Facts

1015: Basil II the Bulgarian Slayer captures the fortress of Edessa and expels the Bulgarians.

1870: The Arvanitakis brothers’ gang kills the hostages they captured in Pikermi on March 30, 1870, because the authorities did not satisfy their demands for ransom and amnesty. Greece is being dragged internationally, as the hostages are British tourists.

1906: The Mid-Olympic Games are organized in Athens, on the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of the first modern Olympic Games. 884 athletes from 20 countries are taking part, among them 300 Greek men and women. The event is a great success, but it will not survive as an institution because Greece cannot afford the financial costs.

1911: The secretary of the University of Athens, Kostis Palamas, is punished with a one-month suspension, because he defended the vernacular.

1953: The Minister of Economy of the government of Alexandrou Papagou, Spyros Markezinis, suddenly devalues ​​the drachma against the dollar by 50%. This bold action will pay off, as exports and tourism will increase, despite the opposition’s predictions to the contrary.

2000: Parliamentary elections are held in Greece. PASOK of Kostas Simitis emerges as the first force, garnering 43.7% of the votes, against 42.7% of New Democracy, which is led by Kostas Karamanlis. The KKE receives 5.5%, the Coalition 3.2%, while DIKKI is left out of Parliament with 2.6%.

Births

1821: Charles Baudelaire, French Symbolist poet. (D. 31/8/1867)

1855: Pavlos Kountouriotis, Greek admiral and politician, who served as regent and President of the Republic. (D. 22/8/1936)

1926: Hugh Hefner, American businessman and publisher of the legendary men’s magazine Playboy, who contributed to the sexual liberation of the 60s

1933: Jean-Paul Belmonteau, French actor. (Thu. 6/9/2021)

Deaths

1626: Francis Bacon, also known by the Hellenized name of Francis Bacon, English Philhellenic politician and philosopher. (Born 22/1/1561)

1886: Gustave d’Estall, French writer and Philhellenic. He worked in Greece during the Ottonian Regency in the agricultural sector and proposed the establishment of state farms. He advocated the ideas of Saint Simon, a fellow utopian socialist. When it was learned that he was a sensimonist he was dismissed from his position and forced to leave Greece. (Born 3/3/1804)

1959 Frank Lloyd Wright, American architect, one of the most important of the 20th century. His work, the Guggenheim Museum in New York. (Born 8/6/1867)