Browsing: November 30

A Brief History This article presents a chronological list of notable events that happened on November 30th.  For each date below, please click on the date to be taken to an article covering that date’s event. Digging Deeper On November 30 1016, Edmund Ironside, also known as Edmund II or even Ēadmund Isernside (in Old English), was murdered on his “throne,” stabbed to death as he attended to “business.” On November 30, 1718, while manning a front line trench in a battle in Norway, the King of Sweden, Charles XII, was killed by either a musket ball or a grape…

A Brief History On November 30, 1936, the Crystal Palace in London, England was destroyed by a fire.  The huge iron, wood, and mostly glass building had been built for the Great Exposition of 1,851 and stretched 1851 feet long with an interior height of 128 feet.  Erected in Hyde Park, after the Exposition the entire structure was dismantled and rebuilt in South London. Digging Deeper Some other significant structures destroyed by fire include: The Great Library at Alexandria, burned in 48 BC when Julius Caesar burned a fleet in the harbor that spread to the iconic library. The White…

A Brief History On November 30, 1718, while manning a front line trench in a battle in Norway, the King of Sweden, Charles XII, was killed by either a musket ball or a grape shot ball right through his head.  Despite the horrific wound, he immediately grasped his head at the entrance wound with his left hand, leaving his glove soaked in blood.  Not only are we not sure if the fatal shot came from a musket or a cannon, but we are also left with various conspiracy theories that the King may have been accidentally or purposely shot by…

A Brief History On November 30 1016, Edmund Ironside, also known as Edmund II or even Ēadmund Isernside (in Old English), was murdered on his “throne,” stabbed to death as he attended to “business.” Digging Deeper Why the quotation marks around “throne” and “business?” Because the poor guy was trying to go to the bathroom at the time of his assassination!  What a “crappy” way to die!  In fact, Edmund had only been king since April 23, 1016, so he barely got to enjoy the benefits of his time as king.  Other chroniclers have claimed the doomed king was done…

A Brief History On November 30, 1786, Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo I of The Grand Duchy of Tuscany initiated the first ban on capital punishment of any modern state.  Contrary to other European leaders, and for that matter, virtually all World leaders, apparently Leopold (later Emperor Leopold II of the Holy Roman Empire) must have thought the death penalty was not essential for those in power to remain in power.  A proponent of “Enlightened Absolutism” (alternately called “Enlightened Despotism”), Leopold believed in the power of a monarchy to be used for the benefit of the people, but in a benevolent…