History Facts June 15th

History Facts - 15th June

 

On this day in history, 15th June 923, King Robert 1st of France was killed at the Battle of Soissons by King Charles III. Or, as Charles III is better known, Charles the Simple. Although possibly not so simple, as he did manage to kill Robert in single combat.

 

But, saying that, Charles the Simple was later defeated by Rudolph, not the red-nosed reindeer, but the Duke of Burgundy. Hmm, burgundy, Rudolph, and red. Do you see why someone might be a tad confused?

 

If you want to know how you can tell the difference between Rudolph, Duke of Burgundy, and Rudolph, of the Red Nose, one of them has four legs, antlers, and is chummy with Santa.

15th June 1215, King John of England applies his seal to the Magna Carta at Runnymede, near Windsor. This was a big thing in history. King John was forced to sign it by the English Barons. It protected the church rights, gave protection from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limited the feudal payments to the crown.

 

Neither the King or the Barons stuck to the agreements laid down in the Magna Carta. It was annulled pretty quickly and led to 1st Barons War. After King John died, his son, Henry III, re-issued the document in 1216, this time with a few amendments.

 

15th June 1300, the city of Bilbao is founded. It's in Spain. Yeah, I know. Who cares? Well, I'll tell you who cares - the Bilbaos. Bilbaons? Billybaons? Bilbaonians? Nope, not a clue.

15th June 1648, Margaret Jones is hanged in Boston for witchcraft. Did anyone ever burn witches, or is that all made up? It was the first execution of a witch in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. And that's not an easy place to spell.

 

The witch hunt lasted five years. Eighty people throughout New England were accused of being a witchy witch who does witchy things, but only fifteen were executed. Thirteen women and two men.

15th June 1752, Benjamin Franklin, yep, the President guy, proved lightning was electricity.

He basically strapped three dozen hedgehogs to a kite and launched it during a storm. And that's why hedgehogs are so prickly. And always annoyed and angry. And why they now hate flying.