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Though France proclaimed Syria an independent republic in 1941, it troops were not withdrawn until 1946, after over 25 years of occupation. The occupation began in 1920, when the League of Nations gave the French a mandate over the Levant States - roughly present-day Syria and Lebanon. Within years, the Syrian resistance to French colonial rule became a full-scale revolt. A 1936 treaty promised Syrian independence, but it did not come to fruition. What finally brought about the occupation's end? More...
1986 - The world's longest war ends without a single shot having been fired
The state of war between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly had been extended for a total of 335 years by the lack of a peace treaty. Some historians doubt that war had ever been declared.
1978 - Mir Akbar Khyber's assassination triggers a communist coup in Afghanistan[/size]
The Communists introduced a series of reforms, such as equal rights for women and universal education. These achievements were undone soon after by the outbreak of several wars.
1975 - Phnom Penh falls to the Khmer Rouge
The regime under “Brother number 1” Pol Pot tortured and killed several million people. Amongst the communists' perceived enemies were intellectuals, anyone with a connection to the former government, and several ethnic minorities.
1961 - A CIA-sponsored paramilitary group attempts to invade Cuba
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed attempt to overthrow the Cuban government. The United States government had ordered the CIA to plan Fidel Castro's overthrow.
1521 - Martin Luther faces charges for his revolutionary religious writings
The German monk was a leading figure of the Protestant Reformation. As a result of the hearing before the Diet of Worms, he was excommunicated and declared an outlaw.
Historic Trivia pick - Anne Boleyn’s Decapitation Conversation
Some eyewitnesses reported that Anne’s lips continued to move for several seconds after her beheading. Did she remain conscious? Is that even possible?
Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived. That’s about the extent most of us know King Henry VIII’s wives, and—let’s face it—grim as they are, the beheadings get all the glory. Anne Boleyn might be the first of the six that comes to mind for that very reason, but did you know that there were reports her head tried to speak after the fatal chop? Are these bogus stories, or is there scientific evidence that a head can remain conscious after it has separated from the body?
Queen for just three years, on May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, was executed by beheading within the confines of the Tower of London.
Anne, about 35 years old, was found guilty of high treason. She had been charged with having intimate encounters with five men of Henry’s court—including Henry’s BFF and her own brother. According to the indictments, not only had she slept with these men, but she had also conspired with them to kill Henry. So, whether these indictments were true or not—and many think she was framed, plus Henry wasn’t much of a loyal partner either—off with her head it was!
In Anne’s last moments, she knelt down in preparation for the executioner’s blow, and began to pray loudly. In an instant, the executioner beheaded Anne with a single strike of his sword. Some eyewitnesses reported that Anne’s lips continued to move for several seconds after her beheading. Did she remain conscious? Is that even possible?
The debate comes down to voluntary muscle reactions vs. pure consciousness.
Some believe movements, like Anne’s, are simply the result of the voluntary muscles that control the lips and eyes spasming after a shock. This is probably true for the rest of the body, but the head is home to our motherboard—the brain. With a clean cut like Anne’s, the brain would not have received any trauma and could very possibly continue to function until inevitable blood loss.
How long it could function is really unknown. Studies in small mammals have found that consciousness can last from four to 29 seconds, and we know that that chickens can run around with their heads decapitated for several. This is actually horrifying if you think about it—even just for four seconds. Just count to four and take in everything around you. Now imagine that plus the shock and the panic.
Now, the most famous case of surviving decapitation has already been covered on Cool Stuff Strange Things—that’s Mike the Headless Chicken. Mike survived being decapitated for 18 months. How is this different than what I just presented, you ask? Mike’s not-so-fatal blow cut at an angle through his brainstem, just missing the parts of his central nervous system that control basic functions. A well-placed blood clot also stopped him from bleeding to death.
As for Anne Boleyn’s last words, it was likely a muscle spasm or hyperbole in the Tudor press. Believe It or Not! nobody had thought to even have a coffin on hand for her burial, so an old elm chest from the Tower armory was used. Anne’s head and body were placed in the chest and buried.
Last French Troops Leave Syria
Though France proclaimed Syria an independent republic in 1941, it troops were not withdrawn until 1946, after over 25 years of occupation. The occupation began in 1920, when the League of Nations gave the French a mandate over the Levant States - roughly present-day Syria and Lebanon. Within years, the Syrian resistance to French colonial rule became a full-scale revolt. A 1936 treaty promised Syrian independence, but it did not come to fruition. What finally brought about the occupation's end? More...
1986 - The world's longest war ends without a single shot having been fired
The state of war between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly had been extended for a total of 335 years by the lack of a peace treaty. Some historians doubt that war had ever been declared.
1978 - Mir Akbar Khyber's assassination triggers a communist coup in Afghanistan[/size]
The Communists introduced a series of reforms, such as equal rights for women and universal education. These achievements were undone soon after by the outbreak of several wars.
1975 - Phnom Penh falls to the Khmer Rouge
The regime under “Brother number 1” Pol Pot tortured and killed several million people. Amongst the communists' perceived enemies were intellectuals, anyone with a connection to the former government, and several ethnic minorities.
1961 - A CIA-sponsored paramilitary group attempts to invade Cuba
The Bay of Pigs invasion was a failed attempt to overthrow the Cuban government. The United States government had ordered the CIA to plan Fidel Castro's overthrow.
1521 - Martin Luther faces charges for his revolutionary religious writings
The German monk was a leading figure of the Protestant Reformation. As a result of the hearing before the Diet of Worms, he was excommunicated and declared an outlaw.
Historic Trivia pick - Anne Boleyn’s Decapitation ConversationSome eyewitnesses reported that Anne’s lips continued to move for several seconds after her beheading. Did she remain conscious? Is that even possible?
Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived. That’s about the extent most of us know King Henry VIII’s wives, and—let’s face it—grim as they are, the beheadings get all the glory. Anne Boleyn might be the first of the six that comes to mind for that very reason, but did you know that there were reports her head tried to speak after the fatal chop? Are these bogus stories, or is there scientific evidence that a head can remain conscious after it has separated from the body?
Queen for just three years, on May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, was executed by beheading within the confines of the Tower of London.
Anne, about 35 years old, was found guilty of high treason. She had been charged with having intimate encounters with five men of Henry’s court—including Henry’s BFF and her own brother. According to the indictments, not only had she slept with these men, but she had also conspired with them to kill Henry. So, whether these indictments were true or not—and many think she was framed, plus Henry wasn’t much of a loyal partner either—off with her head it was!
In Anne’s last moments, she knelt down in preparation for the executioner’s blow, and began to pray loudly. In an instant, the executioner beheaded Anne with a single strike of his sword. Some eyewitnesses reported that Anne’s lips continued to move for several seconds after her beheading. Did she remain conscious? Is that even possible?
The debate comes down to voluntary muscle reactions vs. pure consciousness.
Some believe movements, like Anne’s, are simply the result of the voluntary muscles that control the lips and eyes spasming after a shock. This is probably true for the rest of the body, but the head is home to our motherboard—the brain. With a clean cut like Anne’s, the brain would not have received any trauma and could very possibly continue to function until inevitable blood loss.
How long it could function is really unknown. Studies in small mammals have found that consciousness can last from four to 29 seconds, and we know that that chickens can run around with their heads decapitated for several. This is actually horrifying if you think about it—even just for four seconds. Just count to four and take in everything around you. Now imagine that plus the shock and the panic.
Now, the most famous case of surviving decapitation has already been covered on Cool Stuff Strange Things—that’s Mike the Headless Chicken. Mike survived being decapitated for 18 months. How is this different than what I just presented, you ask? Mike’s not-so-fatal blow cut at an angle through his brainstem, just missing the parts of his central nervous system that control basic functions. A well-placed blood clot also stopped him from bleeding to death.
As for Anne Boleyn’s last words, it was likely a muscle spasm or hyperbole in the Tudor press. Believe It or Not! nobody had thought to even have a coffin on hand for her burial, so an old elm chest from the Tower armory was used. Anne’s head and body were placed in the chest and buried.
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61-BLUES
