If I see another thing about how 14 is an unlucky number and bad stuff always happens in the 14th year of a century... let's go back history lane
If I see another thing about how 14 is an unlucky number and bad stuff always happens in the 14th year of a century... let's go back history lane
20th century: WWI starts, traumatizing the West with its brutality. Score 1 for bad '14s.
19th century: Napoleon, having been defeated in 2012 in Russia (classical blunder!), is in retreat after years of successful war. His only remaining ally in Europe has gone bankrupt. After the defeaut in 1815 at Waterloo, the Pax Britannica oversees an era of progress. 1:1.
18th century: The War of Spanish Succession ends, bringing, if not peace, then at least less war to Europe after 13 years. 1:2
17th century: Nothing really notable happened until 1618 when the Defenestration of Prague started the 30 years war. 1618, not 1614. 1:3
16th century: Some ongoing wars, including the Italian wars (1494 to 1559), but nothing remarkable in 1514. 1:4
15th century: Nothing of note in 1414. The Battle of Agincourt happens the year after, but is but one of many battles in the Hundred Years War (1337 to 1453). 1:5
14th century: Nothing notable until the middle of the century, where the Hundred Years War starts and the Black Death hits Europe. 1:6
13th century: The Anglo-French war (1202-1214) ends with the Battle of Bouvines (cows?), setting the stage for the development of France. 1:7
12th century: Nothing particularly noteworthy happened in 1114. 1:8
11th century: The Gaelic forces under High King Brian Boru defeat a combined Leinster-Viking force but Brian Boru is killed at the end of the battle, ending Viking power in Dublin. Aaaand... that's about it. 1:9
So there you have it: 1 out of 10 '14s is a major disaster year, while in 3 of the '14s, prolonged wars end or are practically ended, leading to more peace.
For anyone who still sees important parallels between 1914 and 2014 in term of major world crisis, go read _ The Guns of August_ by Barbara W. Tuchman. It's a great read, and gives both the cultural, political, and historical background for the war as well as a fascinating description of the first month, where the battle lines were still moving.
20th century: WWI starts, traumatizing the West with its brutality. Score 1 for bad '14s.
19th century: Napoleon, having been defeated in 2012 in Russia (classical blunder!), is in retreat after years of successful war. His only remaining ally in Europe has gone bankrupt. After the defeaut in 1815 at Waterloo, the Pax Britannica oversees an era of progress. 1:1.
18th century: The War of Spanish Succession ends, bringing, if not peace, then at least less war to Europe after 13 years. 1:2
17th century: Nothing really notable happened until 1618 when the Defenestration of Prague started the 30 years war. 1618, not 1614. 1:3
16th century: Some ongoing wars, including the Italian wars (1494 to 1559), but nothing remarkable in 1514. 1:4
15th century: Nothing of note in 1414. The Battle of Agincourt happens the year after, but is but one of many battles in the Hundred Years War (1337 to 1453). 1:5
14th century: Nothing notable until the middle of the century, where the Hundred Years War starts and the Black Death hits Europe. 1:6
13th century: The Anglo-French war (1202-1214) ends with the Battle of Bouvines (cows?), setting the stage for the development of France. 1:7
12th century: Nothing particularly noteworthy happened in 1114. 1:8
11th century: The Gaelic forces under High King Brian Boru defeat a combined Leinster-Viking force but Brian Boru is killed at the end of the battle, ending Viking power in Dublin. Aaaand... that's about it. 1:9
So there you have it: 1 out of 10 '14s is a major disaster year, while in 3 of the '14s, prolonged wars end or are practically ended, leading to more peace.
For anyone who still sees important parallels between 1914 and 2014 in term of major world crisis, go read _ The Guns of August_ by Barbara W. Tuchman. It's a great read, and gives both the cultural, political, and historical background for the war as well as a fascinating description of the first month, where the battle lines were still moving.
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