In Remembrance of King Bhumibol the Great (Thailand)

My deepest condolences to all Thai people and especially to my dear friends Jobbo, Kwanjira and Ta with the loss of their beloved King.

Bhumibol Adulyadej was born in 1927 as the youngest son of HRH Prince Mahidol Adulyadej. His father died when he was just two years old. In 1933 he moved with his mother and siblings to Switzerland, where he went to school and where he also found his love for jazz and photography. His childless uncle abdicated in 1934 and his older brother became the new King, but the family was not able to leave Switzerland until World War II was over in 1945.

After his brother died in 1946, he became the new King of Thailand, Rama IX the ninth monarch from the Chakri Dynasty. But he returned to Switzerland to finish his studies, which he changed from science to law and political science to be prepared for his duties as head of state. His coronation took place on 5th May 1950.

During his studies in Switzerland Bhumibol often visited Paris, where he met Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara, the daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. They both engaged in 1949 and married in 1950. Together they have four children, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya, Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Princess Chulabhorn Walailak.

At the beginning of his reign his political powers were limited and he was actually only a ceremonial figure, but during Sarit Thanarat's dictatorship the monarchy was revitalised. His reign is characterised by a long-lasting relationship with the military. For many he became a symbol of Thailand's economic improvement and in 1992 Bhumibol played a key role in Thailand's transition to a democratic system.

He was one of the richest monarchs in the World, the World's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history. But starting in 2006 he had to fight with declining health and on 13th October 2016 Thailand's King Bhumibol the Great died. After the death the most Thais are deeply mourning the loss of their beloved King and many also have anxiety about the future.

His heir Vajiralongkorn does not share the popularity of his father, leading to concerns that the Thai monarchy will lose prestige and influence after Bhumibol's death. But there are also speculations that Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn might take the throne instead of her brother.

Der Märchenkönig (Germany)

King Ludwig II was born in 1845 in the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich. After the death of his father, he became King of Bavaria in 1864. He is especially known for building the three palaces Linderhof, Neuschwanstein and Herrenchiemsee and the King's House Schachen, but he was also a big supporter and patron of Richard Wagner and helped him to build his Festspielhaus in Bayreuth. In 1870 he offered Wilhelm I the imperial crown with the Kaiserbrief. In 1886 he was placed under disability and short after this incapacitation he died in an uncleared context in the Lake Starnberg.

King Ludwig II's Dreams in Stone are on the UNESCO Tentative List.

Neuschwanstein Castle was built from 1869 onwards. King Ludwig II wanted to build it as homage to Richard Wagner, but Wagner never entered the castle. He paid for the castle out of his personal fortune and through extensive borrowing, but he died before its finishing. Actually Ludwig II never wanted that visitors enter the castle, but only six weeks after his death the first people visited it. Now more than 1300000 people visit the castle every year.

The King's House on Schachen was built by King Ludwig II between 1869 and 1872. It is the least-known of his buildings. The exterior and the ground floor of the palace are rather modest, but the complete upper floor is occupied by the prestigious Turkish Room, which is decorated in an Oriental fashion. At the palace Ludwig often spent his birthday and namesday.

The Linderhof Palace is the smallest of the three palaces of King Ludwig II and was built between 1870 and 1886. It was the only of three palaces that was finished before King Ludwig II's death and was also the one where he spent the most time.

The Herrenchiemsee Castle is the largest of Ludwig II's three palaces and was built between 1878 and 1886. It was planned as copy of the Palace of Versailles, but when Ludwig II died the palace was not finished. For the castle 5kg of gold foil were used (1g is enough for 1m²!). Today the castle can be visited and also houses the King Ludwig II Museum.

The Man who unified Germany (Germany)

Otto von Bismarck was born in 1815 in Schönhausen. He was a conservative Prussian statesman. From 1862 to 1890 he was Foreign Minister of Prussia, from 1867 to 1871 Chancellor of the North German Confederation and from 1862 until January 1873 and from November 1873 to 1890 Minister President of Prussia. From 1864 to 1871 he provoked the Wars of German Unification against Denmark, Austria and France and was thus highly involved in the creation of the German Empire in 1871, of which he was the first Chancellor between 1871 and 1890. He used balance of power diplomacy and was against the acquiring of German colonies. His internal politics were characterised by the creating of the first welfare state in the modern world, but also by his fight against the Catholic Church and the Socialists. In 1890 he was removed by Emperor Wilhelm II from his tenure, but he still kept his influence on the politics with his comments on his successors. He died in 1898 in Friedrichsruh.

History made in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Sarajevo is known as Jerusalem of Europe, as it has always been a melting pot of cultures. Until the late 20th century it was the only major European city with a mosque, a Catholic church, an Orthodox church and a synagogue within the same neighborhood.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie of Hohenberg were killed on the 28th June 1914 in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip, a member of Mlada Bosna. Although Franz Ferdinand was not very popular, the Austro-Hungarian government used the assassination as reason for an intervention in the Kingdom of Serbia. After the Austro-Hungarian Empire got support ensured by the German Empire, they gave the Kingdom of Serbia an unacceptable ultimatum. Meanwhile the Kingdom of Serbia got support ensured by its protecting power, the Russian Empire. Because of the abandonment of some of the points in the ultimatum the Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on the Kingdom of Serbia on the 28th July 1914 and due to the European alliances this led to the beginning of World War I after a few days.

In 1984 the city hosted the Olympic Winter Games. 

During the Bosnian War Sarajevo suffered the longest siege of a city in the history of modern warfare. Between 1992 and 1996 the city was besieged by the Army of Republika Srpska, whose strategic goal was to create a new Bosnian Serb state. The city was assaulted with artillery, tanks and small arms and the Bosnian government defence forces in Sarajevo were poorly equipped and unable to break the siege. Nearly 14000 people were killed during the siege. 

Sarajevo is today the capital of the independent Bosnia and Herzegovina and seeks for the inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Jews in Prague (Czech Republic)

Between the 13th century and 1848 the Jews of Prague were forced to live within their own quarter, which is now known as Josefov. The quarter started to decay after the rich Jews left their former ghetto. At the end of the 19th century many old buildings were destroyed to create space for a reconstruction. Only six synagogues, the town hall and the Jewish Cemetery survived this period. During World War II the most Jews were killed by the Nazis, but the buildings were kept, because there were plans to create a "Museum of the Eradicated Race" in Prague. 1950 the buildings were placed under the control of the Czech Government, which started to operate a real Jewish Museum. Today the Jewish community of Prague has again the control over its heritage. 

The Old New Synagogue was completed in 1270. It is one of Prague's first Gothic buildings and Europe's oldest active synagogue. According to the legend Rabbi Loew created the Golem at the Old New Synagogue in the 16th century. 

The Old Jewish Cemetery is the largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. Renowned personalities of Prague's Jewish community were buried there including Rabbi Loew and businessman Mordecai Maisel. It was in use between the 15th century and 1786 and there are places where as many as twelve layers exist now, because the Jews do not abolish old graves and the space for the cemetery was limited. 

The Spanish Synagogue is the newest synagogue in Josefov. It was built in the Moorish Revival Style.

Did the Neanderthals committed cannibalism? (Croatia)

Near Krapina the largest number of Neanderthal fossil bones in Europe was found in 1899. The findings had a big influence on the different scientific theories about human development and the genesis of our civilisation. Due to various signs on the bones the case was made that the Neanderthals committed cannibalism, but it was already disproved.

The Krapina Neanderthal Museum was opened in 2010 near the site where the Neanderthals remains were discovered. It focuses on the prehistory and protohistory of the humanity and the Neanderthals of Krapina. It is considered to be one of the most interesting evolutionary museums in Europe. 

The Krapina Neanderthal Site and Museum got the European Heritage Label in 2015.

The Colonies of Portugal (Angola, Brazil, India, Macao, Malaysia)

Portugal was the first European country with overseas colonies. The first colony was created in 1415 and the last was lost in 1999. Thus it was also the longest-lived of the modern European colonial empires. The colonies brought great wealth to Portugal. 

According to the Treaty of Tordesillas Brazil became a part of Portugal and remained it until 1822, when it declared its independence. 

Salvador was founded in 1549 and became the first capital of Brazil. It is one of the oldest colonial cities in the Americas and was also the first slave market in the New World. It remained the capital of Brazil until 1763. The Historic Centre of Salvador de Bahia is since 1985 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

São Luís has the largest and best preserved heritage of colonial
Portuguese architecture in Latin America and is since 1997 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The region of Goa was conquered by the Portuguese in 1510. In 1961 Indian forces invaded the area. Portugal just recognised the annexion in 1974 and since 1987 is Goa a State within the Indian Federation and not anymore a territory of the union.

Malacca became a Portuguese colony in 1511, but already in 1641 it was conquered by the Netherlands. Later it also became a colony of the United Kingdom.

In 1557 Macau was rented to Portugal from Ming China as a trading port and in 1887 it became a colony. In 1999 the city was given to China as last remaining European colony in Asia.

The Historic Centre of Macao is one of the earliest and longest-lasting encounters between China and the West and provides a unique testimony to the meeting of influences from East and West. Since 2005 is the Historic Centre of Macao a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Angola was first reached by the Portuguese in 1484. It later became a colony and various settlements were founded in the coastal region. Beginning in the 18th century settlements were also founded in the country's interior. Independence was achieved in 1975 under communist rule backed by the Soviet Union after the Angolan War of Independence.

Angola's capital Luanda was founded by the Portuguese in 1575. Today it is the World's largest Portuguese-speaking capital.