Today in 117AD Hadrian, the adopted son of Trajan, became the new Roman Emperor. Trajan had ruled for nearly twenty years and had enlarged the Empire greatly. Hadrian in his twenty one year rule would be just as good for Rome. He left behind four great building works, which remain today.
The first was to rebuild Agrippa’s Pantheon, adding the 141ft diameter Dome. It has massive bronze doors and now a church, has buried two of Italy’s kings and the artist Raphael amongst others.
On the river Tiber is the Castel San Angelo, another stone dome building, this one built as his own tomb. It has been used as a fortress by more than one Pope when Rome has been threatened. It housed Pope Clement VII when the forces of the (Spanish)Holy Roman Empire sacked the city in 1527. It is well worth a visit if you ever go to Rome. A coffee from the battlements’ cafe’ is a good end to a walk around the military museum it is now.
The third monument is the beautiful Villa at Tivoli.
Lastly is the wall he had constructed in the North of England to keep out those pesky Picts(Scots). It was 15ft high and stretched 73 miles from coast tocoast and there was a fort every five miles.
Hadrian had been unwell for some time and despite seeking death and requesting it of his adopted son Pius, who refused to aid him, he died aged 62 in his villa at Baie on the Bay of Naples.
Blackbeard dies fighting today in 1718\.
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Today, the 22nd November, in 1718 the pirate Edward Teach, known as Blackbeard, was killed. He was born in Bristol and had probably fought the French in Queen Anne’s War. In 1716 another pirate gave him a sloop and his career as a pirate really began. He captured a 40 gun ship: the Queen Ann’s Revenge, which he used to ravage the West Indies. He ran it aground and accepted a Royal Pardon soon after. He again turned to privateering and in June 1718 robbed 2 English vessels. He would steal at will and soon became too much of a pest, so the Governor of Virginia decided to act.
Mr Robert Maynard, the experienced 1st officer on the Pearl, was given the task of capturing him. He had to use small ships: the Ranger and Jane, as Blackbeard would anchor in shallow water at night. He found him on the evening if the 21st and rowed out to him in the morning as there was no wind.The Ranger was disabled by a broadside and fell behind. Maynard’s ship, the Jane, was also hit with a broadside, injuring 20, so he got his remaining men to hide below. Blackbeard thought all were dead, so boarded with 14 men(2/3 were ashore). Whereupon the 12 survivors rushed out and a hand to hand fight ensued. Blackbeard would have killed Maynard, but a crew member saved him. It is said he received 25 wounds before succumbing. Upon his death, his crew surrendered or dived in the water. All were later hanged. Blackbeard was decapitated and his head hung from Maynard’s ship.
Maynard was rewarded financially and would later reach the rank of Captain. -
Blackbeard was a hero!
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I always liked pirates and I remember the scary picture of him in my Ladybird book of Pirates.
Just found the name of his ship. Was the Adventure.
In case you were wondering why Maynard did not shoot at the Adventure, seems they had no cannons on the 2 Sloops! Only small arms. The broadside the Adventure gave injured 20 on the Jane and 9 on the Ranger. Took one ship out of the battle straightaway. Excellent shooting! The English sailors’ discipline was better once boarded though. -
A heck of story. We talk about heroes and bravery now, everyone is a hero it seems. No, going after a pirate in two small ships with no cannons so you could engage in hand to hand combat….THAT is brave and heroic.
Great story witt
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