[Steppes] Period Week in Review 11-12-2006 through 11-18-2006

[Mike]

Heilsa,



Hope the reader will enjoy this look at History
within Period - both from the past and the present
as it affects the history that is known today.


11-12-2006
Tibet/China  0701 - 0800
On November 12th, 0764 - Tibetan troops occupy Chang'an, the
capital of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, for fifteen days.
    Chang'an is the ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in China.
"Chang'an" means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese.
In the Ming Dynasty, the city's name was changed to Xi'an,
meaning "Western Peace", which is what the city is called today.
     In 756, Prince Song Detsän was crowned Emperor with the name
Trisong Detsän (Wylie Khri sron lde brtsan) and took control of the
government after a one-year interregnum during which there was no
emperor. In 755 China had been greatly weakened by internal
rebellion, which would last until 763. In contrast, Trisong Detsän's
reign was characterized by the reassertion of Tibetan influence in
Central Asia and against China. Early in his reign regions to the
West of Tibet paid homage to the Tibetan court. From that time
onward the Tibetans pressed into the territory of the Tang
emperors, reaching the Chinese capital Chang'an (modern Xian)
by 763/764. Tibetan troops occupied Chang'an for fifteen days
and installed a puppet emperor while Emperor Daizong of Tang
was in Luoyang. In the meantime, the Kirghiz negotiated an
agreement of friendship with Tibet and other powers to allow
free trade in the region.


11-13-2006
England  1001 - 1100
On November 13th, 1002 - English king Ethelred ordered killing of
all Danes in England, known today as the St. Brice's Day massacre.
    This eventually led to the invasion of England by the Danes under
Sweyn I in 1003, as his sister Gunhilde was amongst those
murdered. The massacre is described in the chronicle of John of
Wallingford.
    At the time, England suffered from repeated attacks by the
Danes, and constant fear of invasion. A tax was collected to pay off
the Danes to prevent invasion. Frustration and, possibly, promises
of support from Normandy, led Ethelred to decree the mass murder.
    The name St. Brice apparently refers to bishop Bricius of Tours,
whose memorial day is November 13.


11-14-2006
France  1501 - 1600
On November 14th, 1522 - Anne of France, Princess and Regent
of France, died at age 51.
    Anne of France, was the daughter of Louis XI, King of France and
his second queen consort, Charlotte of Savoy. Anne was originally
betrothed to Nicholas, Duke of Lorraine and was created
Viscountess of Thouars in 1468 in anticipation of the marriage.
However, Nicholas broke the engagement to pursue Mary of
Burgundy and then died unexpectedly in 1473, prompting Louis to
take back the fief. That same year, Anne married Peter II, Duke of
Bourbon instead.
    During the minority of Anne's brother, Charles VIII, King of France,
Peter and Anne held the regency of France. This regency extended
from 1483 until 1491, and together Peter and Anne maintained the
royal authority and the unity of the kingdom against the Orléans party.
    Anne's regency overcome many difficulties, including unrest
amongst the magnates who had suffered under Louis XI, King of
France's oppressions. Concessions, many of which sacrificed
Louis's favourites, were made, and land was restored to many of the
hostile nobles, including the future Louis XII, King of France, then
known as the Duke of Orléans.
    Anne made the final treaty ending the Hundred Years' War, the
Treaty of Etaples and, in 1491 (despite Austrian and English
opposition), arranged the marriage of her brother Charles to Anne,
Duchess of Brittany, in order to attach Brittany to the French crown.
When Charles ended the regency in 1491, both Anne and Peter fell
victim to the wrath of the new queen, whose duchy's independence
had been compromised.
    Peter died in 1503, and the couple's only daughter Suzanne,
Duchess of Bourbon, succeeded him. Anne, however, had always
been the more dominant member in her marriage and remained the
administrator of the Bourbon lands after his death, protecting them
from royal encroachment.
    Suzanne married another Bourbon prince, Charles of Montpensier,
Constable of France, who later became Charles III, Duke of Bourbon.
The couple, however, remained childless, and Suzanne unfortunately
predeceased her mother. When Anne herself died in 1522, her own
line and that of her father became extinct. A descendant of Anne's
aunt, Anne of Laval, was considered to be her heir.


11-15-2006
Portugal  1400 - 1500
    On November 15th, 1498 - Eleonore of Austria, future Queen of
Portugal and France, born on this date. Eleanore of Austria,
sometimes known also as Leonor of Castile was born Archduchess
of Austria and Infanta of Spain, became subsequently in turn queen
consort of Portugal (1518-1521) and of France, also duchess of
Touraine (1547-1558) as dower. Named Leonor de Austria in
Spanish, Leonor(a) in Portuguese and "royne Eleonore" or
Alienor in French.
    Born in Louvain as the eldest child of Philippe the Handsome,
archduke of Austria and duke of Burgundy and of Joanna of Castile,
Infanta of Castile and Aragon and later queen of the named
countries. Her siblings were: Charles V of the Holy Roman
Empire, Ferdinand I, also emperor of the Holy Roman Empire,
Elizabeth queen of Denmark, Maria queen of Hungary and later
regent of the Low Countries and Catherine, queen of Portugal.


11-16-2006
Japan  1300 - 1400
On November 16th, 1328 - Prince Hisaaki, Japanese shogun,
at age 52. Prince Hisaaki was the 8th shogun of the Kamakura
shogunate of Japan. He was the nominal ruler controlled by Ho-jo- clan
regents. He was the father of his successor, Prince Morikuni.
Prince Hisaaki was born to Emperor Go-Fukakusa.


11-17-2006
Modern Day
Denmark  Viking Era
Possible third Jellinge stone found
     Archaeologists believe they have found a new Viking-era stone
engraved with ancient Danish Rune writing. Archaeologists from
Vejle Museum think they may have found a third 'Jellinge stone' -
a large rock with carved runes and considered the first examples
of written language in Denmark.
    The researchers have found seven stones in all, which they believe
date from the 10th century. Jellinge stones tell of the founding of
Denmark and of Christianity's arrival in the country. Even if the stones
do not yield a true Jellinge stone, the find is still significant.
    "I have no doubts that this is a prehistoric structure," said
Peter Mohr Christensen, one of Vejle Museum's archaeologists,
to Ritzau.
    The stones - some up to two square meters in size - lay partially
buried in the area surrounding Jellinge church on Jutland, the site of
the original two stones. Christensen believes the stones and the hill
where they were found served as a ship launch for the Vikings or
perhaps later groups.
    The older of the two known Jellinge stones was raised ca. 950 by
King Gorm the Old, recognising him as the first king of Denmark.
His lineage runs all the way to the current monarch, Queen Margrethe II,
making the Danish royal family the oldest ruling dynasty in Europe.
    The larger Jellinge stone was raised by Gorm's son, Harald
Bluetooth, in memory of his parents. Its runes tell of the Danes
conversion to Christianity - or at least Harald's declaration of such,
since it was unlikely many in Denmark were even aware of
Christianity at that time.
    It is only rumour that there exists a third Jellinge stone, but
Christensen is still excited about the find.
   "It could be fun to turn the stones over and see whether there is
anything written on them. But it is interesting as well that they could
cast new light on Jellinge Hill's significant shipping site."


11-18-2006
Modern Day
Spain  Roman Empire
Shipwreck may hold secret to ancient Roman sauce
     Scientists hope to piece together the recipe for an ancient Roman
fish sauce from storage jars found in a 2,000-year-old shipwreck off
the eastern coast of Spain.
    "The remains are in excellent condition," co-director of the project,
Carles de Juan said.
     The well-preserved wreck of the first-century merchant vessel
was discovered in 2000 when a ship's anchor got tangled in its cargo.
Scientists now hope the discovery of more than 1,200 storage jars,
each a metre high, will yield samples with unbroken seals, allowing
them to recreate the recipe for the sauce, a delicacy in ancient
Roman households. The wreck is unusual in that it lies in shallow
water near the coast and also holds important lessons about ancient
trade routes.
    "Normally ships like this sink very, very far from the coast, they are
practically impossible to find," Mr de Juan said.
    "The boat left its course and tried to come into the coast,
probably because of bad weather, but it didn't succeed and sank
one mile off the coast of Alicante."
     Archaeological work began in July, once authorities had
surrounded the wreck with a metal net to prevent plundering.
When the vessel was wrecked its keel sank into the mud,
preserving the wood, while wave erosion over 20 centuries
exposed the cargo.


YIS,
 Lord Michael Kettering
  Combat Archer for the Condottieri