Beginning of the Spanish Civil War
On 17 July 1936 colonial troops rose against the republican government in Madrid. The Spanish Civil War had started.
Mathew Lyons
The First Tour de France
On 1 July 1903 a publicity stunt for a sporting paper cycled into history as the first Tour de France.
End of the Gin Craze
The Gin Act of 25 June 1751 finally succeeded where previous legislation had failed and banished ‘Madam Genever’ from Georgian London.
Henry the Young King is Crowned
On 14 June 1170 Henry II crowned his successor. Rather than secure the Angevin realm, it set the stage for rebellion.
The Affair of the Diamond Necklace
On 31 May 1786 Paris relished the humiliation of Marie Antoinette as the Affaire du collier de la reine concluded in court.
The Discovery of Petroglyphs
Norwegian doctor Peder Alfsön died on 3 May 1663, having discovered – but misinterepreted – the prehistoric rock carvings at Backa Brastad.
The Pazzi Conspiracy
On 26 April 1478 the attempted coup against Florentine tyrant Lorenzo de’ Medici ended in disaster.
The First Venice Biennale
By the late 19th century the relationship between art and Italy felt consigned to history. On 30 April 1895 creativity and controversy returned with the first Venice Biennale.
The Sicilian Vespers
Two thousand were slain on the night of 30 March 1282 as the Kingdom of Sicily rose against the hated Charles of Anjou in the Sicilian Vespers.
End of the Pastry War
Mexico’s disgraced saviour General Antonio López de Santa Anna completed his comeback on 9 March 1839 as the Pastry War came to a close.