MEMORABLE EVENTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18762, 29 December 1930, Page 11

MEMORABLE EVENTS.

KINGS CROWNED ON CHRISTMAS DAY. During the Great War hostilities were suspended at Christmas in many parts of the front line and British and German soldiers in some zones actually crossed No Man's Land to each other s trenches. The course of the biggest war in history was stayed by a bond comyion to all the chief combatants. The Christmas spirit conquered the military spirit. Occasions in history when human beings have allowed their important affairs to he upset by a mere feast have been rare indeed. But when Alfred the Great was battling with the Invading Danes he ordered that Christmas should be fully celebrated by his troops. He even retired his army in order that they might enjoy the festivities in peace. But the pagan Danes, seizing their opportunity, caught the Saxons unprepared and inflicted a crushing defeat on them. Since then military leaders have frowned on Christmas celebrations in time of war. The Battle of Wakefield, one of the most savage fights in the Wars of the Roses, took place on 30th December, 1460, when elsewhere Christmas festivities were in full swing. In mediaeval times, of course, Christmas was a twelve-day feast. Nor did Napoleon show any regard for Christmas. During the latter part of his Marengo campaign there was fierce fighting along the River Minclo on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Henry’s Yuletide Wish. Assassination has been frequently committed at Christmas time. The most notable incident in English history was the murder of Thomas a Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, the “order” for which was given on Christmas Day. The great churchman, who in his latter years had persistently opposed his King, fell victim to the latter's impatient words. Young courtiers, hearing Henry’s rash wish to be rid of a’Becket, immediately left France, where the Court temporarily was, and where the fatal words were uttered, for England. On 29th December they surprised the Archbishop as he was praying before the altar of Canterbury Cathedral. They stabbed him to death and left his body at the foot of the sacred altar. No one regretted the manner of his death more than Henry 11. It cost the King dear in more ways than one. Canute, the Danish King of England, famed for his quasi-fabulous exploit with the tide, was responsible, not without provocation, for one of the dark deeds that stain the history of Christmas. Flushed with wine, Edric, an arch-traitor who had betrayed two Saxon kings to Canute, boasted at the Christmas table of his services to King Canute. The King, long suspicious of Edric’s loyalty to him, Interrupted the braggart’s talk, “Let him receive what he deserves, he commanded, “in order that he may not betray me as he did Aethelrid and Edmund.” Immediately the stroke of a battleaxe felled the traitor to the ground Where his blood mingled with the wine he had spilt curing his fatal bibbing.

Christmas Coronations. The Holy Roman Empire that dominated Europe for a thousand years, was born at Christmas, and received its final death warrant at Christmas. In the year 800, a blonde giant of a man knelt at the papal altar to receive the Pope’s blessing for his deeds on behalf of Christianity. The great crowd in the church craned their necks to see him, for he was the greatest warrior of his age, Charlemagne, King of the Franks, who had conquered the pagan Saxons and the Lombards, and whose soldiers had just freed Rome. As the King rose from prayer, the pontiff placed a crown on his bare head while the people shouted. "Long life and victory to the mighty Charles, the great i Emperor of the Romans, crowned of God.” That unexpected coronation was the foundation of the Holy Roman Empire. The Empire lasted for 1005 years and one day. Christmas Day, 1805, saw many French and Australan diplomats gathered at Pressburg in Austria, not for the purpose of feasting, but to negotiate a treaty. Napoleon had utterly defeated the Austrian armies. The victor demanded the cession of numerous duchies and the complete abolition of the Holy Roman Empire which was still tangible enough to possess some danger for his plans of European domination. The Treaty of Pressburg was signed on Boxing Day and the great Empire created by Charlemagne passed into the domain of history. Charlemagne was not the only conqueror to be crowned at Christmas. William the Conqueror elected to be I crowned King of England on Christmas day, 1066. The ceremony was per- ! formed with great pomp and circum-

stance at Westminster and the feasting that followed was talked of with admiration for many years afterwards.