January 5th: Napoleon, a Chef, and the 12,000-Franc Invention of Canned Food

    For Napoleon Bonaparte, the greatest threat to victory wasn't just the enemy army—it was the food. Watching his soldiers die from consuming spoiled rations was a challenge he was determined to overcome. At a time when the invention of the refrigerator was still 40 years away, Napoleon launched a grand competition, offering a massive reward for anyone who could find a way to preserve food safely for his marching troops.

The answer came from a French chef named Nicolas Appert. His solution was as simple as it was revolutionary: place food in glass jars, heat them thoroughly, and then seal them airtight. The results were nothing short of miraculous. People were astonished to find that ingredients remained as fresh as the day they were harvested, even after long periods of storage.

    On January 5th, 1810, Nicolas Appert, now remembered as the "Father of Canning," was awarded the grand prize of 12,000 francs. In today’s value, this would be roughly equivalent to nearly $150,000 (200 million KRW). His invention not only fueled Napoleon's ambitions but forever changed how humanity consumes and preserves food.

*Source: "On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee

"Appert's early preservation jars: Before the metal 'tin can' was patented by Peter Durand in Britain, food was preserved in these thick, heat-sealed glass bottles."

January 4th: Louis Braille and the Birth of a New Language for the Soul

    In a small workshop in France, a young boy’s life changed forever when his eye was accidentally pierced by an awl—a sharp tool used by his father. The resulting infection eventually claimed the sight in both his eyes. He was only three years old.

Despite his blindness, the boy possessed an extraordinary intellect. Unable to read textbooks, he chose to memorize them entirely. Seeking a way to truly "read," he found inspiration in a military "night writing" system used by soldiers to communicate in the dark. Using a needle to punch raised dots into paper, he began creating his own secret code. He practiced by marking food containers and spice jars, eventually learning to distinguish sugar from salt simply by touching the patterns with his fingertips.

    On January 4th, 1809, Louis Braille, the creator of this revolutionary system, was born.

Through his genius and perseverance, he turned a personal tragedy into a universal gift. Today, the name "Braille" has transcended its origins as a surname to become the universal term for the dots that allow millions of people to see the world through their touch.

January 3rd: Martin Luther’s Excommunication and the "Butter Brief"

    During the Middle Ages, Catholic Canon Law strictly prohibited the consumption of meat, as well as dairy products like milk, butter, and cheese, during the season of Lent. While Southern Europe flourished with abundant olive oil, Germany—where olives did not grow—relied heavily on butter as a vital source of fat.

To eat butter during Lent, Germans were forced to purchase a special dispensation from the Papacy in Rome, known as the "Butter Letter" (Butterbrief). Martin Luther, a cleric and professor, fiercely criticized this system.

"Why must we pay Rome for the right to eat the good butter produced from our own land?" he questioned. "Do not turn the freedom given by God into a means of profit." His logic struck a deep chord with the German people, fueling the flames of the Reformation.

    On January 3rd, 1521, Pope Leo X issued the final decree of excommunication against Martin Luther. He was no longer a member of the Church he had sought to reform. However, this was not the end of his defiance. Four years later, in a move that further challenged centuries of tradition, Luther married Katharina von Bora—a former nun whom he had helped escape from a convent.

Portraits of Martin Luther and his wife Katharina von Bora by Lucas Cranach the Elder

January 02, The Tears of Boabdil at the Alhambra Palace

    The soil on the Sabika hill in Granada, southern Spain, shimmers with a reddish hue. Upon this crimson earth, a magnificent palace was built, named 'Al-Hamra,' meaning 'the red one'—the Alhambra Palace. This era marked the golden age of Islamic rule in Spain.

However, the very strength of the Islamic dynasties began to wane as internal strife erupted among various factions, each vying for control of the palace. This civil war fragmented and weakened the once-mighty kingdom. Seizing this critical opportunity, Christian forces implemented a scorched-earth strategy, devastating the agricultural lands surrounding the city and the palace, and severing supply routes. The citizens of Granada soon suffered from hunger and disease.

Facing dire circumstances, Boabdil, the last Nasrid ruler of the Alhambra, signed a surrender treaty. The terms promised the safety of his citizens and guaranteed religious freedom under Christian rule.

    On January 2nd, 1492, Boabdil formally surrendered, handing over the keys to the Alhambra Palace to the Catholic Monarchs. As he departed, he glanced back at his kingdom and its unparalleled beauty, shedding tears from what became known as the 'Hill of Tears.' His mother, Aixa, is famously said to have rebuked him: "Do not weep like a woman for what you could not defend like a man." Tragically, the conditions of surrender, particularly the safety of his citizens, were not fully honored.

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Jan 01 The Power of Will: Every Personal Journey is a Page in History

    The Power of Will: Every Personal Journey is a Page in History

Every year, January 1st stands as a day of solemn promises to oneself. It is a Day of Will.

Someone vows to quit smoking,

Another resolves to abstain from alcohol.

Someone commits to a healthier diet,

While another strives to build physical strength.

Some focus on financial freedom,

And others dedicate themselves to the wisdom found in books.

Countless individuals stand before themselves, reaffirming their own resolve. Even if these promises do not last a lifetime, we strive—at least for today—to honor that inner will.

Today is that day. And that small act of will is, in its own right, a piece of history.

As we mark this January 1st, I begin this History Journal 365. My goal is to remember and explore the stories of the past—both the famous and the forgotten—while weaving our own personal narratives into the grand tapestry of time.

Your personal history, no matter how small it may seem, eventually converges into the Great History of humanity.

— Reflecting on the Resolve of January 1st, in lieu of a Preface.

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