Table of contents for No. 29 in All About History

Although panning for gold is a relatively risk-free pursuit if fast flowing rivers are avoided, mining for gold comes with a host of dangers. The worst mining disaster in Californian history occurred after the gold rush had ended in 1922 in the Argonaut Mine. There were 47 miners working 4,650 feet below ground when a fire broke out, trapping the men. A few lucky miners closer to the surface managed to climb out and poured water down the shaft in an effort to stifle the flames. The fire raged for two and a half days before it was fully extinguished and rescue crews could make their way down. It took a further three weeks to reach the level where the miners were trapped. Sadly, none survived, and it’s likely they…

The Plymouth Colony was not the first English colonial venture in North America, and it certainly wasn’t the most successful, but to this day it occupies a special part of American history. What made the colony different is that instead of the entrepreneurs that wished to make their fortune in colonies like Jamestown, the Plymouth settlers were fleeing religious persecution in England, seeking a place they could be free to practise their faith. They made the dangerous voyage from Plymouth, England, to North America, but once they stepped foot on land, they faced a difficult and dangerous struggle to create the home they dreamed of. BUILD LODGINGS Once ashore, the colony decided to settle in a village that was previously abandoned due to a plague. Thanks to this outbreak, the…

15 January 1929 Born Michael King Jr in Atlanta, Georgia, he’s the middle child of Reverend Michael King and Alberta Williams King. 1934 King Sr finds inspiration in the works of German theologian Martin Luther. He renames himself and his eldest son in tribute. 1948 King graduates with a BA in Sociology. He becomes a minister and enters the Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania. 1944 A gifted student, King graduates at the age of 15 and passes the entry exam for the prestigious Morehouse College. 1 December 1955 King joins the Montgomery Bus Boycott following Rosa Parks’ arrest. Four days later, he’s elected the spokesman for the movement. 1957 The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is formed by King to battle segregation and attain civil rights for African Americans. 1960 King…

The mysterious ‘Raoul’ Ray remained adamant he had been hired by a man named Raoul. He had apparently met him in Canada and travelled with him to Memphis to oversee the hit. The FBI dismissed this claim, but in 1998 a retired FBI agent revealed he had found pieces of paper in Ray’s car referring to such a suspect. Lloyd Jowers ordered the hit One theory doesn’t even include Ray as the shooter. It centres on Lloyd Jowers, who ran the Jim’s Grill bar across the road from the Lorraine Motel where King was staying. Jowers, in 1993, claimed Memphis produce dealer Frank Liberto paid him $100,000 to hire a hitman – and it wasn’t Ray. It was a government hit According to Ray’s last lawyer, William Pepper, the US…

Jacques de Molay 1243 - 18 MARCH 1314 The 23rd and last grand master of the Knights Templar. Little is known of De Molay’s early life, but he subsequently became the most well known Templar. He aimed to reform the Order, a goal he was never able to fulfil. Philip IV of France 1268 - 29 NOVEMBER 1314 Also known as the Iron King, Philip led France from a feudal country to a centralised state. He had great belief in an all-powerful monarchy, and it was his ambition to fill thrones worldwide with his relatives. As well as destroying the Knights Templar, he also expelled Jews from France. Pope Clement V 1264-1314 Born Raymond Bertrand de Got, Clement was made pope on 5 June 1305. There is some dispute over…

SPITTING ON THE CROSS FOR Although often written as one of Philip’s many trumped-up charges, there is evidence that this accusation had basis in fact. Not only did a number of Templars confess to it, but Philip’s spies, who secretly joined the Order, confirmed it. A recent discovery of the ‘Chinon Parchment’ in the Vatican library further confirms the charges. Under questioning in 1308, Jacques de Molay admitted to such practices. AGAINST Although De Molay confirmed that spitting on the cross took place, chalking this up to heresy shows a lack of understanding. De Molay said these practices were designed to harden a Templar to the torture he would be subjected to by Saracens, training them to deny their faith “with the mind only and not with the heart.” Philip’s…

Zeus King of the gods Claimed to be neutral in the Trojan War, but really favoured the victory of the Trojans. Hera Queen of the gods Zeus’s wife, she constantly punished his lovers for his infidelity, while she remained pure. Poseidon God of the sea Easily angered, he lost patronage of Athens to Athena, so sent a monster to attack it. Hades God of the Underworld Lived in the Underworld. Although not evil, he didn’t let the dead escape justice. Ares God of war Worshipped for war, but was sometimes considered too bloodthirsty and extreme. Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty Patron of Troy and in particular of Prince Paris, and Aeneas – her son by the mortal Anchises. Apollo God of music, art, truth, and prophecy The twin of…

Captain James Cook stands alongside Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Francis Drake as one of Britain’s most renowned sailors and explorers. His three voyages abroad resulted in the discovery of New Zealand, Tahiti, Hawaii and the east coast of Australia, which helped Britain expand its global empire and learn much about these far-flung lands. Born in Marton, Yorkshire, in 1728, Cook began his working life as an assistant shopkeeper, but quickly realised that he was destined for a career at sea. He became an apprentice master mariner by the age of 18, before earning the rank of mate on the ship Friendship six years later. He turned down the opportunity to join a merchant ship in 1755, choosing instead to enrol in the Royal Navy. Within two years he had…

On a cold, dark evening, Queen Victoria stood at the top of the main staircase at the heart of Windsor Castle. It was 7.30pm on 10 October 1839, and she was expecting two visitors from Germany: Albert and his brother Ernest. The trio had met before but the queen had not been very impressed. At a dinner three years earlier, Albert in particular had proven to be a slovenly, shy and awkward guest, prone to yawning and sleeping in the afternoon. She was unimpressed by his weight and feared he had shown little time for court life. But as he walked into her view that evening, her opinion of him suddenly changed. Albert – a German prince of Saxe-Coburg, a small German kingdom with a strong role in the dynastic…

THE COST OF COURAGE La Résistance lives on Author Charles Kaiser Publisher Other Press Price $26.95 Released Out now Out of the many chapters of World War II, the story of the French Resistance is one of the most dramatic and tragic. In the face of certain torture and likely death if they were caught, thousands risked their lives in order to hamper the Nazis and the ruling Vichy regime. Everyone involved has their own story, but the one Charles Kaiser is most interested in telling is that of the Boulloche siblings: Christiane, Jacqueline and André (who later became Charles de Gaulle’s personal representative in Paris). Along with many other Parisians, this relatively well-off trio played a critical role in the French Resistance, to their great cost: in 1944, André…

THEODORE ROOSEVELT Nationality: American Born: 27 October 1858 Died: 6 January 1919 Brief Bio Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt worked as governor of New York before becoming vice president. After William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, he became the youngest person to assume the presidency. In 1904, he was voted in for a second term and became a leading force for progressive politics. Roosevelt was also known for his work in ecological conservation. 01 HEALTH ISSUES PLAGUED HIS YOUTH Despite his robust and active later life, Roosevelt struggled with severe asthma and other health problems during his youth. He also experienced horrific nighttime asthma attacks, of which doctors told his parents there was no cure. It was Roosevelt’s father who encouraged the young boy to train and strengthen his body. 02 His…

JAMES MARSHALL 1810-85, USA Marshall was the first person to report finding gold in the American River, prompting the California Gold Rush. JAMES ‘GRIZZLY’ ADAMS 1812-60, USA This famous mountain man briefly tried his luck at mining gold, but found it more profitable to sell game to the miners. SAMUEL BRANNAN 1819-89, USA Brannan was the first millionaire of the Gold Rush, amassing his wealth by buying mining equipment to sell to prospectors. ALBERT W HICKS 1820-60, USA Also known as ‘Pirate Hicks’, this murderer was the last person executed for piracy in the USA. He confessed to killing 97 people in gold camps across California.…

M1 HELMET HOW TO STAY HEADSTRONG This headgear was standard issue for the US military since World War II. The helmet’s hard lining and hefty weight earned it the nickname the ‘steel pot’ and it wasn’t unusual for troops to customise them with peace signs or playing cards. While the Joker meant good luck, the Ace of Spades was associated with death. BODY ARMOUR NOT JUST ANY ORDINARY JACKET Loaded with ammunition pouches and grenade hangers, flak jackets also provided some protection. These zip-up vests could withstand case fragments from explosive weaponry, such as grenades and projectiles, but it was by no means bulletproof. SMOKE GRENADE SENDING STRONG SIGNALS If you’ve ever watched Apocalypse Now and wondered where the billowing coloured smoke came from, it’s the M18 grenade. Used to…

1 Ray had racist beliefs While he was born in Illinois, Ray and his family eventually relocated to Bowling Green, Missouri – a city with a considerable Ku Klux Klan presence. Drawn in by the radical yet influential views of the KKK, Ray reportedly embraced its racist views at a young age – it’s these views, tempered by a life of poverty and crime, that may have driven Ray to kill one of the most prominent African Americans in the country’s history. 2 He was, and always had been, a poor man Some believe that one of Ray’s motives for the killing may have been purely financial. He’d been born into poverty and had struggled on the breadline for most of his life. Unable to find success in education, Ray’s…

Seneschal Also known as the grand commander, the seneschal was the grand master’s right-hand man and adviser. He was responsible for many administrative duties; during peacetime he would manage the Order’s lands, and in war would organise the movement of the men and supplies. Marshal The marshal was in control of everything to do with war. He was responsible for all the arms and horses, as well as a host of other military matters. The grand master would consult with the marshal before going ahead with any battle tactics. Commanders of lands There were commanders of three lands: Jerusalem, Antioch and Tripoli. The commander of Jerusalem also acted as treasurer, while the other commanders had specific regional responsibilities according to their cities. They were responsible for the Templar houses, farms…

BARRY STRAUSS Author Bio Barry Strauss teaches history and classics at Cornell University. He is the author of 12 books including The Trojan War: A New History (2006) and, most recently, The Death Of Caesar: The Story Of History’s Most Famous Assassination (2015). The Greeks and Romans often retold the story of the Trojan War, but the earliest and most prestigious version is Homer’s. He was a Greek-speaking poet who probably lived in about 700 BCE in what is now western Turkey and composed two epic poems, stories of heroes long gone by. They are the Iliad or Story of Ilion (that is, Troy) and the Odyssey or Story of Odysseus. Their focus, the Trojan War, took place about 500 years earlier. Homer enjoyed a long tradition of oral poetry…

Hawaiian natives Although the Hawaiians treated Cook as a god when he arrived on the island, his relationship with the natives soured quite quickly. This culminated in Cook being fatally wounded when he arrested a Hawaiian king following the theft of one of his boats. Joseph Banks The famed botanist travelled with Cook and collected plants on the captain’s first trip to Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia. However, he didn’t join the second journey after he and Cook had a falling out; all because the captain didn’t allow Banks to have an extra deck on the ship. Aborigines The natives of Australia did not appreciate Cook and his crew’s arrival on their lands. It was reported that as the fleet arrived in Botany Bay, the Aborigines threw their spears at…

It is no secret that fortune favours those born into it. Many of the wealthiest people throughout history belonged to the elite classes, the aristocracy and royalty. It is for this reason that the lives of the ten people on this list are all the more remarkable. The majority of them were born into the lowest rungs of society: they were peasants, slaves and delinquents who defied the odds and restrictions of their time to achieve amazing success. From the peasant emperor who began a dynasty to the servant girl who captured the heart of the most powerful man in Russia, these people not only managed to achieve fame, but they also changed the world in the process. Although being born into wealth can certainly make things easier, what these…

1 Go to a ball Young Victorian women will make themselves officially available, typically by attending a dance or a ball. An older chaperone will maintain a watchful eye while potential suitors express interest in a dance. The woman will select the most suitable. 2 Talk and walk Once a potential match is found, the courtship can begin. Suitors will have a (clean and proper) conversation under the watchful eye of the chaperone, but physical contact is forbidden. All being well, the couple may take a walk together. 3 Be flirtatious It is perfectly acceptable for some flirtation, but not excessively so. It is also important for the man to be accepted by the woman’s parents – this is usually helped by a man being deemed financially ready for marriage.…

Author: Igor Nebolsin Price: £45 Publisher: Helion & Company The war the Nazis waged against the Soviet Union in 1941›45 turned western Russia and Eastern Europe into the biggest slaughterhouse the world had ever seen. Among the millions of lives swept up by this murderous tidal wave were the 60,000 or so who made up the Soviet 2nd Guards Tank Army. This is as comprehensive an account of their journey from Kursk in July 1943 to the fall of Berlin in April 1945 as is ever likely to be written. It gives us a highly detailed account of the army’s war from its inception to its offensive in Romania.…

14 CE Postumus is executed Agrippa Postumus was the grandson of Roman Emperor Augustus. The emperor adopted him after his father’s death, and for a while he was heir to the throne, but he is executed under mysterious circumstances. 636 The Battle of Yarmouk Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine away from the Byzantine Empire, marking the first great wave of Muslim conquests and the rapid advance of Islam outside Arabia. 1000 Saint Stephen ascends Stephen I was the last Grand Prince of the Hungarians and the first of his family to become a devout Christian. He has had to compete for the throne with his relative Koppany, who was supported by an army of Pagans. 1308 De Molay is pardoned Grand Master…

Photos Scans of snaps that offer insight to the past Antiques and objects Show off your family heirlooms, mementos and retro curios Letters from the past Old correspondence can hold a wealth of historical info and fascinating stories News clippings Articles reporting on iconic events Amazing stories Interesting or insightful tales passed down from your ancestors Eyewitness accounts Did you witness a historic event in person? Share it today Family trees A chance to boast about famous or significant ancestors…

The States across history THE COLONIAL ERA BEGINS 8 SEPTEMBER 1565 The Spanish founded the settlement of San Agustin (now St Augustine, Florida), the first of many permanent European colonies in what would eventually become the United States. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, European powers made their mark on the continent, warring with the native population and one another in a scramble for dominance. In particular, the British-French rivalry had a marked influence on the future of North America. Debts amassed by Britain during the Seven Years’ War led to increased taxation in the colonies, ultimately provoking the independence movement. War of Independence 1775-83 After the Seven Years’ War, Britain imposed new taxes on their American colonial cousins to help pay off their debts. This sparked fierce protest from…

JESSE OWENS ALABAMA 1913-80 A natural athlete from a very young age, Jesse Owens broke school records with ease. His talents on the track did not go unnoticed, and by 1935, Owens was creating new world records at the Big Ten Championships. The next year came his most famous moment, the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Held in the capital of Nazi Germany, Owens shocked the Nazi hierarchy and all that they believed in by securing four gold medals in athletics as a disbelieving Führer watched on. Owens struggled for money after the Olympics so earned some extra cash racing horses, dogs and even motorcycles “I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free” Rosa Parks ROSA PARKS ALABAMA 1913-2005…

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR (BORN MICHAEL KING JR) American, 1929-68 Brief Bio Born into the degradation of the Great Depression and the strife of ongoing racial division, Michael King Jr would, alongside his father, adopt the name Martin Luther in honour of the radical German theologian. Despite battling depression and a young scepticism to religion, King would become one of the most influential activists for racial equality: a passion that would eventually take his life. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s – a social and political upheaval that changed the United States, and indeed the wider world – has immortalised many of its most famous activists. Some were radicals, urging African Americans to break the shackles of enforced segregation and create a new nation of black supremacy, while others…

J Edgar Hoover When it comes to counting your enemies, having the radical director of the FBI as one of them is a feat in and unto itself. While it’s not been proven that Hoover had any objection to King’s objectives in the Civil Rights Movement, he did attempt to destabilise its progress upon discovering communist spies among his top advisers. Governor George Wallace When George Wallace took the Oath of Office for the governorship of Alabama, he brought with him an iron desire to enforce and maintain racial segregation. It was a stance he pursued for many years, especially in spite of King’s movements, but he would recant his views in later life. Malcolm X While Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr weren’t enemies as individuals, their beliefs…

Within moments of unleashing the bullet that would take Martin Luther King Jr’s life, James Earl Ray packed his rifle and other effects into a box, wrapped it in an old cloth and fled the boarding house he’d been using to stalk the outspoken minister. Dumping the bundled box outside a nearby amusement arcade, Ray had run to his white Mustang and sped out of Memphis as King lay dying on the first floor of the Lorraine Hotel. In the days that followed, Ray acquired a Canadian passport under the false name of Ramon George Sneyd and took shelter in the city of Ontario. The FBI issued a warrant for his arrest, adding him to their notorious Most Wanted list while also putting an APB out on all of his…

Jacques de Molay was calm. Through seven long years of accusations, trials, torture, denials and confessions, he had been anything but calm, but as the frail, bearded man was led out onto the Île aux Juifs on the Seine, he did not weep or tremble. A crowd had gathered to watch the old man die, and a pyre had been erected on the small island, ready to be lit and claim his soul. De Molay was stripped of the rags that were once clothes, down to his threadbare shirt, then the guards strapped his thin, pale body to the stake. Finally, the silent man spoke. He asked to be turned to face the cathedral of Notre Dame, and that his hands be freed so he could die in prayer. These…

British Isles Edward II was initially sceptical about the Templars’ guilt and had no reasons to view them as a threat. He wrote to the pope in defence of the Order, but was eventually forced to arrest and try many Templars. Initially, torture was not allowed and all the Templars pleaded innocent, but when the pope’s inquisitors took over, confessions came fast. However, they were spared burning and simply forced to repent publicly. Those who refused were incarcerated until death. Italy The situation in Italy varied. The Papal States unsurprisingly acted at once, but in Lombardy there was widespread support for the Order. For the number of Templars confessing to the accusations, there were just as many claiming the others were lying. In Florence, despite using torture, only 6 of…

Between 1450 and 1180 BCE, Greece was dominated by a series of warrior kingdoms, of which the most important were Mycenae, Thebes, Tiryns and Pylos. We call their civilisation Mycenaean. The inhabitants spoke Greek, as shown by thousands of surviving texts written in a syllabic script called Linear B, a predecessor to the later Greek alphabet. They worshipped the same pagan gods that feature in the Iliad. Mycenaean kings lived in palaces decorated with masterworks of art. Elite women were elegant and well dressed. Palace officials supervised the economic life of the kingdom and collected taxes and tribute. Their engineers built roads, bridges, fortifications, drainage works and large vaulted tombs. The city of Mycenae itself was eventually walled and entered via the Lion Gate that still impresses visitors today. In…

Captain Charles Clerke Cook’s trusted deputy, Clerke accompanied him on his three historic voyages. Upon Cook’s death in Hawaii, Clerke took charge of Discovery and Resolution but died of consumption before the ships made it back to Britain. Cook’s crew Scurvy was a constant danger on long journeys at sea until Cook came along. He took the health of his crew very seriously and his insistence on cleanliness on board the ship and the eating of fresh vegetables saved many of his crew from the fatal illness. John Harrison The clock maker thought he had solved the problem of measuring longitude at sea, but his invention needed to be tested. Cook was the man for the job and did so, proving that Harrison’s invention worked, aiding generations of sailors in…

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon’s dazzling rise in the wake of the French Revolution is almost worthy of being called a rags-to-riches story in its own right, but his disastrous fall was even more dramatic. At the height of his success, he gained control of continental Europe and placed his relatives on thrones across the continent. However, after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815, he was exiled and imprisoned on the remote island of Saint Helena. He lived out his final days in Longwood house, which was falling into disrepair and suffered from damp, dusty conditions. Many believe that his harsh treatment and miserable existence hastened his death on 5 May 1821. Lesson learned: Keep your ambitions in check Eike Batista Batista initially made his fortune on the gold and diamond trades…

William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders Although the couple, who married in 1053, had been excommunicated by the pope, they remained together until Matilda died in 1083. Her death caused William to become deeply depressed, but they had at least four sons and five daughters and their marriage was said to be happy. There were rumours that she had been in love with the English ambassador to Flanders, though. True love? Yes Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville were a mismatch from the beginning: a royal and a minor noble. But the king is said to have instantly fallen in love with her. He married her without haste, albeit in secret. This caused great upset and Elizabeth gained a reputation (whether justified or not) for…

What do you think it is about the Horrible Histories stage shows that has made them such a success? It attracts a lot of schools because it’s educational as well as entertainment. Of course, the books themselves are a well-known brand, so people who wouldn’t normally go to the theatre see it advertised and think “oh, we can see it in a different format, without having to read the books.” What can people expect from the new show Barmy Britain – Part Three!? We’re going back to the Stone Age, which is further than we’ve been back before and we go right through to World War II. We meet some quirky characters, like Lord Nelson, and discover remarkable true stories. Horrible Histories are not just for children. Can the same…

Follow us at… @AboutHistoryMag @AboutHistoryMag been waiting to read this all day! Finally got a chance after work!! @Sharmin_H26 @AboutHistoryMag LOVED the article about Marie Antoinette!! Absolutely brilliant read this month in general, as usual!! @ClaireHac There’s a six page spread about King Alfred vs the Vikings in this month’s @AboutHistoryMag. I’m in heaven/Valhalla @joe_poisoning @AboutHistoryMag Thanks for the issue that arrived today-having my ‘historical hero’ on the cover was great to see & good reading... @Mademoiselllle Yeah boyyy!! Excellent job as always @AboutHistoryMag #History #FrenchRevolution #greatMagazines @ComprtamsWhisky…