Interesting Stuff Today or Not Today

Hmm, Bing got today’s date wrong per my question regressing interesting things on this date. Today being the 30th. 

# On This Day in History: May 28

## A Solar Eclipse Stops a War

One of the most remarkable events that happened on this day in history was a solar eclipse that interrupted a battle between the Medes and the Lydians in western Turkey in 585 BC. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the two kingdoms had been at war for five years, but when they saw the sun suddenly go dark, they took it as a sign from the gods and agreed to make peace. They also arranged a marriage alliance between the royal families to seal the deal. The eclipse was later calculated by modern astronomers to have occurred on May 28, 585 BC, making it one of the earliest historical events whose exact date is known³.

## Napoleon Becomes King of Italy

Another notable event that happened on this day in history was the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte as King of Italy in Milan in 1805. Napoleon, who was already Emperor of France, had conquered most of Italy in previous years and decided to create a new kingdom under his rule. He crowned himself with the Iron Crown of Lombardy, a medieval relic that was said to contain a nail from Christ's cross. He also gave himself the title of Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, a group of German states that he had organized under his influence. 

## Amnesty International Is Founded

A more recent event that happened on this day in history was the founding of Amnesty International, a human rights organization, in London in 1961. The idea for Amnesty International came from a British lawyer named Peter Benenson, who was outraged by the arrest of two Portuguese students for toasting freedom in a Lisbon cafe. He wrote an article in The Observer newspaper, titled "The Forgotten Prisoners", which appealed for a worldwide campaign to write letters on behalf of people who were imprisoned for their political or religious beliefs. The article sparked a global movement that grew to millions of members and supporters, who work to expose and prevent human rights violations around the world. Amnesty International won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977. 

## Other Events and Birthdays

Some other events that happened on this day in history are:

- In 1830, the Indian Removal Act was passed by the U.S. Congress, authorizing President Andrew Jackson to relocate Native American tribes to the west of the Mississippi River. 

- In 1918, American athlete Jim Thorpe, one of the most accomplished all-around athletes in history, was born. 

- In 1953, Melody, the first animated 3-D cartoon in Technicolor, premiered. 

- In 1998, Pakistan conducted its first nuclear tests, becoming the seventh country to possess nuclear weapons. 

Some famous people who were born on this day are:

- Ian Fleming, British novelist and creator of James Bond (1908)

- Jerry West, American basketball player and executive (1938)²

- Kylie Minogue, Australian singer and actress (1968)

## Conclusion

This day in history is full of fascinating and significant events that shaped the world we live in today. Whether it's a war that ended by a cosmic coincidence, a ruler who crowned himself with a sacred relic, or an organization that fights for human rights, there is always something to learn and appreciate about our past.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 5/30/2023

#newbing #bing #history