April 20

in History

Baldwin III Takes Jerusalem — A king wrests power from his own mother

Jerusalem, Kingdom of JerusalemMedieval

1152

Baldwin III Takes Jerusalem

A king wrests power from his own mother

After eight years of bitter political struggle, Baldwin III of Jerusalem finally won sole control of the Crusader kingdom from his formidable mother, Queen Melisende. The young king's determination to rule independently had divided the court and nearly sparked civil war. Once in power, he proved himself a capable ruler, expanding the kingdom's borders and defending the other Crusader states. His reign, though cut short by early death, was among the most consequential in Crusader history.

1152 AD

The Curies Refine Radium — Science glows with a dangerous new light

Paris, FranceEarly 20th Century

1902

The Curies Refine Radium

Science glows with a dangerous new light

In their modest laboratory in Paris, Pierre and Marie Curie achieved a milestone that would change the course of science: they successfully refined radium chloride to an unprecedented level of purity. This breakthrough, achieved through years of backbreaking work processing tonnes of pitchblende ore, confirmed radium as a new element and opened the door to the atomic age. The couple's shared Nobel Prize the following year would make the Curie name synonymous with scientific discovery.

1902 AD

Late 20th Century

1968

Enoch Powell

Enoch Powell (pictured), a British Conservative member of Parliament, made a controversial speech in opposition to.

Enoch Powell (pictured), a British Conservative member of Parliament, made a controversial speech in opposition to immigration and anti-discrimination legislation, resulting in his removal from the shadow cabinet.

1968 AD