January 20th - 26th
On 20th January…
The King of England went on trial for treason
1649 - Following his defeat and capture during the English Civil War, King Charles I went on trial for treason and other ‘high crimes’. His trial was one of the most famous events to have taken place in Westminster Hall in the Houses of Parliament.
Death of King George V
1936 - King George V of Great Britain died, he was 71 years old. During World War I he had changed the royal family surname from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor in order to break associations with his family’s German heritage and to make the royal family appear more English. His son David inherited the crown and became King Edward VIII.
On 21st January…
1793 - King Louis XVI of France was executed by guillotine after being found guilty of treason during the French Revolution.
On 22nd January…
871 - The Battle of Basing took place between Anglo-Saxons and Vikings in the English kingdom of Wessex. The Anglo-Saxons, led by King Ethelred and his younger brother Alfred, were defeated despite their victory in the previous battle at Ashdown just two weeks earlier. This was the third time that the Saxon armies faced the Vikings in January, and there would be many more battles to come before the end of the year.
Death of a Queen
1901 - Queen Victoria died, at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, after reigning for 64 years. During her time as queen, the world had changed dramatically with inventions such as the telephone and motorcar.
On 23rd January…
1963 - Kim Philby the infamous double agent defected to Russia. He was a high-ranking British intelligence officer (spy) who leaked secrets to Russia during both World War II and the Cold War. His actions led to the deaths of many Western agents during the 1940s and early 1950s.
On 24th January…
Henry I married his 2nd wife, Adeliza
1121 - King Henry I of England married his second wife Adeliza of Louvain at Windsor Castle. Henry’s first wife had died three years before and his only male heir William the Atheling had died in the White Ship tragedy in 1120. It was important for King Henry to marry and to try for another son, unfortunately their marriage remained childless.
1965 - Winston Churchill died aged 90 years. He was British Prime Minster from 1940-1945 and 1951-1955. As Prime Minister he led the nation to victory during World War II and kept the population upbeat and positive despite being in the midst of a war with his famous speeches.
On 25th January…
Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn
1533 - King Henry VIII married his second wife, Anne Boleyn in a secret ceremony at Whitehall Palace in London.
On 26th January…
Australia Day
1788 - The British established a settlement in Sydney Harbour, Australia. Eleven ships containing 778 convicts arrived to set up a penal colony in an attempt to relieve overcrowded prisons in England. The day has now become known as Australia Day, a day on which Australians recognise and celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity.
Television makes a public appearance
1926 - In London, John Logie Baird, a Scottish inventor, gave the first public demonstration of a television system.