Historical Fun

On This Day In History - 3rd of November   On This Day, 3rd of November, 1534, the English Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy. The Act made Henry-Of-The-Many-Numbers (8 of them) the head of the Church of England. Prior to this, the Pope was head of the Church of England.   Basically, he was married to Catherine-Of-Arrogant, who couldn't produce a boy sprog, and, let's face it, was getting a bit old. Henry, on his travels, discovered a pretty little innocent thing. He wanted to bump uglies with her. Bumpity bump them a lot. However, this pretty little innocent thing, let's call her Anne-I-Have-A-Plan-Boleyn, said, "You don't go down, unless I have a Crown."   So, Henry, desperate for a bit of Hide-The-Crown-Jewels-In-Ann, tried to get the Pope to annul his marriage to Arrogant Catherine so he could marry Anne-With-A-Cunning-Plan.   The Pope wasn't having any of it and denied Henry's request. Not perturbed, Henry separated from the ...

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY - 2nd NOVEMBER   On This Day, 2nd of November, 1470, Edward V was born at Westminster Abbey.   Although the Abbey is the usual burial place for British Monarchs, Edward was the first to be born there. His mother, Elizabeth Woodville, who was married to his father, King Edward IV, had taken sanctuary at the Abbey during the War of the Roses after Edward's father, Edward, had been dethroned. And that's not a term for being knocked off the toilet.   Edward IV's Lancastrian enemy, Henry VI, had been briefly restored to the throne. The one in the palace, not the one in the toilet. A year later, Edward's father, Edward, returned to England from exile and knocked Henry VI off his toilet and retook the throne. After flushing, of course. Henry VI left one heck of a steaming dump in there.   Edward was created Prince of Wales in June 1471 and sent to Ludlow Castle, close to the border of Wales, to...

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY - 1st of November.   On This Day, 1st of November, 1141, the reign of Empress Matilda came to an end. She was kinda Queen of England, although technically uncrowned, so she was called Lady of the English, or "You-Traitorous-Cow" by her cousin, Stephen of Bois, who was King of England. He spent most of his reign fighting a civil war known as The Anarchy with the Empress Matilda.   On This Day, 1st of November, 1179, Philip II is crowned King of France.   He managed to bring all of France together and made the country prosper again. However, he had a heck of time with his wives. He's basically the Henry VIII of the French.   Click here to read about the adventures of Philip II of France and his Borg Queen Wife.   On This Day, 1st of November, 1688, William-Of-Horrible-Disgusting-Fruit , set sail, for the second time, from Hellevoetsluis. Say that ten times when you're drunk.   William-Soon...