On August 4

On this day in ...
... 1113 (895 years ago today), Gertrude Billing (right) died, her age estimated at 83 years. The daughter of a duke of Saxony -- now a state within the Federation of Germany -- she and her 1st husband, a Count of Holland, had 7 children. On the husband's death their son Dirk, then about 9, assumed the title. Gertrude became regent because of her son's age; upon her 1063 marriage to a 2d husband (with whom she had another 5 children), the couple became co-regents on behalf of Dirk.
... 1914, in an early episode of World War I, Britain declared war on Germany. Canada joined in; however, the United States declared its neutrality in the conflict.


 
Bloggers Team