2 January 1492 - Granada captured by the Spanish.

The Muslim empire in western Europe reached its height around 800 when almost all of the Iberian peninsula lay under Islamic rule. From that point on the Christian Kingdoms to the north gradually pushed the Muslims out until by the end of the 15th century only the Emirate of al-Andalus in the far south centred around the capital Granada remained.

A siege of attrition began in April 1491 forcing the Emir Muhammad XII to open negotiations for surrender in October. A date was fixed for a formal capitulation - 2 January. The terms were remarkably generous, those who wished to leave were allowed to sail over to Morocco while the deposed Muhammad was granted an estate in the mountains. He remained there for almost two years before departing himself for Morocco. 

The terms of the benign treaty of surrender however were quickly overturned after Muhammad's departure. Forced baptisms began and by 1501 almost no Muslims remained the population having either fled or accepted Christianity.    

2 January 1492 - Granada captured by the Spanish.

The Muslim empire in western Europe reached its height around 800 when almost all of the Iberian peninsula lay under Islamic rule. From that point on the Christian Kingdoms to the north gradually pushed the Muslims out until by the end of the 15th century only the Emirate of al-Andalus in the far south centred around the capital Granada remained.

A siege of attrition began in April 1491 forcing the Emir Muhammad XII to open negotiations for surrender in October. A date was fixed for a formal capitulation - 2 January. The terms were remarkably generous, those who wished to leave were allowed to sail over to Morocco while the deposed Muhammad was granted an estate in the mountains. He remained there for almost two years before departing himself for Morocco. 

The terms of the benign treaty of surrender however were quickly overturned after Muhammad's departure. Forced baptisms began and by 1501 almost no Muslims remained the population having either fled or accepted Christianity.    

Religion again, mostly created problems throughout history. 

3 January 1946 - William Joyce "Lord Haw-Haw", executed.

Born in the USA in 1906 Joyce's Anglo-Irish family returned to Ireland when he was still a child. He joined the British Union of Fascists in 1932 and obtained a British passport giving the false information that he had been born in Ireland. 

With war imminent Joyce fled to Germany in August 1939 and within weeks began making regular radio broadcasts to GB giving usually false information about German victories. He adopted a fake plummy voice earning him the name Lord Haw-Haw. 

At the end of the war he attempted to escape to Denmark and was captured by British troops. Tried for reason in September he was convicted and sentenced to death. However a lengthy appeal process followed in which he claimed that as a US citizen he could not be tried for treason against the UK. But the fact that he used a British passport at the time of his crimes meant that his conviction was upheld.

He was hanged at Wandsworth Prison aged 39.

That was precisely his defence, that he was never a British citizen, but as he used a British passport and the obligations it conferred he was guilty of treason. It took a House of Lords ruling to confirm his guilt. Hence the lengthy period (Sept - Jan) between trial and execution.

He got the scar in a fight in the 1920s, he later claimed he was attacked by a Jewish gang. 

Between1876 and 2009 anyone convicted of a crime in GB could have their appeal elevated to the Law Lords, or to give them their full title - Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. They were qualified legal figures raised to the Peerage specifically for the role of hearing appeals. Until 2009 they were the final court of appeal in the UK, although there was always the European Court of Human Rights. In 2009 the Supreme Court was established thus doing away with the Law Lords.   

Joyce's appeal was heard by five Law Lords, four upheld his conviction with one dissenting. 

A broadcast from 1940. 

Between1876 and 2009 anyone convicted of a crime in GB could have their appeal elevated to the Law Lords, or to give them their full title - Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. They were qualified legal figures raised to the Peerage specifically for the role of hearing appeals. Until 2009 they were the final court of appeal in the UK, although there was always the European Court of Human Rights. In 2009 the Supreme Court was established thus doing away with the Law Lords.   

Joyce's appeal was heard by five Law Lords, four upheld his conviction with one dissenting. 

A broadcast from 1940. 

Thank you, I assume the crime had to be a serious federal one. See felony.

4 January 1642 - Charles I's attempt to arrest the Five Members.

The symbolic beginning of the English Civil War.

In 1640 after ruling without calling a Parliament for 11 years King Charles finally ran out of money and was forced to recall Parliament in order to impose new taxation. Determined to make up for the years in the wilderness Parliament attempted to impose a number of restrictions upon the King's power culminating in the Grand Remonstrance in November 1641. Naturally the King rejected it and amid growing unrest in London he decided upon a bold move - to arrest those Members of Parliament whom he considered to be the leaders of the conspiracy, namely John Hampden, Arthur Haselrig, Denzil Holles, John Pym and William Strode.   

However Parliament was alerted to his scheme and as the King approached with 80 soldiers the Five Members fled through a rear entrance and escaped up river by boat. Charles entered the House of Commons and being unable to locate the Five he demanded the Speaker reveal their location. The Speaker William Lenthall gave the famous reply "May it please your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak but as this House is pleased to direct me whose servant I am here". King Charles replied "Tis no matter, I think my eyes are as good as another's" before lamenting that "all my birds have flown". Thus he left empty handed. 

As unrest in the City grew the Royal Family left London on 10 January, he was never to return as a free man.  

5 January 1066 - (Saint) Edward "The Confessor", King of England 1042-66, died.

More monk than King Edward spent most of his life in Normandy during the 30 years in which Danish Kings sat on the English Throne. He was recalled home by the last Danish King, the childless Harthacanute in 1041 and appointed his heir. Within months he was dead and Edward became King. 

His reign was almost entirely dominated by the Earls of Wessex, firstly Godwin and after his death in 1053 his son Harold. In 1051 Edward was able to briefly assert his authority during which time it is thought he named William, Duke of Normandy his heir. Edward was married to Earl Godwin's daughter but refused to consummate the union. 

His death in 1066 set in train the momentous events of the fateful year. The Crown supposedly promised to Duke William was seized by Harold, Earl of Wessex who had himself crowned the day after Edward's death. 

Edward was canonized in 1161.    

5 January 1066 - (Saint) Edward "The Confessor", King of England 1042-66, died.

More monk than King Edward spent most of his life in Normandy during the 30 years in which Danish Kings sat on the English Throne. He was recalled home by the last Danish King, the childless Harthacanute in 1041 and appointed his heir. Within months he was dead and Edward became King. 

His reign was almost entirely dominated by the Earls of Wessex, firstly Godwin and after his death in 1053 his son Harold. In 1051 Edward was able to briefly assert his authority during which time it is thought he named William, Duke of Normandy his heir. Edward was married to Earl Godwin's daughter but refused to consummate the union. 

His death in 1066 set in train the momentous events of the fateful year. The Crown supposedly promised to Duke William was seized by Harold, Earl of Wessex who had himself crowned the day after Edward's death. 

Edward was canonized in 1161.    

Mark, is it accurate that royals had to consummate their marriage publicly? I learned that in a documentary a long time ago & wondered if true.

Not quite. It was customary for the newly wed couple to be seen in bed together before being left alone. And the following morning it was normal for the bed sheets to be examined for evidence of "nighttime activity". 

Until the early 20th century the Home Secretary had to be present at the birth of a child in direct line of succession, this usually meant he would wait in an adjoining room rather than gawp at the spectacle. It dates back to 1688 when a child was born to Queen Mary, second wife of James II, years after she had last given birth, all of whom were sickly and had died. The child was a healthy boy, a blow to those who saw James as the last Catholic King, his daughter from his first marriage, a Protestant, had been the heir up to then. So a story was put about that the child had been stillborn and a peasant boy smuggled into the bedchamber in a warming pan. In order to ensure all future Royal births were "genuine" the Home Secretary was to be in attendance. 

The practice was dropped by the time of Queen Elizabeth's birth in 1926.

Not quite. It was customary for the newly wed couple to be seen in bed together before being left alone. And the following morning it was normal for the bed sheets to be examined for evidence of "nighttime activity". 

Until the early 20th century the Home Secretary had to be present at the birth of a child in direct line of succession, this usually meant he would wait in an adjoining room rather than gawp at the spectacle. It dates back to 1688 when a child was born to Queen Mary, second wife of James II, years after she had last given birth, all of whom were sickly and had died. The child was a healthy boy, a blow to those who saw James as the last Catholic King, his daughter from his first marriage, a Protestant, had been the heir up to then. So a story was put about that the child had been stillborn and a peasant boy smuggled into the bedchamber in a warming pan. In order to ensure all future Royal births were "genuine" the Home Secretary was to be in attendance. 

The practice was dropped by the time of Queen Elizabeth's birth in 1926.

1926 eh? Astonishing. 

I've looked into it further and the presence of the Home Secretary was dropped in 1936 after the birth of Princess Alexandra. So he was present, albeit in another room, for the birth of the Queen.  

Not quite. It was customary for the newly wed couple to be seen in bed together before being left alone. And the following morning it was normal for the bed sheets to be examined for evidence of "nighttime activity". 

Night time activity doesn't mean the union was consummated if the sheets were a mess when examined. Most times chicken blood had to be added to them to convince the inspectors. The hand maiden was the one that kept that it a bottle and got to the sheets before the inspectors did.

Not quite. It was customary for the newly wed couple to be seen in bed together before being left alone. And the following morning it was normal for the bed sheets to be examined for evidence of "nighttime activity". 

Night time activity doesn't mean the union was consummated if the sheets were a mess when examined. Most times chicken blood had to be added to them to convince the inspectors. The hand maiden was the one that kept that it a bottle and got to the sheets before the inspectors did.

Chicken blood eh? Well I'll be a blue-nosed gopher. 

Not quite. It was customary for the newly wed couple to be seen in bed together before being left alone. And the following morning it was normal for the bed sheets to be examined for evidence of "nighttime activity". 

Night time activity doesn't mean the union was consummated if the sheets were a mess when examined. Most times chicken blood had to be added to them to convince the inspectors. The hand maiden was the one that kept that it a bottle and got to the sheets before the inspectors did.

Chicken blood eh? Well I'll be a blue-nosed gopher. 

I guess it was be easier to drag a dead chicken into the castle without being seen rather than a cow, goat or pig.

6 January 1540 - Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves.

18 months after the death of his third wife in childbirth Henry began seeking a fourth wife, this time he was persuaded that a political union with the Protestant Princes of Germany would be the best option. Leaving the details to his Principal Secretary Thomas Cromwell it was decided that one of the sisters of Wilhelm, Duke of Cleves were suitable.

In 1539 Henry sent Hans Holbein to Cleves to paint portraits of both sisters Anne and Amalia. Upon viewing the portraits the King decided that 24 year old Anne was the prettier. The betrothal was announced in September and Anne sailed for England at the end of the year. Henry moved south to meet her and did so on New Year's Day 1540. It is well known that the King was dismayed at her plain appearance and lack of Courtly accomplishments and unsuccessfully sought a way out of the impending marriage. Nevertheless it went ahead at Greenwich Palace.

The couple spent little time together and the marriage was never consummated. By the summer both parties agreed to end the union with an annulment on the grounds of a pre-contract between Anne and the Duke of Lorraine. The marriage was formally annulled on 12 July. It remains the shortest marriage of an English Monarch.