June 12 is a day filled with interesting historical events and the birthdays of some very famous people. From a peasant revolt in England to a big battle in Japan, this day has seen a lot over the years. Let’s take a closer look at what happened on this day and learn about the people born on June 12.
Historical Events on June 12
1381 Peasants’ Revolt in England
In 1381, a group of angry peasants in England started a big fight against the government. They were upset because they had to pay a lot of money in taxes. The revolt was led by a man named Wat Tyler. The peasants marched to London and met with King Richard II. They demanded that the taxes be lowered and that some of the king’s advisors be punished. In the end, the revolt was stopped, and many of the peasants were killed or arrested.
1442 King Alfonso V of Aragon occupies Naples
In 1442, King Alfonso V of Aragon took control of the city of Naples in Italy. Aragon was a kingdom in what is now Spain. Alfonso wanted to expand his power and take over more land. He fought against the ruler of Naples and won. This made Aragon even stronger and gave them control over a big part of Italy.
1553 English King Edward VI accepts the Forty-two Articles
In 1553, King Edward VI of England accepted a set of rules for the Church of England called the Forty-two Articles. These articles were written by Thomas Cranmer, who was a leader in the church. The articles talked about what the church believed and how it should be run. They were an important step in the Protestant Reformation, which was a time when many people left the Catholic Church to start their own churches.
1560 Battle of Okehazama in Japan
In 1560, a big battle happened in Japan called the Battle of Okehazama. It was fought between two powerful lords named Oda Nobunaga and Imagawa Yoshimoto. Nobunaga had a smaller army, but he used clever tricks to win the battle. He attacked Yoshimoto’s army while they were resting and not ready to fight. Nobunaga’s victory made him very famous and powerful in Japan.
1651 Unveiling of the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi in Rome
In 1651, a beautiful fountain was unveiled in Rome, Italy. It is called the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, which means “Fountain of the Four Rivers.” The fountain was designed by a famous artist named Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It shows four big statues that represent four major rivers from different parts of the world. The fountain is still one of the most famous and popular sights in Rome today.
Famous Birthdays on June 12
Johanna Spyri (1827-1901)
Johanna Spyri was a famous writer from Switzerland. She is best known for writing the book Heidi, which is about a young girl who lives in the mountains with her grandfather. Heidi is one of the most popular children’s books ever written and has been translated into many languages.
Biography:
- Born: June 12, 1827 in Hirzel, Switzerland
- Died: July 7, 1901 in Zurich, Switzerland
- Famous work: Heidi (1881)
Thomas J. Walsh (1859-1933)
Thomas J. Walsh was a politician from the United States. He was a senator from the state of Montana. Walsh is most famous for leading an investigation into a big scandal called the Teapot Dome scandal. The scandal involved some politicians taking bribes and making bad deals with oil companies.
Biography:
- Born: June 12, 1859 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin
- Died: March 2, 1933 in North Carolina
- Political party: Democratic
- Served as U.S. Senator from Montana (1913-1933)
Anthony Eden (1897-1977)
Anthony Eden was a politician from the United Kingdom. He served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1957. Before that, he was the Foreign Secretary, which means he was in charge of dealing with other countries. Eden is most remembered for his role in the Suez Crisis, which was a conflict between the UK, France, and Egypt over the Suez Canal.
Biography:
- Born: June 12, 1897 in Rushyford, England
- Died: January 14, 1977 in Salisbury, England
- Political party: Conservative
- Served as UK Prime Minister (1955-1957) and Foreign Secretary (1935-1938, 1940-1945, 1951-1955)
Milovan Djilas (1911-1995)
Milovan Djilas was a politician and writer from Yugoslavia. He was an important member of the Communist Party in Yugoslavia, but later became a critic of the government. Djilas wrote many books, including one called The New Class, which talked about problems with communist governments.
Biography:
- Born: June 12, 1911 in Podbišće, Montenegro
- Died: April 20, 1995 in Belgrade, Serbia
- Famous works: The New Class (1957), Conversations with Stalin (1962)
George H. W. Bush (1924-2018)
George H. W. Bush was the 41st President of the United States. He served as president from 1989 to 1993. Before that, he was the Vice President under Ronald Reagan. During his presidency, Bush led the United States in the Gulf War against Iraq. He also helped the country when the Soviet Union broke apart.
Biography:
- Born: June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts
- Died: November 30, 2018 in Houston, Texas
- Political party: Republican
- Served as 41st U.S. President (1989-1993) and 43rd U.S. Vice President (1981-1989)
Takeaways
As we’ve seen, June 12 is a day with a rich history. From the Peasants’ Revolt in England to the Battle of Okehazama in Japan, many important events have happened on this day. We’ve also learned about some of the famous people born on June 12, like Johanna Spyri, the author of Heidi, and George H. W. Bush, the 41st President of the United States. These people and events have shaped our world in many ways, and it’s important to remember and learn from them.
References:
- “Peasants’ Revolt.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/event/Peasants-Revolt.
- “Alfonso V.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Alfonso-V-king-of-Aragon-and-Sicily.
- “Forty-Two Articles.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Forty-two-Articles.
- “Battle of Okehazama.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Okehazama.
- “Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/topic/Fontana-dei-Quattro-Fiumi.
- “Johanna Spyri.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Johanna-Spyri.
- “Thomas J. Walsh.” Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000104.
- “Anthony Eden.” GOV.UK, www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers/anthony-eden.
- “Milovan Djilas.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Milovan-Djilas.
- “George H. W. Bush.” The White House, The United States Government, www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/george-h-w-bush/.
