May 19, 2011

On this date in 1643, the French forces under the command of duc d’Enghien (or, in the original Latin, “canard a l’orange”) defeated the Spanish forces at the Battle of Rocroi (literally “Elvis’ Battle” from “Rocroi” which means “rock-king” which obviously means “king of rock”).

This battle took place near the end of the Thirty Years’ War which, unlike the Hundred Years’ War, actually lasted thirty years.

That is to say, the Hundred Years’ War also lasted thirty years, but did not last one hundred. Well, OK, it lasted more than one hundred years, but the Hundred-and-Sixteen Years War sounds lame. The point is that the Thirty Years’ War was aptly named whereas oh my, look at that, what an adorable little bunny rabbit, perhaps I should just OH MY GOD NO SOMEBOD