Four Animals That Changed The Course Of History
There are some animals that deserve to be counted in the history of humanity for the crucial role they played in very special moments. Pigs, monkeys and dogs occupy a prestigious place within some important historical events. If you don’t believe us, read the stories we report here.
A greyhound at the origin of the Anglican Schism?
Even if you are not a history buff, you will know who Henry VIII was. Yes, he himself, the king of England and lord of Ireland who, among other things, beheaded his wives. This monarch went down in history for being the protagonist of one of the most important historical events of Christianity: the religious schism that led to the separation from the Church of Rome and the foundation of the Anglican Church. According to psychology professor Stanley Coren, all this would not have happened if Thomas Wolsey, Catholic archbishop and English cardinal, had not been an overprotective owner of his dog.
Wolsey, as papal legate, had been charged with carrying out investigations regarding the possibility of invalidating Henry VIII’s marriage with Catherine of Aragon, thus allowing the monarch to marry Anna Bolena. The story goes that Wolsey went to Rome to present the case to the Pope, but in that meeting something went wrong and the consequence of this unexpected event was precisely the schism.
Well, the protagonist of this hitch was Urian, Wolsey’s greyhound dog. It is said, in fact, that when the moment came to have to kiss the pope’s feet, as foreseen by the papal ceremonial, Urian, to protect the master, jumped on the Holy Father and bit him. Pope Clement was furious, abruptly interrupted the meeting and opposed Henry’s divorce. The consequence was the divorce of Henry and Catherine, the excommunication of the pope and the birth of the Anglican Church. This is the short story, but if you want to know more, you can do a search in the history books.
The dog that saved Napoleon
How would modern history have changed if a dog hadn’t saved Napoleon Bonaparte’s life? In 1815 Napoleon was stealthily fleeing the island of Elba, but was surprised by a storm and fell into the sea. Legend has it that a Newfoundland dog braved the fury of the waves and brought him to safety. It may seem a bit whimsical story, but it is a reality that dogs of this breed are characterized precisely by being excellent rescue dogs. Perhaps it is for this very reason that Napoleon’s dog was aboard the boat.
What happened next is known to all; Napoleon returned to Paris, regained power and began the period of the Hundred Days, the epilogue was the defeat of Waterloo.
The pig that started democracy in Europe
This story is a succession of events. Be careful. One day King Philip of France went for a horse ride along the Seine. Suddenly, a black pig appeared out of nowhere, the horse was frightened and Philip fell to the ground and died. After Philip’s death, his brother Louis VII, who originally wanted to become a monk, ascended the throne. Well, Luigi married Eleonora of Aquitaine, but their marriage proved to be a failure right away. The disagreements between the two intensified during the Second Crusade and Eleonora then decided to separate and marry Henry II of England. From their union five children were born, the last of whom, John I of England, better known as John Without Earth, went down in history for having drawn up the Magna Carta, the first fundamental document for the recognition of citizens’ rights . In short, without Eleonora’s new marriage, which in turn would not have been possible without the Second Crusade, the most important document in the development of modern democracy would never have seen the light. The powers of the animals!
The monkey that caused thousands of deaths
Can a monkey cause thousands of deaths? After the First World War, Greece decided to start a war against Turkey in order to recover some territories. At that time the king was Alexander I of Greece, son of Constantine. One day, during a conflict, Alexander was walking with his dog in the gardens of the royal palace in Athens. During the walk Alexander was the victim of an accident: he was attacked by a monkey. It is not clear where the animal came from; some claim that it was his pet and that he was attacking the dog. Others are of the opinion that it was a wild animal. Whatever the origin of the animal, the king was bitten on the hand and this bite caused an infection that led to his death from septicemia. After his death, Alexander’s father returned to his homeland. Constantine I was a fervent supporter of the Greco-Turkish war. The conflict ended with the defeat of Greece and the death of 250,000 people. All for a monkey.
