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On July 29, 1567, thirteen-month-old James Stewart became king of Scotland at the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling. His mother, Mary Queen of Scots, had been forced to give up her throne five days earlier after losing a battle and being locked up in a castle. Annabell Murray, the Countess of Mar, carried baby James from Stirling Castle to the church for the three-hour ceremony. Adam Bothwell, the Bishop of Orkney, ran the ceremony while John Knox gave a sermon about another young biblical king. Three lords carried the royal items - the crown, scepter, and sword - and they put oil on James's head and crowned him like any grown-up king.

The political situation was messy. Some lords had to swear that Mary gave up her crown willingly, even though everyone knew she was forced. Sixty-two nobles and thirteen town representatives signed papers supporting baby James as king. Queen Elizabeth of England didn't approve and told her ambassador to skip the ceremony, though he sent an assistant to watch and report back. The ceremony used specially made red and blue velvet robes, and three trumpet players provided music.

After being crowned, James was carried back to Stirling Castle for safety. News spread across Scotland, with Edinburgh ordering celebratory bonfires and fining anyone who didn't help pay. The coronation secured the Protestant Reformation in Scotland and began a ruling that lasted until James came of age. This baby would become one of Scotland's most successful kings and also later rule England starting in 1603.

Baby James never saw his mother again after this day. The coronation marked the end of Catholic Mary's reign and guaranteed Scotland would stay Protestant, which was exactly what the Scottish lords wanted. In

On July 29, 1920, American newspapers ran headlines saying "Villa Surrenders, But New Revolt Starts." Francisco "Pancho" Villa, Mexico's most famous rebel leader, had agreed to stop fighting after years of trouble with Mexican and American governments. On July 22, Villa had sent a telegram to Mexico's temporary president saying he wanted peace and retirement. This was huge news because Villa had been Mexico's most wanted man, especially after attacking Columbus, New Mexico in 1916 and killing American soldiers and civilians.

Villa's surrender timing made perfect sense. His biggest enemy, Venustiano Carranza, had been killed by his own people in May 1920. With Carranza dead, Villa could finally make peace with Mexico's new government. Temporary president Adolfo de la Huerta wanted to end all fighting in Mexico after ten years of war, so he was willing to make a deal. Villa's army had gotten much smaller, and his best fighters were dead, including his trusted advisor Felipe Angeles who was executed in November 1919.

The surrender deal was generous. Villa would get a big ranch in Durango to raise cattle and crops, fifty of his men would stay as bodyguards on the government payroll, while his other fighters got small farms. Villa said he was tired of fighting and wanted to help Mexico by staying out of politics. The formal ceremony would happen in August, but the July 29 announcement ended his rebellion. He lived peacefully on his ranch for three years until someone assassinated him in 1923.

Villa's surrender basically ended the Mexican Revolution's major fighting, and his retirement marked the end of a decade of revolutionary warfare that had torn Mexico apart.

Aztec Education📚
The Aztec Empire had a structured school system that required all children, regardless of gender or class, to attend. Boys went to military or priestly schools, while girls were trained in domestic and ritual duties, often through temple education. This system was in place centuries before Europe adopted universal schooling. Education was seen as a social duty and religious obligation, not just a privilege. Even slaves' children were expected to receive instruction.

Catapult Bed🛌
In the 1800s, people used a mechanical bed that would spring upright at a set time, flinging its occupant onto their feet. It was one of the earliest forms of automated alarm systems—perfect for the chronically late. The bed was powered by weights and levers, similar to a grandfather clock. While never widely adopted, it represented the Victorian obsession with productivity and invention. Some versions even combined this with a bell or a splash of water for maximum effect.

Early Prison Food🦞
In colonial New England, lobster was so abundant and cheap that it was considered garbage food. It was commonly served to prisoners, indentured servants, and even livestock. Some labor contracts even included clauses limiting how often lobster could be served—no more than twice a week. Its reputation didn’t change until the late 1800s, when railroads began serving it as a novelty to inland travelers. Eventually, lobster became a luxury delicacy, flipping its social status completely.

Ben Franklin’s Turkey🦃
Ben Franklin famously criticized the bald eagle, calling it “a bird of bad moral character” for its scavenging habits. In a letter to his daughter, he argued that the turkey was a more honorable bird—native to North America and “a true original.” He saw it as brave, respectable, and useful, unlike the opportunistic eagle. Despite his advocacy, the bald eagle was chosen in 1782 for the Great Seal of the United States. The turkey remains a symbol mainly of Thanksgiving, not the nation.

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