Pheidippides was a hero of Ancient Greece, whose story has inspired the modern day marathon. Pheidippides was an Athenian herald, or messenger, who ran from Marathon of Athens, a distance of 25 miles, to announce the Greek victory over the Persians, only to then collapse and die.
On This Day
1066 – Norwegian king Harald Hardrada lands with Tostig Godwinson at the mouth of the Humber River thereby commencing his invasion of England.
1454 – During the Thirteen Years’ War, the Polish army is defeated by the Teutonic army at the Battle of Chojnice.
1739 – The Treaty of Belgrade is signed, whereby Austria cedes lands south of the Sava and Danube rivers to the Ottoman Empire.
1837 – Now famous jewelry store Tiffany & Co, first named Tiffany & Young, is founded by Charles Lewis Tiffany and Teddy Young in New York City. The store describes itself as a ‘stationery and fancy goods emporium’.
1873 – New York bankers Jay Cooke & Company declares bankruptcy, contributing to the ‘Panic of 1873’. One of many in Wall Street’s rollercoaster history.
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
