In 1962 Trinidad and Tobago became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
In 1957 Malaysia (at that time Malaysia was called Malaya until 1963) gained independence from the British Empire and joined the Commonwealth of Nations.
In 1907 The United Kingdom and Russia sign a Military Alliance (part of the Triple Entente alliances)
On the 20th of May 1882 the Austro-Hungarian Empire signed a treaty with Germany and Italy known as the Triple Alliance Treaty (1882). The treaty was a military alliance of the signatories which ensured support of the other nations in the event of aggression from any other “Great Power”. The Great Powers were Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Austro-Hungary, Russia and The United States.
On the 17th of August 1892 France and Russia drafted their own Military Alliance in response, guaranteeing the others assistance if either was attacked by another Great Power. The Franco-Russian Treaty was completed on the 4th of January 1894. Great Britain had remained neutral but on the 8th of April 1904 they signed the “Entente Cordiale” with France which was a similar military alliance treaty on the 31st of August 1907 The United Kingdom and Russia signed a Military Alliance. These treaties between Britain, France and Russia became known as the Triple Entente and along with the Triple Alliance two great power structures had formed in Europe.
In 1888 in the East End of London around 3:30 am a Mr Charles Cross discovered the first victim of England’s most infamous killer, Jack the Ripper. Forty three year old Mary Ann Nichols, had knife wounds on her abdomen and two slash marks on her throat.
In 1422 King Henry V died and his son Henry became King Henry VI of England at the age of 9 months (he was the youngest crowned monarch in history).
Henry V was a great military leader and even as a teenager he fought in the battle of Shrewsbury on the 21st of July 1403 along side his father Henry IV. He also fought against the rebellion uprising in Wales that started on the 16th of September 1400 which was led by Owen Glendower, the last native Welshman to rule the throne. The success of the campaign against Glendower stabilised the English rule of Wales.
Henry ascended to the English throne on the 21st of March 1413 (aged 27) in the middle of the “Hundred Years War” (1337-1453) against France. Within two years king Henry V led his men to success in battle of Agincourt against a much larger French army. Despite his supplies being low and his men having marched for two and a half weeks Henry fought in hand to hand combat leading his army to victory on the 25th of October 1415. Between 1417 and 1419 King Henry V continued his military campaign with the “Conquest of Normandy” and the siege of Rouen (31st of July 1418 – 19th January 1419). When Rouen surrendered the French monarch, King Charles VI, signed the Treaty of Troyes which gave Henry the hand of his daughter, Catherine of Valois, in marriage and promised the throne to Henry V and his descendants upon his death. On the 2nd of June 1420 Henry married Catherine of Valois and on the 6th of December 1421 she gave birth to their son Henry.
On the 10th of June 1421 Henry V had left for France and what would be his final campaign where he relieved his forces that were under besieged in Dreux. He relieved his forces and they went on to capture Meux in Paris on the 2nd of May 1422. It was while in France shortly after the victory that Henry V died mysteriously aged 35 on the 31st of August 1422. Henry V never met his son who became Henry VI of England upon his death. Just one month later Henry VI maternal grandfather, King Charles VI of France, died making Henry King of both Kingdoms aged 11 months. England was governed by regents until 1437 when Henry was 16 and was believed to be of age to rule.
