Historical Legends

Top Seven Historical Legends, Facts and Figures

It's amazing how history never ceases to surprise and amaze us. Throughout time, numerous people have stood out and distinguished themselves from the common rabble. Of course, there are numerous great people and events but here are my top seven favorites.

Alexander the Great and the Gordian Knot

There are many stories about this young conqueror who, before the age of 33, subdued the powerful Persian Empire. My favorite story however is about the Gordian knot. Legend says that as he entered the Phrygian city of Gordion, he was faced with a chariot or a cart that was fastened with cords tied in an intricate knot. It was prophesied that whoever could untie the knot would be destined to rule a great empire.

Instead of puzzling over the complicated puzzle, Alexander simply drew his sword and cut the knot in half. Although he never did conquer the world in his time, he really did become immortalized as a great conqueror in the annals of history. Today we remember Alexander every time we hear the term Gordian knot which is now an expression for problems that are nearly insoluble.

Hatshepsut and Women's Rights

There were a handful of women who were able to rule Egypt as regents or queens. Hatshepsut however stands out among all the female rulers because she was inexplicably crowned not just as a queen ruler but as a king or pharaoh. To have a female bear male titles and even wear traditional pharaoh apparel including a pharaoh's beard was unprecedented. Hatshepsut however did all that and ruled for a little over 20 years. She became one of Egypt's greatest rulers, expanding trade beyond known borders. She was one of the earliest examples of how women could do just as well as men in male dominated concerns.

For some unknown reason however, an attempt was made to permanently erase her from history twenty years after her death. During the sole reign of her nephew Thutmose III, her statues were destroyed and her name, titles and face were erased from monuments.

Pheidippides and the First Marathon

It is not clear whether there is any truth about the story of Pheidippides but his accomplishment does make an entertaining story. In one version of the story, Pheidippides was said to have run more than 20 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the Persian defeat against a small Greek army. He was believed to have dramatically dropped dead after his delivering his message.

In another version of the story, Pheidippides covered the longer distance between Marathon and Sparta to ask for military assistance. He was denied and it is not known what happened to him then. To this day, the word marathon not only refers to a sports event but any other continuous activity that requires great endurance.

Lady Godiva and Social Activism

The authenticity of Lady Godiva's story is again another disputed item in history. Nonetheless, her supposed actions live on to inspire boldness among the modern champions of social justice.

Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric, the Earl of Mercia. As legend would have it, Godiva pleaded with her husband to remove the heavy taxes imposed on the people of Coventry. Leofric grew tired of his wife's entreaties and finally agreed to do so if Godiva rode naked on a horse through the streets.

Different versions of the story say that she took up her husband's challenge and rode through the streets either in a long undergarment or just stripped of her jewelry and other signs of nobility. The most dramatic and enduring version however says that she rode stark naked with only her long hair to cover her body.

Louis the XIV and the Man in the Iron Mask

Louis the XIV was France's Sun King because he increased French power and influence in Europe and because of the general grandeur and magnificence of his reign. His period on the throne however was not bereft of mystery and intrigue. One of the most enduring and still unsolved mysteries during his time was the Man in the Iron Mask.

The public that stormed the Bastille in 1789, more than 70 years after Louis XIV's death, discovered a mysterious prisoner entry that simply contained a prisoner number and the phrase Man in the Iron Mask. The prisoner apparently languished in different prisons from 1669-1703. His identity was disguised by a stiff velvet mask that was probably mistaken by jailers as made of iron.

Since his time in prison, more than 60 possible identities have been associated with the man including his being Louis XIV's real father, a disgraced general, an illegitimate royal half brother and a confidential valet. Alexander Dumas and Hollywood have immortalized one other theory that the prisoner could have been the king's twin.

Henry VIII and His Six Wives

Henry's first wife was Catherine of Aragon whom he sought to divorce after falling in love with Anne Boleyn. The Catholic pope however refused his request for an annulment. Henry still separated from Catherine despite the lack of papal permission. This eventually led to the separation from the Catholic Church and the birth of the Church of England of which Henry became the head.

Succeeding wives quickly followed but all but the last suffered sad fates. Anne Boleyn was beheaded, Jane Seymour died after childbirth, Anne of Cleves was divorced, and Kathryn Howard was beheaded. Catherine Parr was the only wife that luckily survived Henry.

Major William Martin and Operation Mincemeat

In 1943, the Allies realized that they needed to secure Sicily to weaken the Axis forces, and open the Mediterranean Sea to the Allies. Instead of attacking head on, the British suggested mounting a ruse which they named Operation Mincemeat.

On April 30, 1943, a body given the false identity of Major William Martin was deposited on the coast of Spain for the German's to find. Martin was made believable by documents and clues to his identity found in his pockets which included official letters, letters from his sweetheart and his father, an ID and bills.

It was, however, the confidential and official documents that the body carried that caught the attention of the Germans. The retrieved documents revealed plans to attack Sardinia. The Germans believed the documents and diverted their attention from Sicily to Sardinia. With Sicily less protected, it fell easily into Allied hands.