On This Day October 19

The marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon to Isabella I of Castile on October 19, 1469 paved the way to the unification of Aragon and Castile into a single country, Spain. Under Ferdinand and Isabella, Charles I, and Philip II, Spain became one of the most powerful empires in the world. The discoveries of Christopher Columbus made on behalf of Spain were followed by the conquest of most of Central and South America.

Christopher Columbus meets Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon

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On This Day October 9

The Great Hurricane of 1780 was the deadliest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history. Coming during a very active hurricane season, the storm formed on October 9, 1780 and struck Barbados the next day with winds possibly exceeding 200 mph. It then passed over several other islands between October 10–16, leaving mass destruction in its wake. Thousands of deaths were reported on each island, and between 22,000–27,501 people had died by the time the storm dissipated.

HMS Egmont, when dismasted on 11 October near the Island of St Lucia

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On This Day October 3

Between 58-51 BC, the Romans under Julius Caesar subdued Gaul selling thousands of Belgic tribes into slavery by a process of total annihilation of Gaelic forces. At the Battle of Alesia, Caesar's 100,000 troops were outnumbered 4:1 but they still won when on October 3, 52BC Vercingetorix, leader of the Gauls, surrendered to the Romans. Ancient historians are notorious for exaggerating numbers of this kind, but Caesar's conquest of Gaul was certainly the greatest military triumph since the campaigns of Alexander the Great.

Vercingetorix throws down his arms at the feet of Julius Caesar. Painting by Lionel Royer.

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