Same Date––Different Years

By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief, Southern Writers Magazine

Ever wondered what happened on a specific date in history. Example, what things happened on the date of December 18 down through the ages? Are there stories in these events?  Let’s look and see.

On December 18, 1271 Kublai Khan renames his empire “Yuan”. This marks the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty of China. The Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368) was China's first foreign-led dynasty, between the Chinese Song and Ming dynasties. Established by Kublai Khan, leader of the vast Mongol Empire, and fell into internal rebellion after it lost touch with its Mongol roots. It was said, that the Yuan Dynasty was the biggest dynasty in the history of China.

Here is another event. On December 18, 1603 the first fleet of the Dutch East India Company under Admiral Steven van der Haghen departs for the East-Indies. Haghen was the first admiral of the Dutch East India Company and made three visits to the East Indies. The Dutch East India Company was an early megacorporation, founded by a government-directed amalgamation of several rival Dutch trading companies in the early 17th century. Originally the company was established in March 1602, as a chartered company to trade with India and Indianized Southeast Asian countries when the Dutch government granted it a 21-year monopoly on the Dutch spice trade. 

Another event on December 18, 1915 our 28^th United States President Woodrow Wilson, widowed the year before marries second wife Edith Bolling Galt, a descendant of native American Pocahontas. It is said, after President Wilson’s suffered a severe stroke in 1919 Edith began to screen all matters of state and decided which were important enough to bring to the bedridden president. In doing so, she de facto ran the executive branch of the government for the remainder of the president's second term, until March 1921.

Just in these three events that took place on December 18 in different years we could find several stories in each one. If one enjoys digging in and researching old records and moving through tales of history then one will find the material to create wonderful stories that entertain readers for years to come.

One key the writer must have in order to mine these fascinating nuggets in events of history is the ability to give their imaginations free reign. Therein lies the truth of weaving a story that could birth a best-seller or two.

For some writers, these three events could keep them busy creating intriguing stories for years to come––writing standalone books, series, and trilogies.