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What was the Captain General of the Church?

Introduction The captain general of the Church (Italian: Capitano generale della Chiesa) was the de facto commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Papal States during the Middle Ages. Background The post was usually conferred on an Italian or other noble with a professional military reputation or (later) a relative of the pope. The parallel… Read More

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Who was Adolphus Washington Greely?

Introduction Adolphus Washington Greely FRSGS (27 March 1844 to 20 October 1935) was a United States Army officer and polar explorer. He attained the rank of major general and was a recipient of the Medal of Honour. A native of Newburyport, Massachusetts and an 1860 graduate of Brown High School (now Newburyport High School), in… Read More

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What is the Anti-Secession Law (2005)?

Introduction The Anti-Secession Law (Chinese: 《反分裂国家法》) is a law of the People’s Republic of China, passed by the 3rd Session of the 10th National People’s Congress. It was ratified on 14 March 2005, and went into effect immediately. President Hu Jintao promulgated the law with Presidential Decree No. 34. Although the law, at ten articles,… Read More

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What was the North-West Rebellion (1885)?

Introduction The North-West Rebellion of 1885 (French: Rébellion du Nord-Ouest) was a rebellion by the Métis people under Louis Riel and an associated uprising by First Nations Cree and Assiniboine of the District of Saskatchewan against the Canadian government. Many Métis felt that Canada was not protecting their rights, their land, and their survival as… Read More

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What was the Planned French Invasion of Britain (1708)?

Introduction The Planned French Invasion of Britain, 1708, also known as the ‘Entreprise d’Écosse’, took place during the War of the Spanish Succession. The French planned to land 5,000-6,000 soldiers in northeast Scotland to support a rising by local Jacobites that would restore James Francis Edward Stuart to the throne of Great Britain. Despite French… Read More

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What is Medal of Honour Day (US)?

Introduction Medal of Honor Day is a United States federal observance that is celebrated every year on 25 March. Background It was created to honour the “heroism and sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipients for the United States.” The holiday has been celebrated since 1991, when George H.W. Bush signed Public Law 101-564 on 15… Read More