@WhigDuke

Georgian historian, heritage consultant and cat fanatic. Author of 'War and Diplomacy in the Napoleonic Era' https://xitter.cf/t.co/6CPaYHw4oE

 London
Joined August 2017
  • Tweets3.1K
  • Following929
  • Followers1.1K
1.4KMedia
Stop press! The paperback of my book 'War and Diplomacy in the Napoleonic Era' (a glorious account of the genius Sir Charles Stewart) will be published by @BloomsburyHist in February 2021. Pre-order now!! bloomsbury.com/uk/war-and-di…
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Happy Bastille Day!!
Reider Payne@WhigDuke14 Jul 2025
Happy Bastille day to all my French followers!! Following the fall of the Bastille #otd 14 July 1789, the duc de La Rochefoucauld-Liancourt (or possibly Tommy, pictured) will tell Louis XVI: 'Sire, it is not a revolt, it is a revolution.' #fetenationalefrancaise #BastilleDay
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Fought #otd 22 May 1455: first Battle of St Albans. A victory for the House of York, the Lancastrian leader, the Duke of Somerset, was killed outside The Castle Inn, having vainly sought refuge there (but not a pint or two). #York #Lancaster
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To paraphrase Eurovision: 'We love you, Europe. Welcome to Vienna.' Happy birthday to the greatest ambassador to Vienna, born #otd 18 May 1778.
Reider Payne@WhigDuke18 May 2024
Happy 246th birthday to the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, born #otd 18 May 1778. A hot headed soldier, brilliant diplomat, and an atrocious politician...with impeccable dress sense!! (Image: National Trust) #GoldenPeacock
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Listen to me in this clip tell Chris Packham about Rossetti's wombats, Byron's bears & Archbishop Laud's cats!
Sky HISTORY@HISTORYUK27 Sep 2022
Bears, lemurs, and wombats, oh my! #BritainsGreatestObsessions #pets @ChrisGPackham @Medieval_Badger

The 5 oddest British celebrity pets | Britain's Greatest Obsessions

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#otd Palm Sunday, 29 March 1461: Battle of Towton....a victory for the House of York and Edward IV (pictured) and a bloodbath for the House of Lancaster (image: NPG) #Towton
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Happy Friday and Happy Charles I, King and Martyr day....!!
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Happy George IV day everyone!!
Reider Payne@WhigDuke29 Jan 2023
#otd 29 January 1820: succession of King George IV. One of the grestest royal connoisseurs, he also had well-publicised marital issues...Horrible Histories has him sing: 'Art and fashion I so rated. But wise? That's more complicated.' We love Prinny!! (Image: NPG) #GoPrinny
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#otd 19 January 1826: 200th anniversary of the last Spanish outpost in Chile, Fuerte San Antonio, on the Chiloé Archipelago, formally surrendering, ending the Chilean War of Independence (1810-26). #Chile
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#OTD Feast of Archbishop Thomas Becket. You can always spot Reginald FitzUrse (Son of a Bear) among the murderers thanks to the bear on his shield in various manuscripts (BL Harley MS 5102, f. 32r) #Heraldry
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The perfect Christmas presents for a partisan of the House of Bourbon...thanks @Medieval_Badger!!!!
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#otd 26 December 1825 (14 December OS), sees the Decembrist uprising in St Petersburg, calling for political reforms, set amidst confusion around the succession of Nicholas I, as Emperor of Russia (image: NPG).
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Happy Christmas to all my followers!! See you in 2026....!!
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I will be having a pint (or two) in the Town of Ramsgate tonight looking out for any suspicious individuals who look like Lord Jeffreys!! #Stuarts
Reider Payne@WhigDuke12 Dec 2024
#otd 12 December 1688: the Lord Chancellor, Lord Jeffreys, is captured at Wapping, where the current Grade II listed Town of Ramsgate stands. Disguised as a sailor, his attempt to follow James II's example and flee abroad failed when he was recognised, and taken to the Tower.
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#otd 2 December 1804: Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of the French, at Notre-Dame de Paris. However, Parisian cries of Vive l'Empereur would be replaced by Vive le Roi less than 10 years later...!! (Image: @MuseeArmee)
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#otd 1 December 1825: death of Alexander I, Emperor of Russia. Wellington wrote that his qualities 'rendered him highly estimable &much to be lamented.' (image: NPG)
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A complete set....London c.1700 to c.1760!! @Ens_La_Reveuse
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Reider Payne retweeted
Capel Lofft
@CapelLofft13 Nov 2025
This is sounder than evensong with Queen Anne followed by a massive night on the Champers 'n' Burgundy with Viscount Bolingbroke and the other mad ladz of the Brothers Club (with Swift tutting in a corner).
Reider Payne@WhigDuke13 Nov 2025
Despite my Whig nom de guerre, I admit to being a bit of an Augustan High Tory!! Looking forward (as the owner of a novelty Bolingbroke T-shirt) to reading Rage of Party by @CapelLofft....!!! #Whigs #Tories
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Despite my Whig nom de guerre, I admit to being a bit of an Augustan High Tory!! Looking forward (as the owner of a novelty Bolingbroke T-shirt) to reading Rage of Party by @CapelLofft....!!! #Whigs #Tories
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Here's me interviewed for @HistoryHit After Dark podcast for Day in the Life of A Plague Rat. Watch it here. There's rat charms and ratbait recipes galore! Enjoy! youtu.be/4Y6agekDATw?si=cyhM…
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