A bucket of discord and other little things that led to the outbreak of wars

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

To start a war, you only need a pretext. History knows many examples when the most insignificant trifles became such an occasion. This review presents minor episodes that have become the reason for significant clashes.

Contention Bucket

In the XIV century, between the ardent antagonists of the Guelphs (supporters of the Roman popes) and the Ghibellines (those who were for the German emperors), a 300-year conflict reached its climax. In the Italian city of Bologna, representatives of the former predominated, and in Modena, the latter. In 1325, the defector started a real war. He fled from Bologna to Modena, carrying a bucket in his hands. The Bologna authorities demanded the return of the property, and the opponents only laughed in response. The usual bucket was the reason for the battle, in which 32 thousand Bolognese and 7 thousand warriors of Modena clashed. Oddly enough, but the latter won. The bucket of discord is still kept in the Museum of Modena.

Fan-Touched Pride

In 1827, the Algerian dei Hussein ibn Hussein fell into a trouble that cost his country dearly. He brushed the end of his fan into the face of the French consul, Deval. He considered it a real blow that insulted his honor. Hussein did not even think to apologize (not a tsarist thing), and the European harbored a grudge. After 3 years, Algeria became a French colony.

Ill-bred pig

In 1859, on the island of San Juan, an "ill-bred" pig ate a neighbor's potatoes. Everything would be fine, only the pig was listed as the property of a citizen of the British Empire, and the potatoes were planted by an American. The quarrel of the owners led to the fact that armed groups from both sides gathered on the island, which were going to defend the interests of the offended parties, and at the same time strengthen their influence on the island. Fortunately, it did not come to a collision, because. in the States, the Civil War began. Only 22 years later did the authorities return to the question of pigs and potatoes. The court declared the pig guilty, and the island remained in the possession of America.

Croissants for the price of a fortune

In the 1820s, a series of coups took place in Mexico. Power passed to one or the other. In 1828, Mexican officers ate 14 croissants in a pastry shop of an émigré Frenchman Remontl without paying. When the owner began to resent, the shop was completely ransacked. Lawsuits in local courts did not bring any sense to the pastry chef, so after 10 years he sent a letter to the king of France. His Majesty Louis-Philippe considered it right to collect 600 thousand pesos from the offenders (an unrealistic amount at that time). The Mexicans just threw up their hands. France responded by sending naval ships, which blocked all ports. The country had to pay. In 1914, a terrorist Gavrila Principle unleashed the First World Warby killing Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand of Austria. In fact, there were much more reasons for the start of the war.