Lit tle known or interesting history facts.

Inspired by the vocabulary thread,,,

For some reason I started getting a history email every day.  I found this today:

Not everyone wanted to be part of the United States when the Revolutionary War broke out. Vermont, for instance, declared itself an independent republic from 1777 to 1791, due in part to ongoing disputes with neighboring New York, which claimed the land as its own. The future Green Mountain State adopted its own constitution and operated as a de facto independent country. After briefly being called New Connecticut, the region eventually settled on the name State of Vermont, but was also known as the Vermont Republic. In addition to having its own currency and postal service, Vermont also abolished slavery on July 2, 1777 — the first American colony to do so. (Vermont at one point toyed with the idea of joining the Province of Quebec in the early 1780s before ultimately deciding against it.)

Though the Vermont Republic wasn’t officially recognized by the U.S., it was largely left to its own devices. No less an authority than George Washington advised against military action in 1783, in part because the country was “very mountainous” and its citizens were “a hardy race, composed of that kind of people who are best calculated for soldiers.” Vermont eventually settled its differences with New York and voted to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1791, officially joining the new nation.

WOW -- Very cool.!!!!

I had no idea....?? 

WOW -- Very cool.!!!!

I had no idea....?? 

Me either. I found George Washington's assessment of the Vermont people interesting.  And it was a smart move to let them be.  Also glad we did not lose Bernie to Canada...lol.

WOW -- Very cool.!!!!

I had no idea....?? 

Me either. I found George Washington's assessment of the Vermont people interesting.  And it was a smart move to let them be.  Also glad we did not lose Bernie to Canada...lol.

  --- A Canadian Bernie..???  Now that would be just ..... too ... uh, something.!!!

Here is an interesting (and GROSS..) bit of history. I bet very few folks know this little "factoid".!!

King Henry VII had attendants specifically to help him go to the bathroom.



While this intimate courtier position developed over centuries, it was in the reign of King Henry VII of England that it became an official position of great honor. Henry VII had four "Grooms of the King's Stool" which assisted him in his most necessary task. These men monitored his bowel movements, checking them and reporting their results to the Royal Doctor. They supplied the king with a bowl, water, and a towel, and even assisted him in cleaning up after the fact.

Though it certainly doesn't sound like a job anyone in their right mind would strive for, the position meant these courtiers were privy to royal secrets. These attendants had quite a bit of court power, and the ones that served King Henry VII were all eventually knighted. This practiced continued until 1901.

Interesting tidbit here:

In the history of the Nobel Peace Prize, there have been a few remarkable nominees. Three men who have been nominated in a burst of insanity include......

Hitler
Stalin
Mussolini


Thankfully, the committee came to their senses and none of them were shortlisted, so they couldn't win...

Little known historical facts are really interesting and can be quite strange...  (Thanks to LP for starting this..!!!).
Ran into a couple more that seemed to belong...

The use of forks was once considered sacrilegious.

It's hard to believe, but we're taking our eating utensils for granted.... While forks were long-established in the Middle East, they first made their way over to the West in the 11th century. A Byzantine princess sent waves of shock and scandal through the court when she brought forks into her husband's Venetian home. Forks were considered to be an affront to God, as the Lord had already given us natural forks—our fingers. It wasn't until the 18th century that most of Europe had adopted the fork.

The University of Oxford predates the Aztec Empire.

This mind-blowing fact puts things into perspective. While Oxford is hardly the oldest university (that would be the University of Al-Karaouine, established in 859 CE), it was established way back in 1096. By 1249, Oxford had developed into a full-fledged campus, with student housing at three residence halls. And while other institutions were established earlier, Oxford is one of the oldest universities in continuous operation.

On the other end of the spectrum, many people are surprised by how recently the Aztec Empire existed. While many of us categorize this civilization as "ancient" in our minds, the founding city of Tenochtitlán at Lake Texcoco was established by the Mexica, a Nahuatl-speaking indigenous people, in 1325. Just 196 years later, Spanish conquerers captured Tenochtitlán.

Dateline:  1952


Famous Jewish scientist Albert Einstein is well known for his discoveries in theoretical physics. But did you know he also had the opportunity to enter the political world?

Following the death of Israel’s first president, Chaim Weizmann, in 1952, the Israeli government, headed by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, offered the presidency to Einstein. Israeli presidents perform mostly ceremonial duties, so the role constitutes more of an honor than a position of power. Neither Einstein nor Ben-Gurion expressed much enthusiasm about the prospect of Einstein assuming the presidency. Einstein found the offer awkward, and Ben-Gurion joked to an assistant, “I’ve had to offer the post to him because it’s impossible not to. But if he accepts, we are in trouble.”

Throughout his life, Einstein consistently demonstrated support for the state of Israel. “I made the cause of Zionism mine because through it I saw a means of correcting a flagrant wrong,” he wrote in a 1947 letter to Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Yet when offered the presidency, Einstein tried to decline immediately, refusing an official meeting with representatives of the Israeli embassy. Israeli ambassador Abba Eban insisted on sending him a letter in the name of Ben-Gurion. Eban’s offer emphasized the Israeli people’s admiration for Einstein and urged him to consider the intellectual and spiritual potential of the nation. “Israel is a small State in its physical dimensions, but can rise to the level of greatness,” Eban wrote. The letter assured Einstein that he would retain the freedom to engage in scientific research while president. It also stipulated that to accept the position, Einstein, who lived in Princeton, New Jersey, would have to move to Israel.

Einstein’s reply was brief and cordial, sharing appreciation for the offer and highlighting his strong emotional connection to the Jewish people. He blamed his refusal on personal shortcomings, such as a dearth of relevant skills and his advancing age. “I lack both the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people,” he wrote.

In Einstein’s stead, Zionist leader Itzhak Ben-Zvi assumed the Israeli presidency later that year.

 Att. Britannica.com: "The Time Albert Einstein Was Asked To Be President Of Israel"

Wild man'

The fork thing....fingers...really????