Turin, which was odd, because the parliament building was in Rome. That pretty much set the seal on Italian politics from that moment on.
And yes, follower, I know that Nelson didn't have a glass eye, despite whole museum exhibits devoted to them!
In other news ...
The first Italian parliament met on this day in 1860 in Turin, which was odd, because the parliament building was in Rome. That pretty much set the seal on Italian politics from that moment on.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
2nd February
New Amsterdam became New York today in 1665. The British drove out the Dutch settlers who had bought Manhattan from the Native Americans for a broken mirror and a pack of hula hoops and were led by their thoroughly unpleasant chain-smoking Governor Peter Stuyvesant (he of the silver leg - what a terrible birth defect). Stuyvesant was a rabid Puritan who imprisoned people for playing tennis (actually, not a bad idea) and no one was sorry to see him go.
Song lyric writers of course are particularly grateful. Imagine getting your tongue and guitar chords around 'New Amsterdam, New Amsterdam' - so good they renamed it.
In other news ...
One of the all-time survivors of History was born 258 years ago today. His name was Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord and as you've probably guessed, he was of the French persuasion. As an aristocrat, he became adviser to Louis XVI, he of the less-than-happy encounter with Madame Guillotine, but bounced back to become adviser to the Revolutionary Government. When Napoleon Bonaparte seized power, who should be at his elbow but Talleyrand and when the Emperor was defeated at Waterloo, b****r me, he's there again, giving sound and sensible advice to his successor, Louis XVIII.
I don't know if you've noticed the occasional PR presentation by Barack Obama from the White House, but there's a little old boy with a wig and breeches in the background who I can't help but think looks a little familiar ...
Song lyric writers of course are particularly grateful. Imagine getting your tongue and guitar chords around 'New Amsterdam, New Amsterdam' - so good they renamed it.
In other news ...
One of the all-time survivors of History was born 258 years ago today. His name was Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord and as you've probably guessed, he was of the French persuasion. As an aristocrat, he became adviser to Louis XVI, he of the less-than-happy encounter with Madame Guillotine, but bounced back to become adviser to the Revolutionary Government. When Napoleon Bonaparte seized power, who should be at his elbow but Talleyrand and when the Emperor was defeated at Waterloo, b****r me, he's there again, giving sound and sensible advice to his successor, Louis XVIII.
I don't know if you've noticed the occasional PR presentation by Barack Obama from the White House, but there's a little old boy with a wig and breeches in the background who I can't help but think looks a little familiar ...
Sunday, 22 January 2012
23rd January
Wasn't the Cold War great? Anybody under thirty must be totally bewildered by spies coming in from the cold. They've had to create ever more unlikely baddies for James Bond to fight because the 'evil empire' is no more. Today in 1963, Kim Philby, the 'third man' disappeared in Beirut. He was the 'third man' because the 'first man' was Guy Burgess and the 'second man' was Donald Maclean (I hope you're following this because I will be asking questions later). MI5 was full of men, mostly recruited from Cambridge and often leaning to the left.
Personally, I thought Orson Welles' version of Philby was near perfect and what he could do with a zither could make your eyes water. Or have I got that wrong? These spies are very tricky people, as I am sure you know.
In other news ..
There are some things you just shouldn't promise. Especially of you can't deliver; every parent who has ever let their attention wander as Christmas approaches knows this. Sometimes broken promises are bigger than those involving a newbikeanahamsteranatigerarealtigernotatoyonelikelastyearanda ... we've all broken that one or something like it, usually inadvertently, but take as cases in point Marshal Ney, who promised to bring Napoleon back to Paris in a cage; in fact, he defected to him. Adolf Hitler promised not to invade any more countries just before he went into the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russia etc etc. But the most spectacular of all was Salvador Dali, the surrealist painter. 'Geniuses don't die,' he said. 'I'm going to live forever.' Except he didn't, dying today in 1989.
Who knew?
Personally, I thought Orson Welles' version of Philby was near perfect and what he could do with a zither could make your eyes water. Or have I got that wrong? These spies are very tricky people, as I am sure you know.
In other news ..
There are some things you just shouldn't promise. Especially of you can't deliver; every parent who has ever let their attention wander as Christmas approaches knows this. Sometimes broken promises are bigger than those involving a newbikeanahamsteranatigerarealtigernotatoyonelikelastyearanda ... we've all broken that one or something like it, usually inadvertently, but take as cases in point Marshal Ney, who promised to bring Napoleon back to Paris in a cage; in fact, he defected to him. Adolf Hitler promised not to invade any more countries just before he went into the Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Russia etc etc. But the most spectacular of all was Salvador Dali, the surrealist painter. 'Geniuses don't die,' he said. 'I'm going to live forever.' Except he didn't, dying today in 1989.
Who knew?
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