The Sack of Rome

Carried out by Totila (The Gothic King) in 546 AD, the siege lasted for almost a year, before the city fell to the Goths. 

When the siege began on winter, 545 AD, the commander of the imperial garrison would only sell the grain stock to civilians at a highly inflated price. He apparently also refused to allow civilians to leave the city. Due to this, many of the civilians committed suicide. Eventually, he allowed them to leave, and many of the famished civilians were killed by the Goths. Pope Vigilius, having fled to Syracuse, attempted to help by sending ships with grain to Rome, only to end up feeding the surrounding Goths instead.

As it would turn out, Tortilla wanted rid of Rome, so he could use the land for sheep. While this didn’t happen, his army plundered the city once it was finally breached, and tore down one third of the defensive walls before chasing after the Roman forces in Apulia.

Did you know…that despite not growing in Hawaii, poinsettias were included in a 1944 book on Hawaii’s poisonous plants? The plant itself isn’t actually poisonous, either!

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St Andrew's Day

Scotland’s official national day, the traditional celebration seems to originate from Malcolm III (1058 - 1093). It is thought that the ritual slaughter of animals, associated with the celebration of Samhain, was moved to this date to assure enough animals would survive the winter.

The day only became an official bank holiday in 2006, when the Scottish Parliament passed the ‘St. Andrew;s Day Bank Holiday (Scotland) Act 2007’, although it is not a bank holiday in the traditional sense. Banks and schools can stay open, and businesses do not have to give their employees the day off.

Did you know…it takes an average of 9.6 hours to prepare a full Thanksgiving meal?

St Peter’s Basilica

Located in Vatican City, the Basilica was originally planned by Pope Nicholas V in the 15th century to replace the Old St. Peter’s Basilica (which was built in the fourth century by Constantine the Great). However, work on the new building didn’t begin until 1506, before finally finishing in 1626.

According to tradition, the Basilica is built on the burial site of St Peter, who was the first Bishop of Rome. Due to this, many popes have been interred at the Basilica.

Did you know…Diabetes was named the the Greek Physician Aretaeus, but the disease can be traced back to Ancient Egypt?

Remembrance Day

In Flanders fields the poppies blow 

Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.


We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.


Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Poem by John McCrae

Did you know…cats can travel up to 31 mph for a short distance?