October 27th - November 2nd
On 27th October…
Death of King Athelstan
939 - King Athelstan died. He was a grandson of King Alfred the Great and was also the king who can claim to be first King of All England.
Athelstan forged alliances with European countries by marrying off his half-sisters to their rulers. When he died his half-brother, Edmund became the new king.
1644 - The second Battle of Newbury took place during the English Civil War. The English Civil War was a series of battles between King Charles I with his supporters (the Royalists or Cavaliers) and Parliament (the Parliamentarians or Roundheads) over the governance of England.
Captain Cook was born
1728 - Captain James Cook was born in Yorkshire, England. He is the famous British explorer who became the first European to explore Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
On 28th October…
King Henry III crowned at the age of 9
1216 - King Henry III was quickly crowned King of England at Gloucester Abbey just nine days after his father, King John, had died. Henry was only nine years old. He was given a full ceremonial coronation again in 1220 at Westminster Abbey when he was thirteen.
Henry III is the fifth longest serving English monarch - he ruled for 56 years and 29 days.
1664 - The Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot was established during the reign of King Charles II. The regiment became known as the Royal Marines in 1802 when they were given their new title by King George III.
1726 - Gulliver’s Travels written by Jonathan Swift was published in London. It is a set of stories about a man called Lemuel Gulliver and his travels to different nations in distant lands. Some of those lands were inhabited by tiny people where Gulliver was seen as a giant.
On 29th October…
Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite was executed for treason by King James
1618 - Sir Walter Raleigh was executed by King James VI & I for treason. Walter Raleigh was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, she had bestowed a knighthood on him giving him the title of ‘Sir’ and had also made him captain of the Queen’s Guard. After her death he was accused of plotting against King James; he was imprisoned in the Tower of London and sentenced to death. His sentence was reduced to life imprisonment but after spending 12 years in the Tower of London he was released and sent on an expedition by King James to find El Dorado, the fabled Golden Land. When Raleigh failed to find El Dorado, he was again thrown into the Tower of London to await his execution.
On 30th October…
Coronation of King Henry VII
1485 - King Henry VII was crowned king of England at Westminster Abbey following his victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field during the Wars of the Roses where he defeated King Richard III.
Henry VII was the first of the Tudor kings and united the two warring royal houses; House York and House Lancaster, by marrying a daughter of King Edward IV - Elizabeth of York.
On 31st October…
Halloween
Halloween - Halloween began in the Celtic festival of Samhain in ancient Britain and Ireland. It was considered to be the last day of the year, the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark winter months. It was the time of year when doorways between this world and the Other-world or Afterlife were at their thinnest. It was when the souls of people who had died were believed to return to visit their homes, and the souls of those who had died during that year were able to journey to the other world. To celebrate the festival people lit huge bonfires and brought harvest foods and sacrificed animals to share in a communal feast. They would then use the flames from the bonfire to light their home fires for the winter and to frighten away any evil spirits. People often wore animal heads and skins at the festival, some say this was to avoid being recognised by the ghosts. When Christianity came to Britain the day became known as All Hallow’s Eve which in turn became Halloween.
Richard II married 6-year old Isabella of Valois for a political alliance
1396 - King Richard II married Isabella of Valois. He was 29 years old and she was only 6 years. Their marriage was made for a political alliance with France and King Richard treated Isabella as if she was his daughter. He died four years later leaving Isabella a widow at the age of 10 years.
On 1st November…
Shakespeare’s plays premiere 7 years apart
On this day, seven years apart, two of William Shakespeare’s plays were first shown at the Royal Banqueting House in Whitehall, London, to an audience which included King James VI & I.
1604 - Othello - a play about an African General who is duped into believing his Italian wife is betraying him. Eventually Othello kills his wife and then commits suicide when he finds out that she was faithful the entire time.
1611 - The Tempest - a play about a storm, an island, a shipwreck, and magic.
1762 - Spencer Perceval, the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated, was born in London.
1848 - Mr W.H. Smith opened the first ever travel retail store when his railway bookstall began trading in Euston Station, London. He already had a newspaper shop in Grosvenor Street, London, which he had taken over from his parents in 1828.
1887 - The British artist L.S. Lowry was born in Greater Manchester, England. He is famous for painting industrial scenes with thin, matchstick looking people.
On 2nd November…
Edward V was born in Westminster Abbey
1470 - King Edward V of England was born in the safety of Westminster Abbey whilst his dad was seeking sanctuary abroad. He was the son of King Edward IV and at the age of 12 years he was declared king on the death of his father. Edward V reigned for just over two months before Parliament declared him to be an illegitimate son and therefore not eligible to be king. His uncle Richard was proclaimed King Richard III and Edward was sent to the Tower of London with his brother for safety. The two boys disappeared shortly afterwards, possibly murdered; their story has become known as the Princes in the Tower.