Tag Archives: Spain

December 27, 2010

On December 27, 2010, police responded to a frightened and concerned husband. He’d received word that his young wife had been kidnapped and if he sent 20,000 euros to the account provided, the kidnappers would release his wife… Continue reading

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June 30, 636

On June 30, 636, King Chinchilla (King Chintila) of Spain convoked the Fifth Council of Toledo. It was attended by twenty-two bishops and two episcopal representatives. The bishops of Narbonensis refused to attend for political… Continue reading

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April 24, 1519

On April 24, 1519, the envoys of Montezuma II, the Aztec emperor of Mexico, attended the first Easter mass in Central America as guests of Spanish conqueror, excuse me, Spanish colonizer, wait, of Spanish tourist, Hernan Cortes. The Aztecan envoys said the religious ceremony was quaint and filled with quiet dignity. They especially loved how … Continue reading

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April 8, 1513

On April 8, 1513, Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed at what is now called St. Augustine, Florida and claimed all of Florida for Spain. How’d he do this you ask? He stood on the land, planted a flag and yelled ‘DIBS’. The native people already there asked him what he was doing and … Continue reading

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February 7, 1569

On February 7, 1569, King Phillip II of Spain formed the Inquisition in South America. The South Americans weren’t expecting it. Yes. This joke’s been used before. It will be used again. Don’t tell me you didn’t expected it.

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October 4, 1582

October 4, 1582, was the last day that Italy, Spain, Portugal and Poland made use of the Julian calendar. The very next day, which would jump to October 15, 1582, the four countries adopted and began using the more solar accurate Gregorian calendar. Everybody who had a birthday falling from October 5 to October 15 … Continue reading

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March 15, 1493

On March 15, 1493, Columbus returned to Spain after his first voyage to the New World. When he met with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, they eagerly asked if he had brought them gold and spices, like the explorers who went East toward Asia. Columbus said no, but he did get them personalized keychains for … Continue reading

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March 9, 1995

On March 9, 1995, the Canadian Navy arrested the Spanish Trawler, the ‘Estai’, for illegally fishing off the coast of Newfoundland. The Captain of the Estai originally thought that it was a joke, as the Canadians were purported to be polite, but when the Canadian warships fired four 50mm warning shots across his bow, he … Continue reading

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February 22, 1819

On February 22, 1819, Spain ceded Florida to the United States via the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819. No money was exchanged but the western boundaries of the United States and the Spanish Territories in the Americas were negotiated. This treaty was considered an American diplomatic success at the time. In 2008, Georgia and Alabama had … Continue reading

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February 19, 1700

February 19, 1700, was the last day of usage in Denmark of the Julian Calendar, as it was adapting to the cool, new Gregorian calendar that all the rich kid nations, like England, Spain and France were using. Why did the nations change from the stodgy, it-ain’t-broken Julian Calendar to the New Math Gregorian calendar? … Continue reading

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