January 10th: The Imperial Sacrifice — The Divorce of Napoleon and Josephine

    On this day in 1810, the Tuileries Palace in Paris witnessed a heartbreaking scene. After 14 years of marriage, Emperor Napoleon I and Empress Josephine signed the papers to annul their marriage. It was not a lack of love, but the desperate need for an heir to the French Empire that drove this separation.

Here are the words they exchanged during that somber official ceremony:

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[Napoleon’s Declaration]

"My cousins, ministers, and nobles: The decision to part from my beloved wife, who has graced my life for the past fifteen years, is made solely for the welfare of France. Since the hope of having an heir between us has vanished, I am forced to sacrifice my personal feelings for the interests of the State. Josephine shall forever retain the rank and title of Empress, and above all, she will remain my most intimate friend. I shall never forget the sacrifice she has made for me."

— Napoléon, January 10, 1810

[Josephine’s Declaration]

"With the permission of my beloved husband and Emperor, I declare: I deeply realize that for the peace and policy of France, and for the future of the Empire, an heir is indispensable. Thus, I am now willing to offer the greatest sacrifice of my life. I step down from the throne of Empress. However, the honor and love of the years I spent by the Emperor's side will remain in my heart forever. I leave, leaving all my loyalty and love to my husband, Napoleon Bonaparte."

— Joséphine de Beauharnais, January 10, 1810

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The Signature of Sorrow Josephine’s signature on the document was famously shaky, betraying her deep emotional distress. In 2014, a rare copy of this divorce agreement was auctioned for €435,000 (over $470,000). While Napoleon's signed copy is preserved by the French authorities, these trembling ink marks remain a testament to one of history's most tragic partings.

Image Source: National Archives of France (Archives Nationales) / Public Domain

January 9th: "Still, I Long for My Son" — The Mother of Korea's Democracy, Bae Eun-sim

    Bae Eun-sim, born in 1940, was an ordinary housewife living in Gwangju. Like any mother, her world revolved around her children. Her pride and joy, her son Lee Han-yeol, had moved to Seoul for his university studies.

On June 9, 1987, her world shattered. She received word that her son had been struck by a tear gas canister during a pro-democracy protest. She rushed to the intensive care unit, where she spent 27 agonizing nights by his side. A photograph of her son, bleeding and collapsed, was published in newspapers worldwide. This single image ignited a firestorm of public fury, leading to the "June Struggle" that eventually forced the military dictatorship to concede to direct presidential elections.

Tragically, Lee Han-yeol never heard the news. On July 5, 1987, he passed away, becoming a martyr for Korean democracy.

From that day forward, Bae Eun-sim stepped out of her kitchen and onto the front lines of the movement. Though she had only a primary school education, her words were firmer and more grounded than any scholar's. She dedicated her life to restoring the honor of those sacrificed in the struggle for democracy. She sued the state and the officers responsible for her son's death; though the criminal case was dismissed, she won a civil judgment of 100 million won. Refusing to spend a penny of "the price of her son's blood," she used the money to purchase a small house and hung a plaque that read: "Lee Han-yeol Memorial Hall."

To other grieving families, she was a pillar of strength, often saying, "Stay strong. There will be even more heart-wrenching days ahead."

    On the morning of January 9, 2022, after a life of relentless struggle, Bae Eun-sim passed away. Among her belongings was a small, handwritten note:

"Still, I miss him. I want to see my son, Han-yeol."

Photo by Jung Tae-won / Reuters (Fair use for historical education)

January 8th: "And Yet It Moves" — The Legacy of Galileo Galilei

    A professor at the University of Padua once ran a small shop selling scientific instruments to supplement his meager salary. Upon hearing rumors of a "spyglass," he began constructing his own. He prepared a tube and fitted two glass lenses at either end—one convex and one concave. His first attempt magnified objects nine times; eventually, he succeeded in creating a powerful telescope that could magnify up to 1,000 times.

While others used the telescope to observe distant ships on the horizon, he turned his gaze toward the heavens. He observed the Moon. At the time, it was widely believed that the Moon was a perfect, smooth sphere. But through his lens, he discovered that the lunar surface was rugged and mountainous, much like the Earth.

    Just yesterday in history, January 7th, 1610, he used his improved telescope to discover four moons orbiting Jupiter—a finding that challenged the Earth-centered view of the universe.

    On January 8th, 1642, Galileo Galilei passed away in his villa in Arcetri, near Florence, where he had been living under house arrest. Tradition holds that he once whispered, "And yet it moves" (E pur si muove), in defiance of those who forced him to recant his scientific truths. Though no one may have been there to hear him then, what he whispered in isolation has today become a fundamental truth of our world.

*Source: "The Faber Book of Science" edited by John Carey

"Galileo's original telescopes preserved at the Museo Galileo in Florence. Though simple in design, these tools revolutionized our understanding of the universe."

January 7th: A Million Kisses to You — A Young Mozart’s Letter to His Sister

    In 1770, a 13-year-old boy was traveling through Italy with his father. While the world would soon know him as a musical genius, to his older sister Maria Anna (Nannerl), he was simply a playful, witty, and deeply affectionate younger brother.

On this day, January 7th, 1770, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart penned a letter from Milan that reveals the charming personality behind the legend.

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"My Dearest Sister,"

An opera performance is in full swing here in Milan. But oh, sister, you wouldn't believe how ridiculous the lead soprano is! Her voice is so piercingly high it’s almost painful, and her acting is so awkward! Father clicks his tongue in disapproval, but I can hardly contain my laughter.

Sister, how is your Italian coming along? When I return, we must certainly converse in Italian together. The people here gesture with their hands at every word—it is quite amusing to watch.

Where we shall head tomorrow is not yet decided. But wherever I may be, I will be thinking of you.

Sending a million kisses to your hands.

Your eternal brother, - Wolfgang

    Milan, January 7th, 1770

"Maria Anna 'Nannerl' Mozart (1751–1829), Wolfgang’s elder sister and a gifted musician in her own right. She remained her brother's closest confidante during their youth."

January 6th: The Day a Lion Fell Asleep — The Passing of Teddy Roosevelt and the Legacy of the Teddy Bear

    In November 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt went on a bear-hunting trip in Mississippi. While his fellow hunters had all made their kills, the President had not yet found a single bear. In an attempt to help, his attendants chased down a young bear, tied it to a tree, and suggested, "Now, Mr. President, you may shoot it!"

Roosevelt flatly refused. "Shooting a tied cub is unsportsmanlike," he declared, and immediately ordered the bear to be released.

Political cartoonist Clifford Berryman captured this moment in a newspaper illustration. Inspired by the cartoon, Morris Michtom, a toy store owner in New York, created two stuffed bears and displayed them in his shop window alongside the newspaper clipping. After receiving official permission from the White House to use the President's nickname, the "Teddy’s Bear" was born—a toy that would go on to be loved by millions worldwide.

    On January 6th, 1919, the 26th President of the United States, Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, passed away in his sleep at the age of 60. Vice President Thomas R. Marshall offered a powerful tribute that spoke to the President's legendary vigor: "Death had to take him sleeping, for if Roosevelt had been awake, there would have been a fight." Though the "Old Lion" is gone, his legacy lives on—not only in the grand National Parks he preserved but also in the soft, small bears that still bring comfort to children everywhere.

"Drawing the Line in Mississippi" by Clifford Berryman, 1902 (Public Domain / National Archives)

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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