Democracy as Communism Light

Johan Scharffenberg at 145

In this Norwegian constitutional bicentennial year, 145 years ago today, Johan Scharffenberg was born.

Scharffenberg was active in 1905 for the republican cause in the Kingdom of Norway, but at the end of World War II he was behind a move to give more powers to the King.

Two Emperors and a Crown Prince

98 years ago today, Emperor-King Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary passed away – ending a reign eleven days short of 68 years.

Archduke Karl ascended the thrones of the Dual Monarchy as Emperor-King, with his eldest son, Archduke Otto as Crown Prince.

New Jersey and the Bill of Rights

225 years ago today, the State of New Jersey ratified the United States Bill of Rights.

Smith Passing at 7

Seven years ago today, Ian Douglas Smith passed away.

Happy Anniversary!

To Her Britannic Majesty and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

They married three years short of seventy years ago today.

Uncrowned Emperor 102

Today marks the 102^nd birthday of the late Archduke Otto of Austria – the fourth after his passing.

Happy National Day, Monaco!

The Principality of Monaco, one of two monarchies in Europe where the monarch can actually in any meaningful way be said to still be ruling, celebrates her National Day.

Congratulations! Especially to the Princely Family and the people and residents of Monaco! And good wishes for the expected heirs!

Mehmed VI Expelled

Eight years short of a century ago today, Mehmed VI was expelled and departed Constantinople.

The King's Norwegian PM

In this constitutional bicentennial year, two years short of two centuries ago today, Christian August Selmer, Norwegian Prime Minister of King Oscar II, who fought with His Majesty against the usurping Parliament during the “constitutional crisis” of the 1880s, was born.

Prime Minister Selmer met with King Oscar at Sofiero Palace to discuss how to handle the “constitutional crisis.”

Viva o Imperador!

Five quarters of a century ago today, Emperor Pedro II was deposed.

125 years of Interregnum is far more than enough!

Landsdowne on the Great War

Two years shot of a century ago today, Henry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 5^th Marquess of Lansdowne, former Governor General of Canada and Viceroy of India, expressed disagreement with the Allied war effort. About a year later, he wrote (according to the History Channel):

[The] prolongation [of the war] will spell ruin for the civilized world, and an infinite addition to the load of human suffering which already weighs upon it[...]