A Latin word used to describe the set of political and social ideas and practices that the Romans used to define themselves. Those without Romanitas were considered barbarian.
Romanitas
Fact of the Day
Elizabeth I could cost her hosts so much on her visits that some tried to shut up their houses and stay away to prevent it. This did no good for the earl of Lincoln: Elizabeth broke into his Chelsea residence, had a feast, and then charged the bill to Lincoln.
Quote of the Day
"I think a curse should rest on me, because I love this war. I know it's smashing and shattering the lives of thousands every moment, and yet I can't help it, I enjoy every second of it.
"
~ Winston Churchill in 1916
On This Day
1715 The French monk Dom Pérignon died, aged 76. It is wrongly claimed that he invented sparkling wine.
1752 Wednesday 2 September was followed by Thursday 14 September when the Gregorian Calendar was introduced into Britain.
1812 Following victory at the Battle of Borodino, Napoleon's vanguard entered Moscow. Perhaps as a result of Russian resistance, the city was set on fire and when the fire eventually burnt out four days later, only a small portion of the city, and 12,000 charred bodies, remained.
1852 Military hero and politician Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, died due to the aftereffects of a stroke, aged 83.
1901 US President William McKinley died of the gunshot wounds he'd received from an assassin eight days previously.
1932 Paul Gorguloff, the assassin of French president Paul Doumer, was guillotined. He'd killed Doumer because of a hypnotic vision.
1975 Catholic convert, mother, and founder of Catholic schools, Elizabeth Ann Seton became the first American to be canonized, by Pope Paul VI.