The Legend of St Valentine

St Valentine's day history goes back to Roman times.  The emperor Claudius II was a student of human nature and way back in AD 287 he calculated that single men made braver soldiers than married men.  Therefore, as Claudius had absolute power, he dictated than no soldier should marry.  A Roman called Valentinus thought that this was rough justice and secretly married soldiers who had a sweetheart.
When Claudius discovered that Valentinus had defied his decree he threw Valentinus into jail.  Whilst incarcerated, Valentinus fell in love with the gaoler's daughter and sent her the first ever card - from your sweet Valentine. 

St Valentine

Much later, in AD 496 Pope Gelasius, chose 14 February as the day to honour and remember Saint Valentine.  Unfortunately, tantalisingly little is known about these early origins of St Valentine.
In the history of St Valentine's day, it is the 17th century which was the most important and truly romantic era.  The 14th of February became important as a day to exchange love notes by sending poems and gifts. Sometimes dances and small festivals were held.
In modern times, 1416, Charles, Duke of Orleans, sent one of the earliest Valentines, from his imprisonment in the Tower of London after the Battle of Agincourt.  He sent several Valentine poems to his wife in France. 

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Morning Funnies

  

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Birthdays on February 13th

1961 - Henry Rollins
1938 - Oliver Reed
1766 - Thomas Malthus
1923 - Chuck Yeager
1950 - Peter Gabriel

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Todays Pic Dump

 

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Blast from the Past

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Afternoon Funnies

 

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This Day in History

Lead Story

Galileo in Rome for Inquisition, 1633

American Revolution

Patrick Henry named colonel of First Virginia battalion, 1776

Automotive

Actor Mel Gibson completes DUI probation, 2008

Civil War

Unoin General John Rawlins born, 1831

Cold War

Chernenko becomes general secretary, 1984

Crime

Serial killer strikes in Colorado, 1982

Disaster

Cinema burns in Turin, 1983

General Interest

William and Mary proclaimed joint sovereigns of Britain, 1689

First Medal of Honor action, 1861

Dresden devastated, 1945

Hollywood

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon gets 10 Oscar nominations, 2001

Literary

Long-lost Twain manuscript authenticated, 1991

Music

ASCAP is founded, 1915

Old West

Ashley advertises for western fur trappers, 1822

Presidential

Teddy Roosevelt discusses America's race problem, 1905

Sports

Downhill skier Hermann Maier crashes in Olympics, 1998

Vietnam War

Johnson approves Operation Rolling Thunder, 1965

Additional troops ordered to South Vietnam, 1968

World War I

League of Nations recognizes perpetual Swiss neutrality, 1920

World War II

Firebombing of Dresden, 1945

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