#On this day in history

[meerawrites]

We made it to the moon for cheaper than NASA or Russia, or any colonial power ever has! (very positive)

Take that Great Britain and screw you all colonizers and imperialism (extremely derogatory).

[douglasbradburyverne]

Mel Brooks' "BLAZING SADDLES", from behind the scenes in 1974 (released 50 years ago today)

[floridaboiler]

**TODAY IN MUSIC & TV HISTORY” January 6, 1973: “Schoolhouse Rock” made its premiere on ABC-TV on this day.

[archduchessofnowhere]

Archduchess Marie Valerie's journal entry on the death of her mother Empress Elisabeth of Austria, in 1898 (written on 21 September):

10 September. In the evening at 7.30 o'clock I returned with Maria from a tour of our poor�� souper… then went with the three grown-ups to the chapel for evening prayer. Maria came with me, I did not pay much attention to her, did not notice her disturbed expression. I was no more devout than usual… Coming out into the corridor, while the children ran into their room, Maria asked me to come into my writing room, she had something to tell me. I was still thinking only of a small house cross, but when I looked at her, my heart stood still. “The Archduke?” “No — Her Majesty.” I don't know whether I asked further questions or whether I immediately said the word “dead”? whether she told me right there in the corridor or already in the room: “Murdered by an Italian anarchist — in the hotel in Geneva.” I don't know. My hand still trembles when I think back to that hour… Remorse for having returned her great love so badly, and above all… more and more the unspeakable pity for him, the poor, old, sorrowful and grief-stricken father, and the probably also futile question of whether it was not too much for a poor human heart? We were on our knees, Maria and I — in the room and in the chapel. Then I sent a telegram to Franz [Archduke of Austria, Valerie's husband]. And to Papa [Emperor Franz Josef I], “I'll come to you tomorrow morning at half past six.” He himself had telegraphed to Maria that she should “teach me in a good way”. I went in to see the children. Ella [Elisabeth, Valerie's eldest child] was not quite in bed yet … When I kissed and shook her, hardly knowing what I was doing, telling her softly: “She knows, that dear Grandmama has died,” she began to cry softly, as if she understood. God bless the good child! The boys were already in bed. Hedwig [Valerie's second daughter] was already asleep. From one room to the other and with Maria out into the quiet starry night. — I lay down too, but sleep was out of the question. At half past one we drove away, Maria and I … arrived in Penzing at half past six in the morning. How the morning dawned over the Vienna Woods, which she loved so much, and how unspeakable fear shook me before seeing Papa again, those are hours that one is amazed to have survived. Papa stood at the foot of the big staircase at Schönbrunn and we fell into each other's arms. That was the first time he was able to cry, he told me later. But he was still stunned then, and soon afterwards he was calm again, as he had been after Rudolf's death. We went to Sunday mass together, and then I was allowed to spend that first day with him almost without interruption, sitting next to his desk while he worked as usual, reading with him the more detailed news coming from Geneva, helping him to receive the condolence visits of the family members… Prime Minister Thun, who cried like a child — a good feeling that Papa has such servants around him. The unfortunate person who had to bring Papa the first message from Vienna to Schönbrunn was Adjutant General Count Paar with the still undetermined telegram from Irma Sztáray [Empress Elisabeth's lady-in-waiting]; “Her Majesty the Empress seriously wounded”, which was very soon followed by the second: “Her Majesty the Empress just died at 2 o'clock in the Hotel Beaurivage.” Papa seems to have immediately thought of an assassination, although he repeatedly said: “How can one assassinate a woman who has never harmed anyone?” Papa's intention to leave for Geneva immediately was thwarted by the second telegram.

(Translation by DeepL, keep in mind that in a machine translation a lot of nuances may/did got lost)

[nordleuchten]

September 6th - or Party like it is 1824

The American people in 1824 were very aware why the 6th of September was so special – and they sure went all out to celebrate La Fayette’s birthday with him in America as the guest of honour.

On his return to New York, General Lafayette was informed that the society of Cincinnati intended to celebrate the next day, 6th of September, the anniversary of his birth, and he received an invitation to dine with them, which he willingly accepted. About four o’clock in the afternoon, a long file of venerable men arrived, marching two and two holding each other by the arm for the sake of mutual support, which the weight of years rendered necessary. They were preceded by a military band, with which their tottering steps found it difficult to keep time. We went down to meet them, and were received into their ranks; a decoration of the order of Cincinnatus which had been worn by Washington, was attached to the button hole of Lafayette, and we commenced our march for the hotel where we were to dine. It was truly a touching sight to behold these old soldiers, the glorious remains of the war of Independence, conducting amongst them the companion of Washington, the adopted son of America. The crowd of people that filled the streets through which we passed, showed by their serious and silent conduct the respect which this procession inspired. The hall prepared for the entertainment, was adorned with trophies of arms, and with sixty banners bearing the names of the principal heroes who died for liberty during the revolutionary war.

Auguste Levasseur, Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825; or Journal of Travels in the United States, Translated from the French, Volume 1, New-York, 1829, pp. 82-83.

Joyeux anniversaire, mon petit Français!

[davbertieloml]

87 years ago today!👑✨️

[greensparty]

David Bowie Sings Elvis Presley

January 8th is an important day in music history. Elvis Presley was born on this day in 1935 and David Bowie was born on this day in 1947. What better way to celebrate both icons than with Bowie's cover of Elvis's 1961 hit "Can't Help Falling in Love"!

[madamelareinette]

On this day in history, 24 December 1837, was born Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie, duchess in Bavaria by birth and empress of Austria by marriage, best known by the nickname “Sisi.”

The three royal dignitaries who entered the richly furnished salon at number 8 of Ludwigstraße nearing 20:30 on 24 December 1837 were ready to remain there for the subsequent hours. [...] The three executives – Sebastian Freiherr von Schrenck, ministry of Justice, Ludwig Ritter Wiesinger, ministry of the Interior, and the ministry of the Royal House Friedrich Freiherr Gise – had been summoned to the palace to testify the birth of a Wittelsbach princess.

[...] Precisely a hour and thirteen minutes after the arrival of the ministers to the palace, their wait was over: the second daughter of duke Maximilan and duchesss Ludovika had entered the world. The ministers were then called into the boudoir of the duchess, where the wetnurse had taken the infant.

[...] The official act of testimony was carried on rapidly. After seeing the newborn and expressing their obligatory congratulations, Sebastian Freiherr von Schrenck, Ludwig Ritter Wiesinger and Freiherr Gise left the boudoir. They annotated in the protocol the birth of another princess in the house of Wittelsbach exactly at 22:43 on 24 December 1837. They had then carried on their duties and could go home to their families.

The newborn was given the name Elisabeth Amalie Eugenie. The godmother was Ludovika's elder sister, Elisabeth Ludovika of Prussia, who would become queen of Prussia three years after the birth of her goddaughter. The second name, Amalie, was given in honour of her godmother's twin sister, the future queen of Saxony. Lastly, the third name, Eugenie, was for the cousin who had assisted Ludovika during the labour. Two days after her birth, Elisabeth was christened in Striftskirche St. Katejan, Collegiate of Saint Cajetan, the court church of Munich known as Theatinerkirche.

— Martina Winkelhofer (2020). Sisis Weg: Vom Mädchen zur Frau ‐ Kaiserin Elisabeths erste Jahre am Wiener Hof

[juanatrastamara]

– juana i de trastámara ; infanta of spain, duchess consort of burgundy, queen of castile, aragon, valencia, mallorca, navarre, naples, sicily, sardinia and countess of barcelona was born on this day, 6th of november of 1479

[little-desi-historian]

On this day in history -- August 15th, 1947 India became independent from Great Britain. 🇮🇳

Pakistan's Independence Day was yesterday! (August 14th, 1947). 🇵🇰

After 200 years of English violence and colonial interference (starting around the late 18th century) and 50+ years of outright English colonialism on the Indian Subcontinent, India (and Pakistan) were free from England.

Indian Independence Movement.

Sepoy Mutiny of 1857.

Rani of Jhansi.

Meera bai.

[meerawrites]

Happy Indian Independence Day! 🇮🇳

[sasa-chans-random-history]

January 03

1431: Joan of Arc is handed over to Bishop Pierre Cauchon for a price of 10,000 francs.

1749: Benning Wentworth issues the first of the New Hampshire Grants, leading to the establishment of Vermont.

1777: The Battle of Princeton (New Jersey) was fought during the American Revolution; the clash, along with the Battle of Trenton, marked the first victory for the Revolutionary War general George Washington in the open field.

1842: Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine leave Liverpool, England for America on board the RMS Britannia.

1938: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the National Foundation of Infantile Paralysis (later called the March of Dimes) to find a cure for polio, a disease he had been stricken with in 1921.

1959: Alaska became the 49th U.S. state.

2001: Hilary Clinton was sworn in as a U.S. Senator from New York, having become the first first lady in U.S. history to win elective office.

[archduchessofnowhere]

Imprudence is at the origin of the crisis which will take Sophie away. (...) After attending a performance at the Opera on May 9 in an overheated atmosphere, she wants to get some fresh air on her balcony before going to bed. She dozed off there and only woke up in the early morning with a high fever. She had again recounted the start of her day on the 9th in her Journal. Then it suddenly stops and will never resume. The bulletins published in the first days by the Court are intended to be reassuring. According to them, the Archduchess suffers from gastric problems. The reality is infinitely more serious. In fact, Sophie has pneumonia which, after a short remission, is getting worse day by day. Clearly, the worst is now to be feared. Informed on May 15, while she was staying again in Meran in the company of [Archduchess] Marie Valerie, [Empress] Elisabeth immediately returned to Vienna.

The family is now gathered at the Hofburg to watch over the Archduchess. The fatal outcome is no longer in doubt. Like Maria Theresia long ago, Sophie wants to face death. A few years earlier, she had written to her mother: “I only understand the fear of death too well […] but I believe that when one has had time to prepare for it, it must give a lot of consolation and courage.” This moment has come. Always in control of herself, Sophie took leave of her family one after the other on May 22. Having drawn on her last strength for this final farewell, she then gradually weakened and, under the influence of cerebral convulsions, even experienced speech problems. Elisabeth was absent, recalled to Schönbrunn to be with the ailing Marie Valerie. Joined by the news that the end is near, she hastens to return to the Hofburg. When she arrives, Marie Festetics, her new lady-in-waiting, hears her ask: “Is she still alive?” and add, the response having been positive: “Thank God! Otherwise they would have said that I have done it intentionally because I hate her so much!”

The last sacraments were administered to the dying woman, then, surrounded by her family, she died at a quarter past three on the night of May 28. Collapsed with pain, [Archduke] Franz Karl throws himself into the arms of his eldest son, also overwhelmed with grief. Mourning the end of a harmonious union of forty-eight years, he will return each of the following days to pray near the remains of his wife. The embalmed body is placed in the Augustinian church, precisely where their marriage had been celebrated. Then the Viennese can pay their respects before the deceased who was dressed in a silver brocade dress and whose head is decorated with a crown of camellias. Finally, on June 1, Sophie was buried in the Capuchin crypt. This is where, according to Habsburg tradition, her earthly pilgrimage ends. For her, the time of eternity has come.

Bled, Jean-Paul (2018). Sophie de Habsbourg

ON THIS DAY, IN 1872, ARCHDUCHESS SOPHIE OF AUSTRIA (NÉE PRINCESS OF BAVARIA) DIED. She was born in 1805 as the third daughter of King Maximilian I of Bavaria and his second wife Caroline of Baden. Sophie married Archduke Franz Karl of Austria in 1824, and they had six children, among them Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria and Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico.

In 1848, she played a key role in the ascencion to the throne of her son Franz Josef by assuring the double abdications of her brother-in-law Emperor Ferdinand and her husband. And although her influence during the early years of her son's reign is often exagerated, she was nonetheless an important and powerful figure in the Viennese court.

Sophie fell into a deep depression after the execution of her son Maximilian in 1867, which also weakened her physical health. She was often sick afterwards, finally dying of pneumonia five years later, at the age of sixty-seven.

[for-valour]

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Papa Bertie's beloved 'pride', and 97 today! (b. 21/04/1926) Thank you for your wisdom, your grace, and for your unfailing service, ma'am.

All together again as a family for your first celestial celebration :')

[nordleuchten]

La Grange 4h July 1812

Here is, my dear friend, the Anniversary of that Great day on which Both the deed and the Expression were worthy of Each other—This double Rememberance in your Quiete Retirements is Happily Refreshed By the Extension of independance to all America—an event which, altho’ we Have Had the pleasure to foresee and the Good fortune to prepare it, we should not, Had it not Been for the Ambition of an European despot, probably Have witnessed—you Have Seen me in france, a few days after one 4h of July, very Sanguine and I was Approved By you in a short declaration the Effect of which we Hoped to Be as durable as it Had Been Communicative and determining—But whatever Has Since Been the violation, Corruption, and Lately the Avowed proscription of Liberal ideas, I am Convinced more Seed Has Been preserved than is Commonly thought; nor do I Question their Reviving Again to Enliven the old as well as the New world.

The Marquis de La Fayette to Thomas Jefferson, July 4, 1812

“Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson, 4 July 1812,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/03-05-02-0167. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Retirement Series, vol. 5, 1 May 1812 to 10 March 1813, ed. J. Jefferson Looney. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008, pp. 212–215.] (07/04/2024)

[davbertieloml]

Happy VE Day 🇬🇧✌🏻

On this day 79 years ago, to mark the end of the war in Europe, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, and Prime Minister Winston Churchill celebrated VE Day at Buckingham Palace on 8 May 1945 with happiness jubilation sweeping across the land 🇬🇧✌🏻🌟