The three prime movers in the attempts to assert the primacy of the Crown over Parliament all ended up with their heads on the block - The Earl of Strafford in 1641, William Laud in 1645 and King Charles in 1649.

11 January 1923 - The French Occupation of the Ruhr. 100 years ago today.

The German failure to keep up with reparation payments led to the French sending troops into the demilitarized industrial Ruhrland in order to secure reparation in the form of iron and coal etc produced in the area.

The Occupation lasted until the summer of 1925 during which time 130 German civilians were killed by the French. 

11 January 1923 - The French Occupation of the Ruhr. 100 years ago today.

The German failure to keep up with reparation payments led to the French sending troops into the demilitarized industrial Ruhrland in order to secure reparation in the form of iron and coal etc produced in the area.

The Occupation lasted until the summer of 1925 during which time 130 German civilians were killed by the French. 

Was it David Lloyd George who feared a weak Germany almost as much as a strong one?

Yes I think so, presumably after the Treaty of Versailles.

12 January 1628 - Charles Perrault, born. 

French writer, credited as the creator of the traditional fairy tale. 

After a career in law and higher levels of government Perrault was nearly 70 when he published Tales and Stories From the Past With Morals which included Cinderella, Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood and Bluebeard based on ancient folk tales.  

Narrrr, too generous mate, so they wouldn't let me in.

Narrrr, too generous mate, so they wouldn't let me in.

The nuns taught me the Jews were the chosen one's. Well then, have you been to the moil, Art?

13 January 1842 - The Retreat From Kabul.

Fearing Russian expansion into Afghanistan thus threatening India the British entered Kabul in 1839 and deposed the Amir Dost Mohammad Khan, the pro-British Shah Shuja was installed in his place. 

However Shah Shuja was never accepted by the Afghans, the British had to maintain ruinously expensive garrisons in key cities along with bribes and "subsidies" to keep an uneasy peace. A fatal mistake was made in the autumn of 1841 when the bulk of the army in Kabul was withdrawn to Jellalabad. By the end of 1841 the country erupted into a general revolt and following the murder of the British Agent and his staff in December a decision was made to evacuate to the fortress of Kandahar.

Under a promise of safe conduct, which involved the British surrendering most of their artillery, around 18,500 people (3,800 sepoys, 700 British Army and 14,000 civilians/camp followers) under the command of Maj-Gen William Elphinstone left on 6 January 1842 in heavy snow. They had barely gone a few hundred yards before the Afghans attacked, most of the baggage was lost or abandoned before they had travelled a mile from the city gates.

They army was under constant attack as it moved painfully slowly through the snow, hundreds fell by the wayside every day; others, mostly women and children plus some senior officers were captured for ransom while many sepoys deserted to the Afghans or simply fled. On 12 January a last stand was made at Gandamak and on 13 January a single soldier, Assistant Surgeon William Brydon, rode into Kandahar, the only Briton to reach safety. A few sepoys reached the city over the following days. Of those captured some died in captivity, including Elphinstone, while others survived to be either ransomed or released when an Army of Retribution re-entered Afghanistan later that year.    

It is estimated that of the 18,500 who left Kabul over 16,000 died.

An 1898 painting of the Last Stand at Gandamak.

13 January 1842 - The Retreat From Kabul.

Fearing Russian expansion into Afghanistan thus threatening India the British entered Kabul in 1839 and deposed the Amir Dost Mohammad Khan, the pro-British Shah Shuja was installed in his place. 

However Shah Shuja was never accepted by the Afghans, the British had to maintain ruinously expensive garrisons in key cities along with bribes and "subsidies" to keep an uneasy peace. A fatal mistake was made in the autumn of 1841 when the bulk of the army in Kabul was withdrawn to Jellalabad. By the end of 1841 the country erupted into a general revolt and following the murder of the British Agent and his staff in December a decision was made to evacuate to the fortress of Kandahar.

Under a promise of safe conduct, which involved the British surrendering most of their artillery, around 18,500 people (3,800 sepoys, 700 British Army and 14,000 civilians/camp followers) under the command of Maj-Gen William Elphinstone left on 6 January 1842 in heavy snow. They had barely gone a few hundred yards before the Afghans attacked, most of the baggage was lost or abandoned before they had travelled a mile from the city gates.

They army was under constant attack as it moved painfully slowly through the snow, hundreds fell by the wayside every day; others, mostly women and children plus some senior officers were captured for ransom while many sepoys deserted to the Afghans or simply fled. On 12 January a last stand was made at Gandamak and on 13 January a single soldier, Assistant Surgeon William Brydon, rode into Kandahar, the only Briton to reach safety. A few sepoys reached the city over the following days. Of those captured some died in captivity, including Elphinstone, while others survived to be either ransomed or released when an Army of Retribution re-entered Afghanistan later that year.    

It is estimated that of the 18,500 who left Kabul over 16,000 died.

An 1898 painting of the Last Stand at Gandamak.

So the Brits marched in, installed a puppet government which soon failed, & bailed out. Sounds familiar throughout history. Then you label it as an army? Well the math says 18,500 left Kabul, of that there were 3,800 sepoys, 700 Brits, & 14,000 camp followers. Hardly an army. I guess we can chalk it up to Afghanistan being the graveyard of Empires, then & now. 

An army in the sense that there were 4500 soldiers involved, but as you say, the majority were non-combatants.

The commander Maj-Gen Elphinstone had last seen action at Waterloo 27 years earlier. He died a captive in April 1842, but the Afghans allowed his body to be removed to Jellalabad where he was buried. 

Asst Surgeon Brydon remained in Afghanistan with the Army of Retribution that fought its way into Kabul later that year. He later took part in the 2nd Burmese War and the Indian Mutiny. He died in Scotland in 1873. 

14 January 1892 - Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, died.

Eldest son of Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) but who died during the lifetime of his father and grandmother Queen Victoria.

One of the most controversial Princes in modern times; regarded by some as dissolute, lazy and mentally challenged, totally unsuited to be King and that his early death was a blessing in disguise. He failed at university and in his brief periods in the Army and Navy. In the late 1880s his name was linked to the Cleveland Street Scandal in which several men from high society were found to be patrons of a male brothel. Furthermore he was also mentioned as a suspect in the Jack the Ripper murders, such was the public perception of his character. Neither allegations have any basis in fact. On the other side of the cion he was said to have contracted venereal disease through his contacts with prostitutes. 

In 1890 he was created Duke of Clarence and Avondale.

In December 1891 was was betrothed to Princess May of Teck with the wedding set for 27 February. However he fell ill with influenza at Sandringham the day before his 28th birthday in January and died there a week later. Mary went on to marry his brother Prince George, Duke of York who went on to become King George V.

14 January 1892 - Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale, died.

Eldest son of Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) but who died during the lifetime of his father and grandmother Queen Victoria.

One of the most controversial Princes in modern times; regarded by some as dissolute, lazy and mentally challenged, totally unsuited to be King and that his early death was a blessing in disguise. He failed at university and in his brief periods in the Army and Navy. In the late 1880s his name was linked to the Cleveland Street Scandal in which several men from high society were found to be patrons of a male brothel. Furthermore he was also mentioned as a suspect in the Jack the Ripper murders, such was the public perception of his character. Neither allegations have any basis in fact. On the other side of the cion he was said to have contracted venereal disease through his contacts with prostitutes. 

In 1890 he was created Duke of Clarence and Avondale.

In December 1891 was was betrothed to Princess May of Teck with the wedding set for 27 February. However he fell ill with influenza at Sandringham the day before his 28th birthday in January and died there a week later. Mary went on to marry his brother Prince George, Duke of York who went on to become King George V.

So with that resume they promote him? We do the same for presidents. 

Being granted a Royal Dukedom isn't really promotion, most Princes were given a Royal Dukedom at some point as a matter of routine.

The title has been bestowed on male members of the Royal Family six times over the centuries (five Dukedoms and one Earldom). Five of the six died before their time either from illness, execution or on the battlefield. Only one lived to be a success; William, Duke of Clarence, third son of King George III became King William IV at the age of 64 in 1830.

15 January 1724 - Philip V, King of Spain 1700-24 & 1724-46, abdicated.

Subject to periods of religious mania King Philip announced at the end of 1723 that he would soon abdicate and retire from public life. He was succeeded by his eldest son 16 year old Luis. However the young King died of smallpox just seven months later and with Philip's second son aged just 11 as heir he was persuaded to assume the Crown again. 

The reasons for his abdication are unclear. Most sources say it was in a bout of religious fervour that he renounced the Throne possibly with a view to becoming a monk. Others suggest it was a political move - he was born into the Royal Family of France but gave up all rights to the French Throne upon becoming King of Spain in 1700. But by 1724 many of the heirs to the French Crown had died, it is thought that by abdicating in Spain he stood a chance of becoming King of France and with his son wearing the Spanish Crown they would make a formidable force to take on their great rivals in GB and Austria. 

France, Spain was on the decline at this time. It's suggested that he had a plan to unite the two (himself on the French Throne, his son Luis on the Spanish) and any son Luis may have would rule both. Personally I think it unlikely, I go with the religious mania theory.

More than a lad, Philip was 40 when he abdicated. He had every expectation that his son the new King teenager Luis would have a long reign and father a son, but he died aged 18. He was married but they had no children. That's if the theory is correct, I don't think so. 

The great Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, abdicated both Thrones in the 1550s to become a monk.