History Fun Facts November 16

HISTORICAL FUN FACTS for NOVEMBER 16th

On This Day In History in 42 BC, the Roman Emperor Tiberius was born.

And yet he died in 37 BC. That isn't confusing at all.

The Emperor Tiberius was assassinated. By a pillow.

The pillow may have just been where his head was resting whilst he slept. Or it may have been above his head, being pressed down, really hard, by Caligula. No one is quite sure.

Tiberius died in Misenum, aged 78, after placing himself in exile for the last years of his life. Everyone had it in for him. That bloke. The bloke over there. The geezer sitting down. The fairy on top of the Christmas tree. The gnome in his neighbour's front garden. Everyone.

The guy was a little paranoid.

And not well liked.

When news spread to Rome about the death of Emperor Tiberius, the crowd rejoiced. Then went silent when they were told he had recovered. And then rejoiced again when they heard Caligula and Macro had smothered him with an inflatable hedgehog. Pillow. They smothered him with a pillow.

The Roman Senate didn't like him either.

After Tiberius succumbed to the ravages of an inflatable hedgehog, or time, the geezer was really old, they refused to vote him divine honours.

The mobs took to the streets chanting, "To the Tiber with Tiberius."

It was a tradition back in Rome, back in the good old days, to carry dead criminals to the Tiber and dump them in the river. The Senate didn't take any notice of the crowds. They cremated the Emperor with the body of a house elf and ejaculated, "Tiberius Expelliarmus." And laid his ashes to rest in the Mausoleum of Augustus.

Emperor Tiberius had left a will.

He dictated his powers should be jointly shared with Caligula, his grand nephew and adoptive grandson, and Tiberius Gemellus, his actual grandson.

Best laid plans, and all that...

As soon as Caligula was granted the powers of the Emperor, his first act was to make void the will of Tiberius. His second act was to kick a puppy. His third act was to have his cousin and co-Emperor, Tiberius Gemellus executed.

Caligula did give a reason for the execution: the eighteen-year-old had bad breath.

Gemellus had been taking medicine for a bad cough. It was quite persistent and he couldn't shift it. Pneumonia may have taken hold, and the young man may not have survived long anyway.

But Caligula believed, or at least that's what he told people, that his cousin had insulted him by taking an antidote against poison. And that his breath stank of it.

That means there was only one thing the new Emperor could do: Send a military tribune to the house of Gemellus and have him shove a Gladius into his belly.

If that won't cure pneumonia, nothing will.

Caligula then went about stealing the fortunes of Tiberius and spending it on drugs, ninjas, and monkey hookers.

Check out these Fun Facts About Julius Caesar
And

Fun Facts About Emperor Caracalla: The most evil Emperor in History

On This Day facts March 8th

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY - 8th MARCH

On This Day in 1702, Queen Anne became Queen of England after the death of William III, or William of Orange, or William-Of-The-Evil-Fruit.

 

Queen Anne started out as Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland, then became Queen of Great Britain when the Kingdoms were officially united. She left no direct heirs, and, as such, was the last monarch of the House of Stewart.

 

Anne was the sister of Mary II, who was the wife of Not-The-First-William-Who-Invaded-England.

 

William-The-Third-Orange-Almost-Killed-Me had invaded England in what became known as the Glorious Revolution. It was an almost bloodless coup when James II took a holiday in France, which led Parliament to declare he had abdicated.

 

This was the second time someone called William invaded England to claim the throne. Must be something in the name.

 

If you know someone called William, better watch out for him. He's probably contemplating conquering your ass. Or horse. Whatever one you have.

Also On This Day In History

On This Day in 1775, Thomas Paine published his article "African Slavery in America."

 

Although the article was anonymous, the common consensus is that Thomas Paine was the writer. It was the first published article in the American colonies which called for the emancipation of slaves, and the abolition of slavery.

 

On This Day in 1817, the New York Stock Exchange is founded.

 

On This Day in 1921, Eduardo Dato Iradier, the Spanish Prime Minister, is assassinated as he left the Parliament Building in Madrid.

 

On This Day in 1971, Joe Frazier wins in 15 rounds by a unanimous decision from the judges against his opponent Muhammad Ali, in the Fight of the Century.

 

On This Day in 1978, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a book by Douglas Adams, is transmitted for the first time on BBC Radio 4.