30 December 1947 - Michael, King of Roumania 1927-30 & 1940-47, abdicated.

The last Balkan Monarchy to fall to the Communists.

Born in 1921 Michael succeeded to the Roumanian Throne aged five upon the death of his grandfather King Ferdinand. Michael's father Crown Prince Carol had renounced his rights two years before and was living in exile in Switzerland.

However a coup against the Regency Council overthrew the boy King reinstating his father as ruler in 1930. He in turn was ousted by his pro-NAZI government in 1940 with the 18 year old former King Michael restored to the Throne.

His entire second reign was spent fighting off or dealing with enemies of Roumania, firstly the NAZIs and then the Communists who formed a government in 1945. King Michael did all he could to thwart the Communists in his country and it is testimony to his popularity with the people that he survived as long as he did under a pro-Soviet regime. Other Balkan states (Yugoslavia, Albania and Bulgaria) fell to Communism 1945-46, only Greece successfully held off the Communist threat.

The end came in 1947. He travelled to England in November to attend the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip and was advised not to return. But return he did, however in his absence the Communist Prime Minister Groza had organized a coup. On 30 December he met the King and presented him with an abdication document informing him that if he didn't sign there "would be trouble". King Michael was left with no choice he signed the document and a Republic was proclaimed the same day.

He was allowed to leave Roumania a few days later. 

Balkans politics was never easy, still isn't. King Michael died as recently as 2017 aged 96.   

31 December 1600 - The British East India Company founded.

On the last day of the 16th century Queen Elizabeth granted a royal charter to "The Governor and Company of the Merchants of London trading into the East Indies", later known as the English (then British) East India Co. with 125 shareholders.

It was established to compete with Dutch merchants who had created a virtual monopoly in trade with India and the Far East forcing the price of pepper up from 3s a pound to 8s a pound. 

Its first Governor was Thomas Smythe who sent out the Company's first voyage to the East Indies. The Company grew to become the most powerful of such in the world with its own fleet of merchant and warships, army and a vast establishment of administrators and officials who governed huge overseas territories by the second half of the 18th century. The government in London felt a need to control the Company's affairs once it had effectively conquered India, so a series of Acts in the late 18th century brought the Company's affairs increasingly under government control. 

Its demise came in 1857 with the Indian Mutiny, thereafter control of India passed to the British government. 

Go straight to the tougher ones, this is hardly challenging us.

I've pretty much run out of ideas for anniversaries for next year, so I thought I'd do figures from the Arts - writers, artists, composers etc.   

Poor, everyone knows it was Eisenhower

All mostly happened when Stalin was country grabbing at the end of the Second War. Now Putin has become a second Stalin and is as every bit as brutal as he was. It's all about power and if the States elects Trump again then you will fast learn what it's like to live in a communist State.

Never heard of him, obviously not big over here.  

Never heard of him, obviously not big over here.  

Oh dear, where were you living in the 70's Mark, in a cave. Probably preferred Boy George music I imagine.

In the 70s it was ABBA, most of the decade was taken up with glam rock then punk, neither of which are quite my thing. My first schoolboy crush was the lovely Agnetha.

In the 70s it was ABBA, most of the decade was taken up with glam rock then punk, neither of which are quite my thing. My first schoolboy crush was the lovely Agnetha.

I had all of ABBA's songs on Reel to Reel tape and today it's all about Taylor Swift .She is rated number one in the world.

All her concerts are sold out a year in advance. She makes over a billion dollars a concert.

Britney Spears can't hold a candle to Taylor.

Never heard of him, obviously not big over here.  

Oh dear, where were you living in the 70's Mark, in a cave. Probably preferred Boy George music I imagine.

Stand Tall, American Woman, great voice, great band. Mark musta been at Ham on Rye with his nose in a book eh?

Happy New Year's and best wishes for the future, everyone! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

To everyone, even Taylor Swift. 

Any predictions for the Elections ahead? Starmer as Prime Minister and Trump as President-elect by the end of the year?

Why do you call it Biden's policies when the hold outs for coming to a satisfactory concussion for all are the Republican House who don't want to spend any money to fix it. Biden can't fix it if they don't. The same group that would rather have American troops facing off against the Russians that the Ukrainians without the help on NATO. The same group that can't pass the debt bill which will cost all Americans more when the world monetary fund down grades your credit rating. 

Like Liz Chaney says, if Trump is re-elected it will be the last vote in America you will ever see done. The sad part is, she is probably right. As the Republicans have demonstrated to the world, the party of Lincoln no longer exists anymore and all your left with is fruits cakes and clowns.

Never heard of him, obviously not big over here.  

Oh dear, where were you living in the 70's Mark, in a cave. Probably preferred Boy George music I imagine.

Stand Tall, American Woman, great voice, great band. Mark musta been at Ham on Rye with his nose in a book eh?

It was bad enough Tommy that Mark was at Ham and Rye with his nose in a book but it was the choice of books he was searching out that was so disturbing to most God fearing Christians. Shula would probably have to close her eyes just to read them. That or at least hide in a closet to read them.