A social and economic system under the feudal system, whereby peasants owed their lord labour, theoretically in return for protection.
Serfdom
Fact of the Day
A third of Hungarians are thought to have died during the Mongol invasions of the 13th century.
Quote of the Day
"The English piously believe themselves to be a peaceful people; nobody else is of the same belief.
"
~ Gladstone
On This Day
43 BCE The assassination of Cicero, requested by Marc Antony. When his head was delivered to Anthony, his wife, Fulvia, spat on it and jabbed hairpins into his tongue.
1732 The Theatre Royal, now known as the Covent Garden Opera House, opened with a performance of the Beggar's Opera.
1787 Delaware became the first state of the modern United States.
1817 Rear-Admiral William Bligh died. He had been captain of HMS Bounty during the mutiny.
1941 The Japanese launched a surprise attack on the American naval base a Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, killing 2,403.
1982 Charles Brooks Jr became the first person to be executed by lethal injection, with a huge dose of 'truth serum'
