Renius

The Historical Lady Godiva



There is in fact, no evidence that connects the legendary event with the historical figure of Lady Godiva. If such an event actually occurred it would seem likely that it would have been mentioned in contemporary sources but as the first mention of the ride through Coventry was written over two hundred years later, it seems unlikely that there is any truth in it.

Born in the latter half on the eleventh century, Lady Godiva was an extremely powerful woman although not much is known about her. She owned land in several areas including Coventry, Gloucestershire and her largest holding in Nottinghamshire. She was described by chronicler Ingulphus as, "the most beauteous of all women of her time" and is believed to have had two husbands, the first dying around 1028.

For much of history, Elizabeth Petrovna, also known as Tsar Elizabeth I, has been regarded as the intermediary ruler between the two famed 18th-century Russian Tsars, Peter the Great and Catherine I.

She has been celebrated as a court favorite, renowned for having an "ethereal spirit," establishing herself as the center of attention at balls, and loving to dance. Yet, throughout the historiography of Russian rulers, few contributions of substance had been attributed to Elizabeth's reign.

In recent years, however, the positive effects of her control over the throne have been published and the stigma of being the "transitional" leader during the middle years of the 1700s has diminished.

Following the death of her brother, King Kalakaua, Liliuokalani becomes the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands.

Hawaii, first settled by Polynesian voyagers sometime in the eighth century, saw a massive influx of American settlers during the 19th century, most coming to exploit Hawaii's burgeoning sugar industry.

In 1887, under pressure from U.S. investors and American sugar planters, King Kalakaua agreed to a new constitution that stripped him of much of his power. However, in 1891, Liliuokalani ascended to the throne and refused to recognize the constitution of 1887, replacing it instead with a constitution that restored the monarchy's traditional authority.

Anne was the last of the Stuart monarchs, and the first sovereign of Great Britain. Anne was born on 6 February 1665 in London, the second daughter of James, Duke of York, brother of Charles II.

She spent her early years in France living with her aunt and grandmother. Although Anne's father was a Catholic, on the instruction of Charles II Anne and her sister Mary were raised as Protestants. In 1683, Anne married Prince George of Denmark. It was to be a happy marriage, although marred by Anne's frequent miscarriages, still births and the death of children in infancy.

In the early 16th century, the Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II ruled from the city of Tenochitilan, situated in the location of present day Mexico City. His armies were feared by neighbouring states who paid tribute to the Aztecs and had hundreds of thousands of their citizens sacrificed in elaborate religious rituals to the Aztec gods.

In the Hands of Destiny



A great Japanese warrior named Nobunaga decided to attack the enemy although he had only one-tenth the number of men the opposition commanded. He knew that he would win, but his soldiers were in doubt.

On the way he stopped at a Shinto shrine and told his men: "After I visit the shrine I will toss a coin. If heads comes, we will win; if tails, we will lose. Destiny holds us in her hand."

Nobunaga entered the shrine and offered a silent prayer. He came forth and tossed a coin. Heads appeared. His soldiers were so eager to fight that they won their battle easily.

"No one can change the hand of destiny," his attendant told him after the battle.

"Indeed not," said Nobunaga, showing a coin which had been doubled, with heads facing either way.