Also known as a 'coup': a sudden, and often violent, illegal seizure of power from a government.
Coup d'état
Fact of the Day
In 1800, the Holy Roman Empire could boast 45 universities. France had 22, and England had two.
Quote of the Day
"I believe I forgot to tell you I was made a Duke.
"
~ Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington
On This Day
1330 Roger Mortimer, de facto ruler of England after he and Edward II's wife Isabella deposed Edward, was hanged at Tyburn for assuming royal power.
1530 Cardinal Thomas Wolsey died of natural causes on his way to face charges of treason.
1781 The crew of the British slave ship Zong massacred 131 captives by throwing them overboard in a bid to claim insurance money after the crew had made a navigational error and missed their destination.
1812 Napoleon's army retreated across the Berezina River in Belarus. Although the army managed to avoid getting trapped, they suffered massive casualties, and the word 'berezina' became French slang for 'disaster.'
1947 The United Nations approved the partition of Palestine to form an independent Jewish state.
