French historian and soldier. He fought bravely in the First World War, being admitted to the Legion d’Honneur, and in the interwar period published a range of pioneering historical works. At the outset of the Second World War he joined the Resistance, and was later tortured and killed by the Nazis.
On This Day
1378 – Cardinal Robert of Geneva, named by some contemporaries as the ‘Butcher of Cesena’, is elected as Avignon Pope Clement VII, thereby commencing the Papal schism.
1860 – The future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom begins the first visit to North America by a Prince of Wales. Known as Bertie to his family, outside the Royal circle he will acquire the nickname of ‘Dirty Bertie’ and as king ‘Edward the Caresses’.
1893 – Engineer Charles Duryea and his brother road-test the first American-made gasoline-powered automobile.
More at: History
HistoryWow’s Quick Shot Videos
A short, sharp hit of history in video format. Acclaimed Irish playwright and novelist Oscar Wilde was the toast of London society in the 1890s until things came decidedly unstuck through an association with a young British aristocrat, Lord Alfred Douglas, known as ‘Bosie’.
The source for this HistoryWow video is: Oscar and Bosie - A Fatal Passion by Trevor Fisher; General Historical Texts.
More Quick Shot Videos on HistoryWow's YouTube Channel: 
Who Am I?
- I was born on 29 April 1901 in Tokyo.
- I was the first son of the 21-year-old Crown Prince and 17-year-old Crown Princess.
- I was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Cambridge.
- I began my reign as Emperor of Japan in 1926.
- I died in 1987 and was given a state funeral.
Last week’s answer:
Augustus (63 BCE – 14 CE)
More at: History
HistoryWow’s Highlighted Historical Quotation
“There is dignity in serenity, there is dignity in clenched teeth and flashing eyes.”
Yukio Mishima, Japanese poet, author and nationalist.Source: Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishima
More at: History
HistoryWow’s Featured Historical Figure of Note
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)German composer. His music is some of the most performed of the classical music repertoire. Remarkably, he continued to compose music despite his gradual loss of hearing.
More at: History
