Bizarre Moments in Time That Put History Into Perspective

The Great Stink of 1858

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Imagine a smell so foul that it disrupts the workings of a nation's government. In the hot summer of 1858, London experienced "The Great Stink," a period during which the River Thames, polluted with raw sewage, emitted odors so unbearable that it affected the Houses of Parliament.

The problem, however, started way earlier. In fact, from around 1831, London was plagued by a series of devastating cholera outbreaks. At that time, the prevailing belief among the population was that these outbreaks were caused by the inhalation of foul air that hung over the River Thames. The city's rapid population growth and industrialization resulted in a massive increase in sewage and waste, with no proper disposal system. Raw sewage was directly dumped into the river, which also served as the main source of drinking water for Londoners.

It wasn't until 1858 that the stench became unbearable, and action was finally taken. The government was forced to acknowledge the problem and passed the Metropolitan Commission of Sewers Act. This law modernized London's sewage system with the construction of a massive underground sewer network designed by Joseph Bazalgette.

Pope Gregory IX Exterminates Cats...and Causes the Plague

(library of congress)

In a bizarre twist of fate, Pope Gregory IX, in the early 13th century, declared cats, particularly black cats, as creatures affiliated with devil worship. In a drastic move, he issued the decree known as "Vox in Rama" in June 1233. This edict called for the extermination of all cats, a campaign that shockingly continued up until the 1700s.

Little did the pope know that this action would have dire consequences. Without cats to keep them in check, the rat population exploded, leading to a surge in fleas and the spread of the bubonic plague. This deadly pandemic decimated Europe's population and is estimated to have killed around 25 million people by 1352.

This war on cats had effects that stretched far beyond the Black Death. It sparked a mass witch hunt as cats were often associated with witchcraft in medieval society. Countless innocent women and men were persecuted and killed on accusations of being witches. It was not until much later that the true cause of the plague was discovered, and cats were finally seen in a positive light again.

President Zachary Taylor's Death and Its Impact

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The sudden death of President Zachary Taylor in 1850, which followed his consumption of cherries and milk during a Fourth of July festivity, remains one of the more curious incidents in U.S. presidential history. While many theories have been put forth, including assassination by poison, it is now believed that Taylor likely died from gastroenteritis.

A day after his death, his vice president, Millard Fillmore, was sworn in. He threw his support to a bill that Taylor had openly opposed, known as the Compromise of 1850. This law would allow the expansion of the Fugitive Slave Act, which required the return of escaped slaves to their owners. This decision further divided the nation and ultimately led to the Civil War.

Napoleon and the Rabbit Attack

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Napoleon Bonaparte, renowned as a military genius and the formidable ruler of France, experienced a bizarre and unexpected event when a horde of rabbits once attacked him. This incident, which sounds almost comical, resulted in the great leader running for his life, a moment that starkly contrasted with his usual battlefield prowess.

In 1807, after signing the Treaty of Tilsit, Napoleon, looking for leisure, organized a rabbit hunt. He commanded his men to collect 1,000 farm-raised bunnies and have them situated on the edge of a grassy field.

When the trumpets were sounded to release the rabbits in panic mode, instead of running away from the hunters as expected, they swarmed Napoleon and his men. The bunnies were ruthless. They climbed up onto his gold-embroidered jacket, nibbling on his clothes and even trying to bite him.

Shocked and caught off guard, Napoleon quickly retreated to the safety of his carriage. But the rabbits were not done. They followed him and continued the attack until he pulled away. The incident became a popular topic of gossip and ridicule among Napoleon's enemies and detractors, who saw it as a sign of weakness and incompetence on his part.

A Russian Woman Bought a Tank to Fight Nazis

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In August 1941, while Mariya Oktyabrskaya was working as a telephone operator in Kyiv, she received the devastating news of her husband's demise on the front lines. This news shattered her world, but instead of succumbing to grief, she felt a potent drive to seek revenge for her husband's death. So, she went to the enlistment office and requested to join the war but was declined because she had spinal tuberculosis.

Undeterred, Mariya sold everything she had and bought a T-34 tank for the Red Army. She also took all the savings benefits she received as a widow of the regimental commissar plus her other income from embroidery work and donated to the national defense fund.

Then she sent a telegram to the Soviet Premier, Joseph Stalin, asking for permission to drive the tank she bought to the front lines to fight against the Nazis. Thinking it was good propaganda, the State Defense Committee agreed to her request.

Mariya underwent a rigorous five-month tank training program and eventually became one of the first female tank drivers in the Soviet Union. She fought bravely on the front lines, earning the nickname "Fighting Girlfriend" among her comrades.

Sadly, on January 17th, 1944, Mariya and her tank were hit by a German anti-tank shell while driving toward Nazi defenses. She was severely wounded and evacuated to hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

The Christmas Truce Of 1914

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In a heartwarming episode amidst the atrocities of World War I, soldiers from opposing sides laid down their weapons on Christmas Eve of 1914, fraternized, exchanged gifts, and played football. This event, known as the Christmas Truce of 1914, happened spontaneously in various locations along the Western Front.

It started around Christmas Eve when lower-ranking British officers began ordering their soldiers not to fire unless fired upon. As morning broke on Christmas day, German soldiers emerged from their trenches, waving their hands to demonstrate that they had no ill intentions. Soon after, the British soldiers joined them in No Man's Land, where they exchanged greetings and gifts such as cigarettes, food, and souvenirs. They also sang Christmas carols together.

The truce continued on for several days in some areas, with soldiers from both sides playing friendly games of football (soccer) and even participating in joint burials for fallen soldiers. The unofficial truce was not celebrated by higher-ranking officers who saw it as a threat to military discipline and order.

The Great Emu War

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In 1932, the Australian military waged a war against emus that were destroying crops in Western Australia and lost. Emus often routinely migrated to the west coast in search of food and water after raising their broods. It was their normal migratory pattern.

However, after World War I, Australian veterans were given land in the western part of the country and were encouraged to produce wheat. The wetter weather conditions and the introduction of wheat fields attracted around 20,000 emus, which quickly became a nuisance to the farmers.

The farmers requested military assistance to handle the situation, and in response, Major G.P.W. Meredith led two soldiers armed with Lewis guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition to hunt down the emus. However, despite their efforts, the emus proved to be incredibly elusive and difficult to shoot. After several failed attempts, the military officially withdrew from the war against the emus and declared them "victors" in December 1932.

The Banana Wars

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A series of military interventions by the United States in Central America and the Caribbean, collectively known as the Banana Wars, occurred between the late 19th century and the early 20th century. These interventions were primarily driven by the American desire to protect business interests, particularly in the banana trade.

The United Fruit Company, a major American corporation that owned large plantations and controlled much of the banana trade, often used its political influence to secure favorable policies and military support from the U.S. government. This resulted in numerous interventions and occupations in countries such as Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Panama.

One of the most notable interventions was the United States' occupation of Nicaragua from 1912 to 1933. The U.S. justified this intervention as a means to protect American lives and property during a period of political instability in Nicaragua. However, it was also driven by the economic interests of the United Fruit Company, which had significant investments in the country.

The Banana Wars were met with resistance from local populations, leading to armed uprisings and guerilla warfare. This resulted in significant casualties and human rights abuses by the U.S. military and their local allies. The interventions also furthered anti-American sentiment in the region and contributed to the rise of authoritarian regimes.