TODAY: August 16

 

NIELS’ SUMMER GREETINGS

ON: AUGUST 16

New edition

TODAY’s LENGTH:

This day is here in Denmark 2 hours and 34 minutes shorter than June 21. Its length is 15 hours and 1 minute – from 05.49 to 20.50.

See more – also in English – about where you are on www.dagenslaengde.dk

TODAY’s NAME:

This day's name is ROCHUS' DAY. He was born around 1350 AD in a rich family in Montpellier in the south of France. He was very pious, and when his parents died, he gave everthing to the poor. He was according to the legend also able to cure sick people.

When plague broke our in Konstanz  in 1414 during a Church Congress Rochus was invited to come. And the plague disappeared.

The day’s name in Belgium is SAINT ARNOULD – after a bishop in Metz, France, who lived in the years 582-641.

 

TODAY’s EVENT:

1960: Archbishop Makarios proclaims the independence of Cyprus from the United Kingdom.

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TODAY’s QUESTION:

The Varus Battle - what was that? And how is it very important?

This battle took place in year 9 AD. And it was here the Romans were stopped for ever in their attempts to dominate the German tribes. They never tried again. They made the Rhein and Danube rivers the external borders of their area.  Varus was the general for the Roman legions in the middle of Germany.  The leader of the rebellion, Armenius, was a German officer in the Roman army. His German name was Hermann - and that is why the battle is also called the Hermann Battle.

The place of the battle is north of Osnabrück in the west of Germany - about 10 km east of Autobahn 7.  Some years ago a very interesting museum about the dramatic battle was built here.   Visit the museum and try to imagine that if the Romans had not lost this battle, you would perhaps today be a descendant of the Romans - sort of an Italian. If that would have been good or bad is for you to decide!

Three Roman Legions with altogether 30.000 soldiers under the leadership of Varus were totally beaten and exterminated by a German army of 18.000 soldiers. The whole battle took place in these Teuteburger Forest. Right up to today it is possible to find remains from the battle. And the legend tells that emperor Augustus was almost in coma when he heard that his three legions no longer existed. He refused to cut his hair and beard for a long time afterwards. And the numbers of the three Legions were never used by the Romans again.

Read more about the battle (in several languages) here:

http://www.kalkriese-varusschlacht.de/

The address of the Museum is:  Venner Strasse 69, D-49565 Bramsche.

 

QUESTION FOR TOMORROW:

Haithabu - what is that?

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47 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT EUROPE:

EUROPE AT WORK     www.europe-at-work.be

 

TODAY’s QUOTE & FAMOUS PEOPLE :

1.  Yesterday’s quote:

        When you do stupid things they should at least succeed!

             This was once said by Napoleon Bonaparte .

2.  Today’s quote:

        Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain't goin' away.

             Who among today's persons has said that?

3.  Famous people born on this day:

1888:  T.E. Lawrence  ( died 1935 )

1913:  Menachim Begin  ( died 1992 )

1929:  Bill Evans  ( died 1980 )

1958:  Madonna Louise Ciccone

 

4.  Famous people died on this day:

            1949: Margret Mitchell  ( 49 years )

             1977: Elvis Presley  ( 42 years )

             2003: Idi Amin  ( 75 years )

 

Niels Jørgen Thøgersen

niels4europe@gmail.com  

www.simplesite.com/kimbrer   + EUROPE AT WORK:  www.europe-at-work.be

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