On this Day in History: 13th August [View All]

On this Day in History: 13th August

2001: (Media, U.S.A.) Prince Charles appears as a guest on the Montel Williams show, claiming to hold psychic powers.

1952: (Monarchical succession, Britain) King George VI dies after eating 40 Krugerrands, mistakenly believing they were filled with chocolate.

1939: (International affairs, Germany) Rudolf Von Ribbentrop accidentally delivered a love-letter intended for his mistress to Josef Stalin. Meanwhile Helga Schwarz of Hessen received a letter from Ribbentrop offering her possession of eastern Poland. Stalin was flattered but didn’t like Ribbentrop in that way.

1871: (Medicine, Britain) The Imperial Medical Council recommends opium smoking as “ideal for growing children”.

1849: (Monarchy, Britain) Albert, the Prince Consort introduces the Conga Line dance to Britain. The dance remained popular until the Depression of the 1880s.

1649: (Constitutional affairs, England) Oliver Cromwell turns down the Rump Parliament’s suggestion of “Jamboree of England” as the official name for the new English republic.

1453: (Soccer, England) The Hundred Years’ War ends after England and France agree to hold a replay at Stamford Bridge. The match ends 1-1 with both teams failing to qualify for the now delayed-1338 European Championship (finishing behind Poland and Norway in their group).

1204: (War & pillage, Turkey) The Franks and Venetians sack Constantinople whilst on their way to the 4th Crusade.

809: (War & pillage, various) Norseman sack Lindisfarne, York, Paris, Caen, Dublin and Sicily.

420: (War & pillage, Italy) Attila the Hun sacks Rome, Venetia and Naples.