Rome is Born, Red Baron Falls!
Welcome to April 21st, a day with super-old roots and some seriously cool modern science! Today, we jump from the legendary founding of one of history's greatest cities to the discovery of planets orbiting other stars. Get ready for ancient legends, royal birthdays, and a famous pilot taking his final flight. History is happening now!
This date connects the founding myth of the mighty Roman Empire with the crowning of a Queen who would lead for 70 years! Plus, we look back at the day a legendary WWI pilot known as the Red Baron was finally shot down. It’s a mix of epic battles, royal duties, and cosmic discoveries all in one day!
What Happened on This Day
Legendary Birth of Rome!
On this day, according to legend, the amazing city of Rome was founded by twin brothers, Romulus and Remus! Story goes that they were nursed by a she-wolf—wild, right? Romulus later famously argued with his brother and ended up building the city walls. When Remus jumped over them (maybe as a prank?), Romulus was so mad he defeated him! This marked the start of what became the powerful Roman Empire. Imagine building a city that lasts for thousands of years!
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A New King Takes the English Crown
Prince Henry was officially crowned King Henry VIII of England! This guy is famous for having six wives—talk about a dramatic love life! He was crowned in Westminster Abbey, which is where English monarchs have been crowned for ages. He wasn't just focused on weddings, though; he also made massive changes to England's religion, which totally reshaped the country. What a powerful start to a reign!
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The Red Baron is Finally Shot Down
The skies turned a little less scary for Allied pilots today when Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the 'Red Baron,' was shot down! This German fighter pilot was a superstar of WWI aviation, winning over 80 air battles from his bright red Fokker triplane. He was like the ultimate arcade ace, but for real life! Even though he was a legendary foe, the British pilots who found him buried him with full military honors—a true sign of respect between aces.
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The Loch Ness Monster Photo Scandal!
Did you know the most famous picture of the Loch Ness Monster was a total fake? In 1934, a newspaper printed the 'Surgeon's Photo,' which looked like Nessie’s long neck sticking out of the water. Plot twist: decades later, it was revealed the 'monster' was just a toy submarine with a wooden head glued on top! It’s a great reminder that not everything you see in old photos is the absolute truth. Nessie is still out there, though... maybe!
Planets Found Around Another Star!
For the very first time, scientists confirmed they found real planets orbiting a star other than our Sun! Astronomer Aleksander Wolszczan found two gas giants swirling around a weird, spinning dead star called a pulsar. It was a huge deal—it proved that planets weren't just unique to our solar system. Suddenly, the universe felt a whole lot bigger and more interesting! We went from maybe one solar system to *definitely* many.
Learn moreFun Facts About April 21
- The legendary founder of Rome, Romulus, was said to have been raised by a she-wolf!
- Queen Elizabeth II was born on this day in 1926, the same day Henry VIII was crowned centuries earlier.
- The Red Baron, a WWI pilot, won 80 aerial combats before his final flight on this date.
- April 21st is also celebrated as World Creativity and Innovation Day by some!
A Look Back in Time
April 21st sits right in the middle of spring, which is often a time of big beginnings! In 753 BC, Rome was being *founded*—the start of a massive civilization. Centuries later, Henry VIII’s coronation in 1509 kicked off a massive religious and political shift in England. Then, fast forward to the modern era: in 1918, the end of WWI aerial heroism arrived with the Red Baron’s fall. This date shows how history can swing from ancient foundation myths to modern scientific breakthroughs in a single day.
Born on This Day
Queen Elizabeth II
She was the Queen of the United Kingdom and other countries for an incredible 70 years! She loved corgis and became famous worldwide for her devotion to her duties. She even sent a message on her 21st birthday promising to serve her people her whole life.
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Charlotte Brontë
A brilliant English author famous for writing the gothic novel *Jane Eyre*. She wrote about strong, independent women facing tough times. She and her sisters (who were also writers!) used pen names to hide that they were girls because publishers thought girls couldn't write such exciting stories!
Iggy Pop
The legendary, high-energy American singer known as the 'Godfather of Punk Rock'! He’s famous for his wild stage presence, crawling on the floor, and singing super fast songs. He brought a whole new, raw style to music that inspired tons of bands that came later.
Max Weber
A super-smart German thinker who helped create the subject we call sociology—the study of how people group together and make societies work. He wrote a lot about how big businesses and governments are organized, looking at things like why people follow rules or why certain types of jobs become important.